The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1871-03-15
tic seat behind her. Her face w.s

very pale, and there was a wistful
look in her sad, dark eyes, as she
raised them to his face and tried
to speak. He knelt before her and
clasped her hand, as lie pleaded
with her to save hei self from far.
ther degradation. "Your parents
desire it, you know. You have a
sweet home here if the trail of the
serpent were not over it all. o,
Alice, Danish that serpent for
ever" A gieam OF hope played,
for q moment over her sad fea-
lures, then cold shivcr ran
through her frame, as she with.
drew her hand from his clasp, and
murmured, almost inaudiblv, 81
cannot. o, Mr.. Morton, pity me,
but do not tempt ne farther. I'm.
til death us do psrt,' was the vow
! made at the altar FIVE years ago
Do not seek to change me. MY du.
ty! q my duty! Ii l could think
as you and my fricnde generally
do, that had done more than nv
duty, l might be happy yet, I
might listen to your pleadings,
dear friend, but ! cannot. NV
vow was registered in Heaven, l
am his until death sets me free.
Thank God, there is future life,
where friends may meet without
reproach until then, farewell. We
must not meet again." He tried
to detain; her, but she glided past
him, and tried to reach the house.
She took but few stcps, before
she tainted and fell. He raised her
tenderly in lis arms, kissed her
colorless cheek, once, twice, then
bore her to her mother, in whose
care he left her, and WAS soon
vending his way to the station.
When she recovered, her eyes wan.
dered as if III search of some one.
Her mother told her Mr.. Morton
had found her insensible in the
grape arbor and had brought her
in. She closed her eyes, and lay
sn q nio'i,-, tier mother thought she
was sleeping. o, the agony of that
quiet communion with her own
heart. Here was love and Lappi
ness offered her: appreciation and
, sympathy ; she must turn from it
all-ior what2 Ah! the future
would have to reveal the reason
for all this suffering.
Two months later Alice receiv-
ed a letter from stranger in a
distant State, saying her husband
was very i'll and desired her to go
to him, at once. She did not hes.
itate moment, but was soon on
her way, she knew not to what
further degradation and suffering.
When she reached her point of
destinations, she found her hus>
I band very i'll, apparently, in q
hopeless condition. She was re-
paid for her sacrifice and her
triumph over her great temptation,
when, in his dcliriuin he called her
name, with every cndearing cpl.
thet which was So sweet 20 her in
in the first months Of their wed.
ded life. Then lie would mourn
in agony, and cry, My poor in.
jured darling. She must hate me,
she will never come" We will
pass over the days of delirium and
danger. Enough thai he did not
die. There is nothing like sickness
or sorrow to call forth all the la.
tent energy and love of a woman's
nature. With returning health,
Mr.. Chester showed conclusively
that he was n changed man. For
months he was unable to attend to
any business. When he recover.
cd sufficiently, they returned to
her childhood's home, where he at.
tended 20 the old farm, and be.
came a sober, good citizen, and a
christian, and most devoted hus
band 10 her whom he called his
good genius. Did she ever recall
the hours OF darkness she had pass
ed through2 . Perhaps she did, bn,
1t was only to be grateful that she
did not listen to the promptings OF
her own heart. or advice of well
meaning bnt mistaken friends
She heard Arthur Morton's name.
witllont,regrct, and prayed that he
might be as happy as she was.