The Carolina Spartan. (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, April 30, 1857, Image 1
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THE CAROLINA SPARTAN.
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VOL. XIV. SPARTANBURG, S. C? THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1857. NO 10.
i -? - . ?
THE nARm.THl RPiVTH ' 11. _.l .1.. 1...1 ?.1.. 1? 1?11... '
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CAROLINA SPARTAN
From Blackwood's Magazine.
HESTER BENFIELD.
chapter 1.
Stretched upon lite pebbly beach wliicl
fringes one of our southern counties, a man
whose appearance indicated that lie belong
ed to what are termed the "higher classes,'
watched, or rather seemed to watch, on j
loveiy auernoon in August, uiu progress o
f the incoming tide, of which the waves, a:
they followed with a pleasing sound, ap
preached liiin more nearly at every rush.
He did indeed hut seem to watch, foi
the abstracted look told plainly the spirii
was far away, and had no part in tlu
strange intenlness with which he leaned
forward and endeavored, by using his stick
to draw towards him a portion of pink sea
weed, each time as the rippling watei
washed it almost to his feet, and as quickl)
bore it back, until, at length, he with earn
Cat vehemence beat the mass to pieces, am
scattered here and there the clinging trails
parent leaves, which a moment before, hat
floated so lightly befoiu him.
George Maldon Asleigh was one of For
tune's favorites*, heir to a title, and possess
?d of means buflicieul to procure for hin
everything that wealth could purchase, 1
had been rare for him to find a wish tin
gratified. Sufficiently good looking, am
Sifted with talents above the average. In
ad been courted until life seeiued one loin
sunshine. Naturally of an easy temper
he could bo capable of acts of kindness am
r generosity in cases where bis own interest!
or whims were not in question; but, liko ?
poilt child?as the crudied sea weed i 11 us
trued ? his best energies were lo<> fiequetilh
exerted in the pursuit of objects which, whei
Mliailieil, Mfic in i nti lt! ??., vmIiiwl?>?e, iot.
Hnee.lilv forirutiHii. An.I mill
~r j o
a* il in it V (vein, if ever a puie and true at
feClion wanned the lieait of in an since tin
days of our great forefather, il Ituil hurim
within hi* bosom for one who, believing
him to be in all thing* tickle, ha<! rofiisct
to listen to hi* prayer; yet lie, the enviet
Asleigh, would fur her sake have gladh
saciihced wealth and title?would hnv<
served cheerfully to win her, lik- anodic
Jacob for his Rachel; hut, denied the trciis
lire of the love lie sought, he looked itj><>t
all the gift* showered on him by a boutiti
ful Providenco as worthless now.
Ilis humor altered from despair to nngrv
Oetiauce; al one moment the desire to cm
a life now so aimless was upp< rmost, al
another the wish for retaliation took in
place. Jle woula marry, ami wound liei
thus?yes, marry at once the person In
thought she would like least; that wouk
pierce her woman's head. A victim t<
such feelings, and shunning society, he li t'
Sought refuge in a distant village on tin
douiheru coast of England, where we firs
fill J hi in.
The sea-weed completely demolished am
scattered to the winds, he look his wai
dreamily across the common, until the on
for help in a woman's voice aroused him
and turning hastily, ho petceived at a shor
distance a girl running wildly along, follow
ed by a sailor, whoso unsteady movement
told plainly how the morning had beet
spent.
"Protect mo, sir, for Heaven's sake!" sin
screamed, and, lolteiiug forward, fell faint
ing on the ground, while a blow from As
leigh at tlio same moment arrested lie
pursuer's progress.
Asleigh looked round for assistance, bu
do one was to be seen, and to leave tin
fainting girl there was impossible, llei
drunken persecutor,after giving utterance it
some innocent abuse, and making severa
ineffectual attempts to lisc, lay where lit
had fallen, and seemed to bu already set
tling himself to sleep. Nothing could bt
done but to endeavor to restore animation
as be^t he might; and Asleigh, after loosen
ing her bonnet and shawl, tan (o the beach
And dipping his. handkerchief in the sen
water, returned to place it on her pale fore
head; and as ho chafed her cold hands, fas?
lidious as lie was, their whiteness and sym
nietry struck him, notwithstanding that one
first finger bore marks of the needle. Hut
when returning consciousness brought back
it.- i-_ i i i- i . .
viio cumr in uer cneeK, lit) wilt astonished
at the beauty of I ho young creature so un
expected ly thrust upon his notice.
