The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-11-24
HpYT & CO., Proprietors.
Ftom the Darlington SOut'sermer.
ROSWELL SINCLAIR, OR FORGIVENESS
s., Ry MISS E. B. cHEEsBoRoUaH.


vi He relaxed his grasp, and she sank with a
smothered sob on the couch, while she put her
delicate fingers around her throat, as II to ease
the pain of the iron hand that had just left it.
She crasped nervously the diamond necklace
that encircled her throat. She shuddered,. tor
sie remembered that it was for such bauDies
she had sold herself. -
Her husband stood sternly watching her;
how she quailed before the fierce black eye that
seemed deyouring her with its angry gaze.
fsRegina," he said at length.
- She simply looked up at him. Oh! what
woe-begone, heart-broken look met his gaze.
~ "I have nearly killed you, have not?"
sssWould You had ;" she said passionately. 81
had better,be dead ;'death will be sweeter to me
than life-life with all this bitterness, this woe
ssWhy did you deceive me 2" he asked stern
". You know my nature; you knew the
DEPTHS of my love did you not know that
would sooner see you dead at my feet than know
you had deceived me?"
She made no reply. She knew that she had
deceived the man she had married for long be
foss; she had ever seen him she had loved, with
all the passionate ardor of her nature, one VINO
was now unto her as dead.
"You do not answer my question, madam !;
WHY have YOU thus deceived me? Why did
YOU marry me when you loved another?" And
again the fierce eyes glared angrily on her.
She said, choking down the sobs that were
ready to- smother her-'tI married you for the
reason that many aywoman marries, for sup
port
"Thank you, madam; appreciate the com,
pliment in being chosen to clothe, house ana
feed YOU. It's delightful to have wife on
these terms,y' and the dark eyes of Roswell
Sinclair glowed with anger.
tlyVailS M dom 4 hone that Won have been
supported TO your satisfaction" continued the
ironical voice, 81 believe that you have had all
that any reasonable, woman could wish you
have had plenty to wear, and plenty to eat.
You were poor when married you; l think
Won had but two gowns, you now have twenty
two, doubtless, and your neck is encircled by
diamonds
The miserable wife put up her hands and un-
clasped the diamond necklace, and gently laid
it on her husbands lap.
"That is right, madam /; before you go hence,
You must strip yourself of your hnery and your
jewels"
She looked up at him with wild, startled
gaze. - .,
GDriye you, certainly not; shall simply re-
quest you to find other quarters"
"a woman cannot easily make home, Ros-
we'll"
HBut she can mar one easily" he replied
bitterly
pathetic answer.
'You have not me, or rather, you will not
have me long; for have heard this night that
which has set my whole being on fire, and to-
morrow we part foneyer."
He arose and hastily paced the room. Then
seating himself, he said:
Regina, am not man OF words, but OF
actions. | am not q meek angel; there are
some things never forgive, and the man or
the woman WHO deceives me once never has
chance to do SO again. l bury themIoury
them in grave so deep that, so Tar as am
concerned they never rise again. 1 cast them
SO far from my sight and my affections 80 COM
pletely, that, even in memory, they live no
more. I have buried two men and one woman
In this way and you have dug your own grave,
and now am ready to throw you into its depths.
Tomorrow you leave my house forever-for-
ever"
40, Roswell, have you no pity in your ma
ture?
"Pity Was there any pity in your tones to-
night, when heard you say, Robert, was
always true; you forgot, but / remembered
Did not hear you exact a promise that Robert
Arlington should keep inviolate the secret OF
his early love for you, for you said your hus-
band was somewhat peculiar, a little jealous,
and he would not be pleased to hear that his
wife was once the betrothed of Robert Airing
ton. All! how you started when you saw my
ewes at the window that looked into the balco-
nv, and knew that ! was in possession of your
carefully guarded secret. have heard it said
that women are natural liars, and, by heavens,
when think of the black falsehood by which
you got husband, think the saying must be
true.S
Regina grew deadly pale as her husband
hurled these bitter words at her. Humiliated
and insulted by them, she yet could only listen
in silence
"Well, madam, what have you to say?"
She dashed aside the tears that were binding
her, and said: 81 did love Robert Arlington,
but it was before ever saw you. He proved
untrue to me and married another We never
met again until last night"
"Had you told me this four years ago, when
asked you to marry me, you would not have
been my wife. Do you remember that asked
YOU if you had ever loved any other, when you
said you loved me?"
eyes"
"Why, did you not tell me the truth?"
att is so hard, Roswell, for woman to con-
fess to tell the truth" she said bitterly.
"Had YOU no other reason, Regina?"
eyes"
"Whatw
'T was an orphan and poor; knew the paths
by which women gain q livelihood are oeset
with thorns that wound them at every step.
had not the courage to tread that thorny way;
did as many woman does, married tor asuPI
port. knew that did not love you, and II l
had only have had the noble courage, the self
confidence, that some women have, would
have gone forth and taken my stand beside the
working sisterhood. did you no wrong, Ros.
well Sinclair, when married you. brought
YOU youth and beauty and laid them at your
feet for gold. Even though did not love you,
I was attentive to your wants, and you have ev-
er found me docile and sympathizing"