The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-11-30

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Presently ths band Sstr pek up Z r. J. iiyssls
|iwal.s. EDO sou dSHSsss Mia Z t7,,.s. Sc
f:rspIIsd ,sS.s that spsei.s of ? ssm,i.s. III, ].
inent bad: bsep, With mssy anotnsr, ID
terdicted hyfHiEsN sSiSisnss sTgbus. that
owing 70 the greatly Improved state ol
ny. heslsh s migh ;sensider .ths psohi
EbitHnNslfisl g1ny ss,::;is - -. s. :
Iratsiy assa 5s. g sS. eoaiS hs
HONOR him foTs the pexts Mslta::' he
would gladly ma III 4, ,teseryat atiou in my
Stayo,-xish much n.qse to 1the same
E(f hesitated D. I moment, saaa only a
moment 2f6s SmRgattSn flslfqp sfrong;
q could not resist IT, Oh; John John
-syen, now, Isee the look, of 'sofrovful
reproashs sih hose clear eyes, as he
iSaqeda i With ce1alsesI grace 'gagaisst one
ct the marble columns that divided the
parlor from the. ante room. cannot tell
what evil; spirit tempted mo-, T. knew
that john did not objsSt 70 dancing in
itself. The mere act. of moving iu
graceful measures to the sound Of mnsiG
he considered perfectly ;harmless; but
hefdid object to il, On : account Of Its
pernioious Consequences late hours,
and the tendency to excessive indul-.
gcnce. The round dances he condemned
in toto, and could never look upon them
with the slightest toleration. His opin.
ion was so decided on this point that
years before, he had been heard to say
that If he were betrothed to lady, and
she were, in open defiance Of his known
wishes, TO indulge in chat very repre-.
hensible species Of Amusement, he
should thereafter consider the engage
ment at an end, as effeotually as though
there existed come #insuperable barrier
to the union. I knew that his senti-
ments in this respect had not been
modified in tho least, aud yet I deliber-
ately CHOSE to brave his deep and last
ing displeasure. Even now, looking
calmly aud dispassionately down the
tide of years, I cannot cay aught in ex.
tenuation of my conduct. 1t was SIM
Ply naadness. vas conscious, all the
while, thatI was'inficting the keenest
pang on heart that deeply, truly loved
me and yet-such oontrarieties there
are in human nature-I experienced
a sort Of delicious JOY, a shame.
full triumph, in thus asserting my own
independence; I, who had hitherto de-
ferred to him, the chosen sharer Of life's 3
joys aud sorrowsj almost every act Of
my daily life.
On, on, we swept in the oircling
dance, pntil ,giddysnd exhausted, sank
almost tntiag on 4 small couch at the
futher end Of, the apartment. A glass
of water and fresh aiI from an open vim
dow specdily revived me aroused
myself frop, state Of + semi-oonscio
ness, aud sitter answering Colonel Ruth
ven's look Of alarm by quietly reassuring
him that was fully restored, I hurri
edly. excused myself, aud threading
my way through the crowded apartment
with . r.pidity that deferred pursuit,
went in search Of John. He had left
his station by the pillar, and was no.
where to be found. afterwards learn.
ed that, on the plea Of a slight indispo-
sition, he had taken leave at an early
hour. He had gone, then, without one
word Of explanation or forgiveness
My short lived, pleasure was at; an end;
I will not say happiness, for when was
happiness ever found In the indulgence
of a known sin. Under shelter of an
intense headache, which was by no
means fictitious I left the gay throng
asd retired to my own room to speAd q
sleepless night in bitter self upbraiding
My father followed me ta claim the Gus.
toma,y good night kiss. He supposed
the heat and excitement had been too
much for me, and almost regretted hav.
ing submitted my delicate nerves to
such severe test. I could not uudeceive
him-T had not the heart to tell him
the truth.
Tho morning came at last, but it
brought no relief to my throbbing brain
and aching heart. Il felt half inclined
not to leave my bed, when / Was startled
BY hss.y knock, at the, door, and
Lisette's we'll known voice exclaimed
"a letter. for Maderuoisellel" !" My heart
lu0thuSsy uIvluou buC WOIbts ppIhuS
outof bed, seized the i'll omened missive,
looked the door and in moment de-
voured the contents.
GAIL is now over between MS, rs your
heart must have foretold. Henceforth,
our paths through life lie in different
directions. I will not blame you-you
are 80 youog and inexperienced, aud
have seen so little of the world. I had
no right TO. exact . promise from you,
but now, you are free. Forget that 30
dark shadow has ever crossed your
path. Farewell I The wide world is
now my home.
~ ~ JoHN." I
Kind and forgiying to the last I. o.
vain aud foolish heart J. O wild and
reck less nature, that even for one
moment, could tritie with
such truth and raro nobility Of oharac-
ter and manly. tenderness .,H ~.
For three long weeks / lay tossing in
the fever. Of dslirium. Now with pitifui
incaDs 4 iwSdid doall Hpon John, ,impioring
him to- hayS canapsssion on 10, telling
him in all the world I loved but him
alone Thof,,T Sronh hittcrlv-S tnhvaid