With the instinctivo feeling of n gentleman,
he endeavored to lessen liis companion's
confusion, as he conducted her across
the common, until perceiving her to grow
uneasy as they approached the village, he
gently look leave of her, and turned toward*
the house which for ihu time ho called
hi* home.
He occupiud himself that evening in
speculating upon what his new acquaintance
would turn out to bo, where she lived,
dkc. She was certainly very lovely, and
her language not ill chosen; hut she could
scarcely be in the rank of a lady; her printed
gown and common shawl belonged to a
different class; nnd yet the delicate soft
bands bore tostimony to no rough work:
she must, ho thought, have occupied a
higher station in life than her plain dress
indicated; what could she he?
Iieador, Hester Honfield?for such was
her name?was a sewing girl, and an orphau:
ber father had died d .-ring her oariy
jv'uunuvi o??v ???vi UUI OV^CIJHJ* IU3
mother, to whom she owed the tea
and high ]>ritici(>le which had hii
caused her to he as much rcs|?ecle
her blameless life, as admired for
her beauty; she had but a short time
'll 1 ously come to the village of W
I the purpose of learning millinery, he
lc 1 sire being first to obtain initiation in
I mysteries of bonnet making, and then
" ! ceed to London, that city of fabled g
j pavements, wheie alone she believe*.
J tunes were to he made.
Asleigh quickly discovered Hester's
' ing and place of business, and freqi
" waylaid her in the evening. on her r
to her solitary lodging. At first, cur
J and mere idleness induced him to seel
then, piqued by the coldness of her mi
and resolute endeavors to avoid Itit
| became more earnest; lastly, inform
' which reached him from the inetropo
newed the idea that his marriage, and
a marriage, would of all things most
!y wound the woman who L;Td rejected
and thus it - ended, that on one Oc
1 evening, when, an usual, lie. had been
? ing for Hester, and at length in the tlx
I iiiix signi 01 ner ngiit figure li
ing across the common, he joined Iter
' em long hud declared liiinself her s
| eliciting in teluiti from her quivering
4 the assurance that site loved liiin.
She knew nothing of her lovei's real
' :tnd it pleased him lo think how great v
r 1 ho her (tupprise when sonfe day she si
1 find herself a countess elect. There was n
' however, lo do in the meantime. Gi
' Asleigh's wife must he educuUd as
as beautiful, and this he resolved to u
take himself. She was not wanting ii
r cut and delicacy rf tttsic. and tv year <
' ted to study would woik womlers;
would come bis hour of triumph.
I > thought the newly-affianced husband,
parted from the trembling gill destine
1 | an evil foilune to bo his wife.
And they were married- not in th
' lage, tho place of their first mceiiii)
I diil not wish it sliould ho so, ami no
1 the friends she had made at \V
1 | of the step she was about to take.
- | marriage was ceiebiateil in a distant I
I 'and Asleigh convi'ved his loido them
^ a pretty residence ho had clioseti, w
J both being unknown, lie intended
. 1 should remain imtil such time as i
I | please him to ro appear in the woild
s : the lovely companion he had chosen.
Ilestei had heeti a wife little more tl
foituight; when one moiniug A-leigl
' lered the loom suddenly, to tell her
business of a pressing nature require*
I iintric*lift?e ptw.uiicM in London, and til
' i tnusl leave her for a few days.
"I liave maiked your studies, I Teste
' shall finish the Temp'St together, de
I 1 when 1 return; he stiro to write out
: portion of Milton daily; God bless
I good by"?ami he was gone.
1 The cause of her husband's hurii*
' i parluie, w hich Hester guessed not, wa
J a paragrapli in the morning papers
r | met his eye, announcing the dangeroi
. I r .i" * r %> *. >
! Iiuv< UI lilts i-.lll Ol JVUUIUI1U, Hi Ills l.?M
1 | low II.
nord lift]land was A?leigh's unci*
! guardian. li:i*l been almost
| n C?
' I >**u to llits old in tti, and fondly had
I . 11opts*I lie would in vary it u:)i tn-coin
I I Hut such w.is not to l?e: had she not d
* him from her? And now a hairier
r otlwi-cn them. which Asleigh smiled I.
| ly its he thought upon?poor Hestei!
