The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-08-02

COuiQ DuG admire the 1Olby aSplEdllOn OI
his gifted intellect, and then sink in self
abasement at the remembrance of the J
sarcastic letter. /
Time passed swiftly by, and the re-
membrance Of that ill-fated ANONYMOUS
epistle was vanishing from the public |
mind. Edsall had in his daily inter |
course with Caroline, seen more and more |
to admire and love; the sweet commun- |
ings Ot her gentle nature seemed TO /
draw her closer and closer to him. and |
as hey wandered forth one soft, balmy |
twilight, he dreamed the tale of his love |
into her willing ear, and as he poured |
out the aspirations of his heart upon the |
altar of his love, Caroline could but |
tremble, fOS was not she the one who had |
trst cast the shdaow of shame upon his !
unsPotted name. But the deep ardent !
love which she so fervently recfprocated /
-shouldIshe check the ebbings of that
bright and sunny sheen, which would |
be the light of her existence? All, no; she |
had not the courage to do so, and she |
allowed him to still think her guileless
and free from deceit; and in the happi-
ness of future anticipations almost forgot
the saddened past with its sombre shade.
Ellen Jackson had been for some
months absent and returned home about
three weeks after the engagement of her
friend Caroline to Mr.. Edsall; her heart
had for a long time paid homage at the
shrine of hisintellect, and she had seen
with sorrow that the fervent admiration
she felt was not reciprocated by him.
Stung with jealous disappointment, she
resolved that Caroline should not at least
bear off the inestimable prize, and in a
few evenings after her return she encoun-
tered him at the mansion of Mr. Bowen,
Intentionally upon her part. Envy,
chagrin and disappointment seemed to
give energy to her determination, and
she purposely introduced the subject of
the almost forgotten anonymous letter,
as they were gathered around the centre
table. Caroline's cheek was blanched in
a moment, and with an appealing look
she glanced her eyes at Ellen, but the
heseeching look was unanswered. Mr.
Edsall spoke with more than his usual
energy and warmth, and severely de-
nounced the writer of such a calumnious
article.
&" could never" said he, " respect or
love person that could stoOp to such an
act of duplicity Or meanness; there was
no excuse; it was entirely unfOunded."
Poor Caroline The tear drops III she'd
into her eyes; her punishment had but
| Just began. AS the evening wore away,
and Miss Jackson rose to depart, Mr. Ed
sail offered to escort her home; and, as
he parted from Caroline, he could not
fail to mark the air of detection which
| stole over her features. AnxiOusIy in
quiring the cause, she tried to Danish the
cloud, and, under the plea of slight in
disposition, concealed the truth a sad,
fore bOding thought crossed her mind.
ho Oh
Ellen will not be so cruel or so base as
to betray me when she herself commenced
it, and led me on"
But Ellen did, and in heartless man
ner, too; not even mentioning the part
she had herself in it. Sad and sleepless
passed that night with poor Caroline
the morning sun found her languid, with
an aching head. She descended to the
breakfast room, where she soon received
a line from Mr.. Edsall cOuched in per
fectly polite but cold terms, requesting a
few moments interview. Soon after she
heard his well-knOwn ring at the door.
Desponding, she met him Her heart told
her too true that he was changed. Lead
ing her to a seat, he instantly commenced
the painful topic.
Ellen told me all, but l denied the
statement. She asserted it positively ;
but still, from no lips but your own will
| believe it. Is il 500 Were you indeed
the author of that cruel letter Can ]
have been deceived in you? so sadly
too 2"
" 1t is, indeed, so, Mr.. Edsall but, il
tears Of deep penitence and sincere regret
avail aught, the sin has been atoned long
months since"
But what motive, Miss Bowen, could
| inf tn ftA1
friends and acquaintance? You, sc
kind, 50 gentle Had it been Ellen Jack
son -
Did she not tell you aIl-how she
herself began it, and in sport led me on
just for the fun of the minute. 1t wa,
wrong; L never meant it to go further.
But she carried it away with her, and
had it copied and changed. But O, Mr.
Edsall, | have severely suffered for it
every allusion to it has been a SHARP
wound TO me-"
Had you but told me of it yourself
Caroline, | could have forgiven it -
g tried to do so, but how could ]
when you were wounded so deeply ?"
, Long time did that high-minded MAJ
struggle between love and duty. Hi
confidence in her had been shaken, anC
could he now take her to his heart? Car
) oline knew that her life's happiness wa
, at stake, and all for one hours foolish
, amusement. Life would be but a blanl
without his love and guidance, and a!
, she watched the lights and shades pas
over his brow she felt that if love shoulC
, conquer she might still hope. Edsal
now took his leave, and as he parted hC
, clasped her hand in kindness, The warn
, blood rushing to her cheeks.
, Pardon me for my plainness, Caroline
but | must deliberate. This has cost me
, long and bitter struggle, for you know
| not how deep wound was made by that
base act. 1t now bleeds afresh I vii
: either see you, or let you hear from me
! soon."
She saw him not again, but received &
letter from him previous to mis- departure
TO Cuba, whittier business arrangements
called him. He freed her from her en-
, gagement, and gave her a final farewell
His note was brief, but decided. Caro-
line felt that he had been too severe, haC
dealt too harshly with her, yet her lips
blamed him not; but her cheeks paleC
and the light of life had fled. Ellen saw
that her schemes had failed. The friend
ship which from childhood had existed
between her and Caroline had been sun
dered by this cruel breach of trust. and
7iiS oi'Sh iSPSHVSu INC NdHtOH acb DuI
no Overtures could unite the broker
links which had bound their young lives
in harmony so many years.
Kate Lester was united in marriage
with Mr.. Allen, and as Caroline stood by
the side of her friend as bridesmaid, she
rejoiced that she had wrought no perma
nent harm to her iife's happiness by de
stroying the attachment which had OK
: listed in their hearts When Kate was
laying aside her bridal robes for hel
travelling suit, she confessed to her that
she had share in the writing of the