Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1872-08-14
IN ADVANCE
No. "a.

Sstsfiiis ptSutA uck ASSskb VAAasitiuss.as asS- 1<s
Marian stood an instant IS If q fhun-
derbolt had paralyzed her whole being
then murmaring, 1T must not ben
It cannot boI' she ran up staiss 10 hor
room. Needless Of Mrs. ordway's eager
inquiries. s5s
Kneeling on the floor beaida thc table,
with her bonnet still unscmoved, she
hnrriedly wrote q few bsief lines, intiia-
tincti and blotted with tears:
Come tome, May can explain IT,
all, iif you will but give me an opportu-
nifty Only come to mel Your love
was all 4 had in the world d--~I cannot lose
il thus AfARrAN.,,'
Joseph, !. she said to the servant, awill
you carry this note TO IGr. Delnvsl for
me-"
Directly, Miss Ward. 2
This instant ss5: s;s5
Yes, ma'am.'
Joseph went on his errand with prompt
itude and departed; yet to poor Marian
every second seemed an hour, rs she
there sat counting the pulses Of hers own
miserable heart. Presently Joseph opeu-
ed the door.
"Mr. Delaval, Miss r.
And as she looked up, with her eyes
dimmed by thick-coming tears, May De-
laval wes atanding before her, cold, pale
and naughty.
7,o ty, <,i,evS41 ,,,,,,, -,
Ward you will oblige me by being ms
brief MS possibleE'
aOh, May ! don't speak so 70 mel' ahe
sobbed.
How else can i speak r, he asked, in
. tone that was somewhat softcned, latter
after yonr interview of this afternoon.
Marian, had All angel of light warned
me of this, could scarce have believed
him."
"Listen to me, May" she said, pas
sionately. "For the sake of retaining
my place in your good opinion, I will re.
veal what should be secret to all the
world, save yourself. will put into
your hands the life I would fain shield
with my own"
II am listening" he said, coldly.
"May," pursued Marian Ward, "Miles
Kepler is my brother"
your brother" ?"
II said had lost him." she went on,
with burning cheeks and set lips. 81
shoTsld have said he had lost himself-to
duty, honor, and his native land. He
was in the army-he deserted, thereby
rendering himself liable to tho awful
penalty fdeath. Now you have my Sc
icret. May, for the sake Of the mother
who prayed above us both, do you think
did wrong in trying to shield him from
disgrace and death !? in giving him money
to flee the country under an assumed
rame? Henceforward he is rs dead to me
and all who once knew and respected him
as if the grave had closed over his head.
And now, if you choose to break our en-
gagement, May Delaval, yon are at lib
erty to doso. ! have done what deem
ed to be my duty not even for your
precious love could do otherwise"
| May DelavaPs face had glowed into
sudden brightness: he folded her in his
arms with tender pride too deep for
outward expression.
"Marian! my own love! / have been
q william ever to doubt you. But it j
the last shadow that shall ever rise be-
tween us. Henceforward will strive
constantly to be worthy of your love-"
And, months afterwards, when poor
Harvey Ward, safe under the fictitious
appellation of "Miles Kepler," was dom.
iciled beneath the broad sky of another
climate, and the great dread of FROM
Marian's heart, she never could think Of
that dreary winters afternoon without an
involuntary shudder.
~ had SO nearly lost you, May" she
\ y n