The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-07-07
CAST OFF.

|
/ eyes with which Winfield Grey steadi-
| ly regarded the handsome woman
standing pale and with compressed
lips before him.
She had been for a solitary walk Oh
the sea shore, little dreaming she
should meet the man who, in her heart
/ of hearts, was the only enshrined
idol.
I She had seen him coming when
his eyes, keen and bright though they
where, had not yet discerned her
graceful figure vending among the
crags and cliffs Of the rocky wild beach;
| and, with q cry of intense delight
4 upon her lips, she hasten to meet him.
I She was faultlessly beautiful wo-
man, this naughty heiress, Ida Ros-
siture, whose dark, oriental eyes had
slain scores of victims whose iustrous
masses of ebon black hair bad driven
scores of lovers half crazy. She know
her power, and how to use it; and be-
fore she had seen twenty-five summers
| drop their load of sweet scents, she
had acquired the well-earned reputa-
ton of couqnette.
But every soul has its mate; aud Ids
Rossiture had met the master Of her
destiny; she loved. Yet, so strange
| is the inconsistency OF woman, that,
though caught and wooed by Winfield
i Grey, him whom she 80 adored, her
habit OF coquetry would not per-
NIT her to show him preference.
1 Not that she intended losing him !:
and on the moonlight night when he
told her his love in terms 30 passionate
that her heart almost ached with the
sweet rumor that was going the rounds
of their engagement, she gracefully
warded him off, fully intending to con-
fess all on the morrow.
| Alas, for what we will do s'to-mor-
row!n Many are the hopes that are
crushed for their waiting for the NOR
! row; the resolutions buried that ".n-
morrow was to see fulfilled.
And Ada Rossiture, when the morn
ing dawned, learned that Winfield
Grey had left the shore that very morn
ing while she was dreaming Of him.
She was too proud to inquire; too
proud to write; and when hours later,
she was playfully taunted with slay-
ing another victim, and that Winfield
Grey, she was too reser vedly naughty
to refute the aspersiOp. and by q cold
bow, gave credence to the rumor.
All this, the precious episode OF her
life, that had crowded into one blissful
fortnight, two years agone, came rush
ing over her as she saw Winfield
Grey walking quietly along. ali un-
conscious of her near proximity to
him.
Winfield, oh, Winfield can il be
pOssibleW She reached forth both Of
her beautiful arms, a glorious light
that he could not have misunderstood,
glowing in her dark eyes.
He started, raised his hat, aud
would have passed ON.
"You are not angry with me, Mr..
Grey" Her tones were pleading, but
he looked passionless as statue.
~ have not forgotten our last inter
view, Miss Rossiture.p
His cold, steely tones raised fear
full anguish in her heart.
''Nor, /. have been waiting ever
since to tell QUITO tell you howl
I--ioved your
The proud woman had spoken al
last; and beautiful blush Overspread |
he face as she looked almost wistfully |
at him.
His own cheeks redeemed, but he
never moved his eyes from her face.
81 am grieved the confession has
come to late, Miss Rossiture care |
nothing for you.n
She stood like one petrified, her eyes |
growing bright and wild.
"NOt care for me!-not-care-fo
me?" She repeated the words slowly.
distinctly, an awful gray pallor the
while stealing across her face, her eyes
rivited on his handsome countenance.
II do not, Miss Rossiture; good
!
He bowed and walked on
he had only taken dozen steps,
when there came clutch on his arm
that almost made him cry out. He
turned to see Ida again.
"Stop a moment, am mystified.
may be crazy for all know. But /
must have it from your lips again,
those lips / have dreamed so often
about! those lips that told me the only
news / ever cared to hear.
She spoke in a peculiar, dreamy
way, then, before Grey could frame an
answer her eyes filled with tears, and |
she laid Der hand on his arm.
Winfield, my darling, my darling, 7,
don,t say you have ceased to love me!
why don't you know I love you?
you!r II
He would have been less than hu.
man, had not his heart throbbed at her
but he smiled Coldly.
1.-Two years ago, Miss Rossiture, /
sued for that love; you cast it off Tc-
lay you offer it; i east it off, Remem- {
Der as do, the shame, the bitter ago. |;
ny of that night, can never forget 1t
II forgive it.
She seemed not to bear the last
words.
'That is rather hard term, Miss, !
did not say SO. Please be 80 good Us /,
o excuse me-"
'No, no. Once more, Winfield, for :
i've me, oh do forgive me, will you :
lot. can't live without your love, !;
Ninfield.p :
She clasped her hands pleadingly, :
nd rested them on his arm. A mo-
cent he gazed into her beautiful, I
tormy face; then With calm, almost :
cornful turn of the lip, spoke. !,
"Will forgive you? how dare you !,
SIX it, Ida Rossiture? Never, so help ),
ne Heavenp I
1t was an awful blow TO the proud I
whose sin was loving to well, !,
nd as Winfield Grey heightened the y
istance between them, look of most =
itiful agony convulsed her features. :
Gradually his receeding figure grew I.
mailer and smaller, and as he turned :
I'll hof h hi hap <x.xf
er form perfect gust Of emotion. !,
Unutterrable despair woe written on 4
very lineament, and in the words she :, :
lurked lifetime Of grief = =
r.
The early June sunshine came in q B
olden quiver all over the pink and p
'hite carpet that covered the floor of n
larian Thorne's dressing room, and a
lille it touched with light fingers the II
ire statuary, the costly toilette orna- 7
rents, 1t fingered longest and most
,vingly on the slight graceful figure
nat stood before the dressing mirror.
She was golden haired girl, this
ainty Marian Thorne, white ewes the y
cry shade of purple violets. Sbadowy' /
creme eyes, that seemed ever looking Ii
lt into some misty, uncertain cloud- O
md. [.
Now she was looking at herself, ar 81
lyed in costly robe Of creamy white n
.tin, where fell cloud on cloud of ii
lace; where cleaned pure IL
earls, aud soft white kids. W
"What, Marian, surely you are not W
rowing vain enough to try ON your 81
edding dress to note the effeet?" di
Marian tau1hed as fhe vnunQ oiII Vi