Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1869-12-18
IFrom tho New Fora mcrearyl
TIE WARMING



Night had settled down over the
drsaFy seaeost, and over the throb,
bling, restless sea. The wind lifted
itself with 8 swelling sound, and
roved about q lonely looking fisher
mans cottage that stood on the
beach, shaking the doors and win
dows, ever and anon sinking into
low murmers. Shapeless clouds
drifted across the dim, blue arma-
ment. The moon shone al inter-
walls; but its htiul light lent no
charm 10 the dismal scene. There
was only one other habitation In
sight, aud u was q large, Old-fash.
Toned mansion standing far back in
the country, yet whose massive
frame stood out boldly against the
steely blue.
Those dwellings were the only
visible token that man had invaded
this dreary waste; for, aside from
them, nothing met the eye save a
sinuous, curving road, great jagged
cliffs, aud stretches of barren land,
broken here aud there with patches
of guant, leafless trees.
A light glowed in the latticed
window OF the fsherman's dwell
ing II looked cheerful.
Before q fire which burned on the
hearth Of the capacious fireplace
within, q young girl sat, listening
TO the soaring, moaning anthem Of
the winds. II was beautiful face
that, Of times, bent meditatively
toward the fire or gazed out the
window. A pale, yet sweet face,
with bright, carmine cheeks and
lips, large, luminous grey eyes, and
an abundance Of soit, dark hair the
face OF a young girl scarce past her
SEVENTEEN year.
This was Lila Wynde, the only
child Of an old fisherman, who had
dwelt In this cottage on the beach,
as far back ss she could remember.
There was something remarkable
about the young girl; looking al
her one would probably call her
lovely, but add-weak and timid.
She was weak, truly, as far as phys
lcal strength was concerned; bul
beneath her timidity linked q firm
nesP Of purpose which waited only
the proper moment to bring Il intS
life and action.
There were two doors leading
from the room In which she sat
one TO q sort Of closet used as Q 70
ceptacle for books and various nils,
cellaneOus articles; the other int
o larger room, which was occupied
: now by her father and Q man II
whose hand she had intrusted be-
happiness.
Carl Conner was 0 sailor, q firm
true friend Of old Casper Wynde
and although Lila felt only On Ordi
nary regard for him, she had, Whel
he asked her to be his wife, Obeye'
the oftsn-expressed desire OF be
father, and accepted him. Nor
. than once dark whispers regaFdinI
, CaFps early life came to her, 70
she had known him but O shoI
time; but these she refused to b.
lleve, OF, at least, affected inCredu
lity. '....t
! They had been engaged at th
I time we write upward Of Q yea
, IF they had been married then, th
: current OF her life might have nov
!. cd on &c smoothly and evenly
0 ever, without even q ripple maj
Q ring itsi placidity. But destiny ha
Q decreed Il otherwise.
We will not enter into details
to the manner in which RhOderlC
Q Orvis became acquainted with I'll
WYnde. Suffice TO say, he reside
3 together with his sister Alice,
beautiful girl about Llla's age,
the capaciOus mansion on tho bill
They lived Ia almost rigid seclu
si0n but Lila, somehow, becam
an h0nOFed and welcome guest be
meath their roof and in this wa.
: an intimacy sprang up between be
and the young man which dahl.
ripened into deeper feelings. o.
Into deep, pure, enduring love.
But RhOderick hesitated TO breath.
. his passion ; and Lila did not knOy
= how deep her feelings we're enllste,
! In his favor, until Carl, who ha,
: kept q strict surveillance on thei
actions, broke forth In q storm 0
passionate Jealousy. Then Ill
. knew she loved Rhoderick Orvil
t although her faith was plighted I
another.
Her position was pitlful.
To appeal 10 Carte better nature
70 tell him that maFriage.VOWs 3
him were lies 10 kill her sOul, b
eek him to release her, was, she IN
sdHCtively felt futile. Instead
therefore, o. denying hi1 accusa
tiOne, she burst into o wild ht q
weeping, which fully confirmed hi
susPlcloRs, while Il added fuel Z
} the flames Of Jealousy smoulderinl
In his heart. But he was schools
: In Discrimination. his was Q ns
ture Ut once crafty, evil, and Gun
ming. 30 he pretended C~OntritiOE
asked pardon for doubling her low
: protesting 10 belleve Il was who'll
bic, and changed tho co~nversatloE
His plans were already laid
What they were remains to be seer
All this, and mora, passed thrOugI
Lila Wynde's mind IS she eat ther
{ and had grown weary Of listening
= to the clamor Of the wind. The fir
died out; the Old-faShioned clOCI
/. In the corner struck twelve. Lii
D rose, walked to tho window ant
pushed aside The curtain. The 90
: shone like molten silver in the din
! moonlight girdled by the weird
. looking beach which street.-the,
8 away Into the gray shadows O
I niOhf. alon0 which the incominl