I ' lie reached town to find his uncle i
* I extremity of illness, and his con tin
I interesting in her grief than he Itatl
J j thought her in her brightest days.
I | was a timidity in her manner towards
self which touched him more thai
I | other reception could have done. A
)' I lime he had believed she loveu him;
' : it he possible that he had mistaken
when lately she had refused to allow i
t so? The doubt almost distracted him
his agony was complete, as his uncle,
> rant of what had passed between I
joined their hands, and blessed his chil
I 1 lien he would have tied, hut the old
3 j eluag to the society of his nephew, d
iug ha fell always heller when Ge*?rg?
b\, and in truih he seemed so. Wit
r aU'eclttSiiate garrulity lie would spe
the union of his children when lie si
t he woll again. "Helen,'* ho said, "icq
? a protector;" and though Helen would
i deeply, she did ir>t dissent.
>' It was at night, when in solitude the
I of conscience spoke loudest, that lieorg
* fered most. iJnriug the day lie could **
ly he said to struggle against the fa
tion of his cousin's society: and it wh
i ! slight ordeal; fur Helen, although ?ho
her faults, whs very lovable; her chief
, iug being pride?that ol<l family |
i which hail been almost inculcated
virtue. Her mind, highly stored, rem
her a tilting companion for a man of
leet; het refinement and beauty ndn
i of no question; and whenever the
Helen appeattid, all others fell for the
into the sha le. Her very pride seem
add to her perfections and gave her
high-born look of dignity w hich is ue<
' be acquired.
George's thoughts would revert ti
bride lar away, illiterate though most
i j ly; ami it must be written?the toy wt
coining unsightly to liis mind's eye, at
1 longth grew hateful. Ho had inte
writing to his wife; by the close o
fourth day he felt he could not address*
Willi bitter regret, half in remorse, In
anger, ho recalled the nets of the past
months; now ho would curse his own
now his innocent victim, the obslac
had with his own hand upreared to pri
the accomplishment of his dearest wis
And poor Hester! still studying thai
history till your blue eyes lose their I
?still copying, with anxious care, fron
sublime writings of Milton?lines ?
your uninstructcd mind cannot yet folk
, all to please the husband who never I
you, and to whom you are each day g
: ing more repugnant.
She does not wonder at not het
from him, for he said he should not s
, nor uay, as me evening intul arrives,
citing finds her, dressed in her choicest, watching
llierto for him who comes not.
d for j "George my dear cousin George, I have ,
Iter , wished to nsk your forgiveness, oh, so often; \
previ-1 you must have seen my desire to do so;" |
-, for! And drawing herself up, "you know my
ir do- | pride, it whs long ete I could do it; but my
Lo the beloved father's illness, that perhaps softenpro
ed mo, and your kindness to him, George
olden ?am I forgiven?"?and Helen hold out j
I for- to him her matchless hand.
Suppressing a groan of agony, and to hide
i call- the deathlike pallor of his working face, he
lently turned away, and then, without a word,
etnrn drew her to him, and clasped her in his
iositv anus, while one deep sob burst from bis
k her; overcharged heart.
sutler : "Dear George, I now know how truly
in. he vou love me. When you spoke hurriedly
intion that day, you remember, I had beard somelis
re- tiling which caused me pain, and I was
such hurl and angry. You don't know how I
deep- repented afterwards having wounded you.
him; Do not now ask me to tell you what it was
tolier 1 heard. You shall some day know all: I
wail shall never conceal anything fiom you,
rken- George, then"
uny "'.'"I bless you ? may God Moss you,"
. and was all his reply.
uitor, I hey wore together in tho drawiug room,
lips l?ul al this moment a summons from her
father called Helen away, and the door
rank, closed on Asleigh, than whom then the i
mul.I world scarcely contained a more miserable 1
ion Id man.
inch, Hesperate was the inward struggle before
eorge honor gained the mastery; at one moment
well , the spirit of evil whispered, "Cannot your
tulo.r marriage he annulled, perhaps denied, and
ii lal- Helen made yOur own?" at the next, liappi |
devo- ly for him, a belter impulse succeeded. .
then Should the name which'or generations had
So remained unspotted be sullied by him.'
