The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-07-02

man, until we find him drinking
almost tho very dregs of degrada.
ton.
But who is tho fair creature
whom he has saved by importing
his own life? A singular coincid.
once--'tis sho who has cmbittcrcd
the life, and destroyed the pros
poets of tho man now lying before
her-hcr prcscrvcr.
She, too, has changed, but the
change has only made her moro
beautiful and attractive. Five
years Of Paris lifo has only added
to hcr many natural charms and
graces. Sho has but recently re-
turned from hor extended sojourn
in France, whcro she has boon
seeking health and pleasure. And
thus they have met-tho dcstr oy-
cr and destroyed-for the first
time since that cvortful night
which proved our hcro's ruin.
Great indeed was the astonish-
mont which depicted itsolf upon
lrcno's face, ut discovering, in this
fallen and pitiable object before
her, her former respected acquaint-
ance. AS she .gazcd upon tho in
animate and bruised form, sho re-
called the memory Of that event.
full night Of her nineteenth birth.
day, and her heart smotc her. She
saw tho great error she had COM
mittcd, and, ut this late hour, she
resolved to atone rs far as she was
able for the great wrong she had
done.
Comfy, at her command, was
the unconscious form of Walter
Chester lifted up and placed beside
her in the carriage, which was
driven to tho judges residence.
The most skilful physicians were
employed, who pronounced his
case u critical one. His nervous
system had received scvero
shock, they said; besides his consti-
tuition was broken by exposure
and excessive debauchery. Care
ful nursing, perfect quiet and ten
der Watching, werc tho things m ost
needed to insure his recovery.
Earnestly did Irene apply herself
to the solf-imposcd task before her,
but it was n luborious and weary
duty sho had resolved to perform,
and many were tho tedious days
ay, weeks, she struggled through,
watching with the fAithfulnoss Of q
mother, the varied changes of hor
patient, rs the little spark of Wit
ality within him struggled to gain
the asccndancy. But, by tho in
domitablo perseverance and forti
tudc with which Irene was posses
scd and exercised, and by tho
hclp Of II morcitul Providence, the
littio spark of life was famed into
a fame, and he slowly began to
recover. But many weeks passed
by before he was sufficiently con-
valoscent to leave the homo of her
who had so kindly cared for and
watched ovor him during his pro
tractcd illness. During the period
of his convalosonco, however, Irene
had discovered what others had fail
cd to do-that Walter Chester was
not lost to tho world-that the star
of his genius would yet shine
brightly; and, with encouragement
and hoIp he could yet arise from
his obscurity, and live to hon.
or tho name he bore. Another
fact made itself evident TO Ircno's
mind that what was at first
u duty, WAS now pleasure
to her and that sho enter-
tanned deeper feeling of into.
rest for hor patient than n morbid
desire to 500 him again q temper
ate and prosperous man. She
would not confess to herself, at
first, that this was tho case, but
as Tho time drew nigh for Walter
to leave tho hospitablo home of
Judge Dayton, she was forced to
liston to tho pleadings Of her own
heart, and she fnin would have
stayed tho hour Of his departure.
And how was it with our horo
Was he willing to leave tho homo
Of hor who had dono 80 much for
him with only u feoling Of graft
tudo and thankfulncss? An, no
During his hours Of anguish had
she not smoothed his fcvorcd brow,
moistcnod his parched lips and adj
ministored an hundred and one
othor little acts Of love and sym.
pathy2 And how hor moro touch
had sent q thrill of ccstatic plea.
suro over himl Whom ho arose
from his bed Of sickness, and was
ablo to go about n little, and
lounge under tho inviting shade
Of II large maple which stood at
the sido Of tho old mansion, or re.
clino in a hammock swung undor
tho front porch, many wero tho
hours he Watched her, as she read
to him, and thought how superbly
blest would be the man who could
call hor wife. But, as those
thoughts rushed through his mind
he banished them Cor tried to, at
least, thought of the "what mi ight
~