as lie "And \et." he murmured, "oh, Helen, Ilel- j
d by en, why did you diive me lodothat which
I have done? Wretched, hateful woman
e vil- that I have made my wife, why did 1 ever
lie meet Von?"
ue of Helen watched for Asloigh all that even
knew ing..l?iit lie did not appear, li had rather
Their suipnsed her *lo lind him gone, when, on
town, her retiun from her father, slie re-entered ,
e to the drawing room. How great became her j
'here,! astonishment during llie following day,
(h?v when a letter from her cousin was placed
flight >> her hand, ihe contents of which wcro as
with | follows:
"Helen, my dearest cousin, wo may
tan a never meet again on this cnith. An in>uri
en- mountablo barrier siaiul- in the way of otir
that union. I daie not meet y?u igain, rt*?r rati
1 his I fuitlier explain inv c.tnduct, which I know j
iat he must appear incomprehensible and fickle.
I Forgive mo, I be.s. ech von, and l?. lie? e
t; we only that, whatever i may seem, 1 iove, }
arest. ; and shall over love, you hotter than life ?
your j better than all, save honor. I shall have
you; j <|iiiiu 1 li gland eteyou receive th's, it may
I be to return no mere. Fuigive me. Kared
de- | well. G. M. A."
>lbis; How the proud Lady Helen suffered in
unw ^ I'lci no mortal wits permitted l<? know,
us ill- N.(l auotli *r e \e but her own sutv George's
iso ill letter, and while the old man mourned,
over the quarrel which he supposed had de
i and privcd him of his nephew's society for a
as a season, ho little suspected the truth, hut
they ' imagined that, like other lovers' qiiuriels
e so. which had preceded it, it would blow over,
riven and his children, when reconciled, be bettei
was friends than over,
utter (|M, tm tuliine Jlester wutcliod on,liut
; her husband came not; days grew into
" ! weeks, weeks into months, and still he was
mote . No word reached her to tell of his
ever Wc|| ,|tljug ()| probable leturn: terrible fears
''" i- for his safety assailed her, vexatious calls
'"m upon her pur so, which site could not meet,
i any m daily; her servants grew insolent; i
1 one and when she told the tradespeople her
could husband's absence alone caused delay in
'>or? the payment of their hills, they answered
t was |,y kiiiiIch which cut her to the quick.
, and Gradually, to liquidate as far as possible
'{J110 what was duo, Hester parted with everythem,
tiling site possessed hut a few articles of
idren. clothing; she grew pale ? was soon to bom.m
coiny mother?wlial to do, or where to
ecl ir- iuri)j ?|lt, tll0W not: friendless and aione,
^ was f,Uuru U;ls dark indeed for her.
' j. It transpired one day in the town that
l( ( l(, Hester had disappeared. No one know
wired ' whilher the poor deserted gitl had bent
blush 'U'f l',e hard-hearted laughed, and
:.aid they had always suspected something
wrong; and those inure kindly disposed
^ ^ pitied while they blamed, adding, they
feared, indeod they feared, it was the "old
1 tale," so often told,
cma)S
,,0 CHAPTER II.
had On the night before his departuro from
fail- Kngland, Asleigh wrote to his wife,and en ride,
closed an order lor money, telling her at
as a the saino time whore to apply for a yearly
lercd allowance. He gave lio reast?n for desert
illtal- ino ht'l lull urnl'in.f f..? I f
n -- r"v "'h ,WI ,,r|
lilted and applying to himself every epithet of op
Lady probiiuni, bade her farewell. The letter bv
time some accident never readied Iter?for tiled
t<> nately perhaps?for the shock might have
that hewn fatal ii the delicate stale of her health,
for to while the "hope deferred," even though it
buiiied hut faintly within, still sust .Hied
> his her, in a measure, and encouraged the atlove
tempt Hie had resolved to make of followis
ho ing her husband to London, on lite chance
ml at of discovering him.
mled L tlu in the month of May, footstore and
f the weary, Hester had arrived within a stage
i her. or two of the metropolis. She had walked
ill* in the last few miles, and now, with leelda
three limbs and tottering steps, entered the yard
folly, of a wayside inn, and sitting down in the
le lie porch of the long low building, asked w hen
jvent the next mail tor L mdon would pass,
lies. The kindly landlady was bustling out
I dry with some refreshment for the "poor dear,"
nstre as she called Hester, when a carriage drove
a the up, and while fresh horses were prepared,
liich an old gentleman, looking like an invalid, |
?w? and, supported on tlio arm of a lady who
oved accompanied him, begun to pace slowly, in
;row- the warm sunshine, iu front of the door of
the inn.
tring | The Udy was young, and Hester, who
rrite;1 oast a furtive g!%nee at bor, when she oo.ild
do so unperceived, thought she had never
neen u face more beautiful.
On the oilier hand, Lady Helen?for she
it whs?equally struck with Hester's nppearatice,
iiad drawn Lord Kedland's atteu- :
tiou to her, as, tired of exercising in the ,
yard, lie passed through the porch to enter j
the inn.
Little did these two women guess the se- i
cret sympathy which, perhaps, caused them '
thus to he attracted towards one another.
"Yes, my lady, she only just arrived hefore
you and my lord; she is a pretty dear,
my ladv, hut seems pooilv enough; she is i
going on to Loudon hy the next mail, your
ladyship."
" Thank you, landlady; sho is very interesting,
poor thing; 1 winder if i might ,
up.uk to lier."
"Oh, i*111 sure, my lady, sho would he
very proud. 1*11 go and tell her your ladyship
lias something to say to her."
"Oh do not on any account. Thank
you, that will do;" and as the hostess retired
courtsying, Lady Helen returned
through the porch, in which Hester still
sat. Playing for a minute with flowers
which clung about the trellis, Lady Helen,
addressing Hester, said, "What lovely
and enjoyal le weather it is! will you have
one of those?" offering her at the same time
a sp'ig of jessamine.
"Thank you, miss."
"You are going to lunidon, are vou not?
You must he sorry to leave the country
while everything is so beautiful; I aiu so!
happy at finding myself in it again."
lea's tilled Hester's eve*. No place !
looks beautiful now to me, miss;" and then
sho hesitated and stopped.
"How so? "It is sad to henr one so J
young as you are speak thus. i see by the
ling you wear that you aie married: is
your husband in business in town?"
*'I don't know, mis*; 1 am going in search |
of him; he has left me these i iaiiy mouths
past, and I do nut know whether lie is dead
or alive.
"Pu r thing, poor thing! have you fiieuds
in Loud- n?"
"Niilltr* rotkli...) ??. ? ?
.v, . ..m .? j'.M M III i| i.%1'1% V?ML'U.
"llave you ever been tiieiw before?"
"No," in a voice still fainter,
llclen paused, and then Lending down. ,
said, "My poor gill. aie you well provided \
with money? 1 fear not: do take this." ,
Hester's wan f.tco Hushed crimson a*,
gently putting aside Lady Helen's hand,
site answered, "You mean Ltndly, tni*s, I
am sure, hut I have never n-ked or received ;
charily, ami cannot accept ii now."
"I do not mean it as chaiity," persisted
Helen; "you shall tepay me ? hen voji can.
See," she said, taking a card from her ieti 1
cule, "when \ou rind vour ' : hand, which
ticxl giant y ?u in ?y soon do. you can re- ]
mil 1110 little loan I have made to you; the '
address is written here. I wish I could assist
you further," and she placed a hanknote
in Hester's trembling hand.
The cntri ige was by this time readv, and
L -rd Hedland, seated in it, wailed for his
daughter. Hester had scarcely recovered
siillicieiit composure to utter her thanks,
when her benefactress was gone.
It had not been Hester'? intention to
take an inside place, but the henry of the |
weather having tempted most of the passengers
to travel outside, she found herself, as
tlio mail drove tip. Compelled, against her |
will, to incur an expense too great f a her
scanty means; but a kind I'roviJencc was
again watching over her, and providing
another fiiend fv?r the lonely giil.
An old lady, the only occupant of the
coach with Hester, interested in her appearance,
entered into conversation with her,
and listened with the deepest cotnmiscialioii
to the story she presently unfolded.
A vci V discerning old lady she was, or
one very unsuspicious, for neither doubt,
nor fear of imposition, seemed to enter her
mind to Jeter her from li<,r charitable pur
j>n e, when, having icachod Londo i, she
bade ITe.ster enter the hackney-coach she
ha?l provided, un<l getting in he-tide her.
took the poor wanderer to her own comfortable
limne.
"I shall call you 'I letter at once; and
remember, you pa** for inv cousin, and
then the servants and neighbors need iiavo
nothing to gossip about: and l?y the by,
my name i* M >rri M<ss Mortis; thank
goodness I never had a husband to coiitiol
mr. We in list look into this business of
yours, my poor child. It was providential
that I met you in the coach today; Lni
Ion is a dangerous place for young and
beau I mean unprotected women. We
shall tin I this husband of yours at last, 1
have no doubt ?never fear."
Poor Hester's heart swelled with giatitilde;
and the cheotful kindness * f her new
f.i end imparled in ire of hopefulness to hei
drooping spuiiH than she had known for
many week*. The lieu day, seated at hei
side, am) listened to with close attenl on.
Hester entered ii.iuutely into the incident*
of her pi*l life; with tears she totalled the
days ot her happy childhood, and spoke of
the mother who had been taken 'nun her
when most she needed her protection; of
her mooting with lieorge Adeiglt, and of
all that had sub*e<|iiei)tly occurred.
"Ilo is a gentleman, you mV, Hester} '
"Ye*. 1 believe so; at lea*t 1 always c -n
sideied him in l>? l?<o ? 1 ' 11
. - ?r.,, t S^.Sfc ItMMTH 1 lilll
not (liink much a' out (hut at (ho time ?I
loved him' -she covered hoi I ice with hoi
hands an-1 a.-jit alrw-li?"and I runted him,
God knows how truly; ami il litllc malleiOil
to me what ho w?<, il would have been
jll?l lliu Same. He sai<l lio wished Hie lo
l?e butler educa'ed, and left mo all mv sindies
mink'-d, and how haul I worked to
please him through many diearv mouths,
although each day my heart grow fainter
and fainter. Hut I am Mire, when ho left
1110, he meant lo return, an ho said, in a few
days. Oil! I fear, 1 fear ho most ho dead,
ami I shall never see him again;" and the
leais fell thickly through her linger*.
"Were you muried in the village where
you met hint first?
"No; he did not wish any ono there lo
know of our intention, and he went several '
days before our marriage, that no suspicions
might he created, to T?? Tt was arrang- '
ed lliHt I should follow afterward*. Wo j
wuie married on the day 1 joined him, and
immediately set out for the pretty spot
where, for a fortnight, we lived so happily."
Miss Morris shook her head, unperceived
by Hester, as she muttered the word "had." 1
"Have you the certificate of your marriage, !
llester?"
"No, iny husband has it. 1 remember .
seeing him place it in his desk."
Another shake of the head, and a repeli- ,
lion of the little word twice over.
"Were there any witnesses to your mar- j
rtage?"
"I think not, but 1 really do not know;
l was so frightened, and it was all so unlike
the merry weddings I had seen at home,
that?that?"
"Ah, I fear so, indeed?God help you,
iny pooi child."
Old Miss Morris was untiring in her of
forts to discover Hester's husband. An advertisement
addressed to "G. M. A ," en- 1
treating him to return to his sorrowing wife,
was inserted in several of the newspapers,
hut to no eU'ecl. More h?r the satisfaction .
of a friend whom she had consulted than
for her own, she wrote privately to the various
places at which Hester had li\ed, and
found her statements all corroborated. H*-r
anxiety was much increased bv an answer
she received to a note she had written to
the clergyman of the parish in which Hester
last resided, lie said he had made inquiries
about the persons mentioned by Mis*
Morris, and found that a gentleman of tire
name of Asb-iglt had lived ttt the town for 1
some week*, having as his companion a
young woman who passer! for his wife, and
who had subsequently disappeared. Miss
Morris no longer doubted that Hester bad
been the victim of a false marriage, but so
confident did lire poor giil continue of the
truth and honor of the man she loved,!bat
her kind friend shrank from expressing this
conviction to Iter. She saw that Hester, in
her feeble slate of health, could belter bear
to hear of his death than of his having do
Ci'lVPrl it??r
"I'llo time at length came when MU* Mor
ris felt she dated speak <?n the subject to
Hester. It w as lifter lior chld's birth, when,
in recovered strength, she war about to
take him to the dirndl to be christened.
"Hester, my dear, what was your father's
name!" inquiied her fiiend.
"Frank, Miss .Mot ris."
"A good honest name; and one that, 1
am sure, belonged to an honest man. 1
hope you w ill give that name to your boy."
Hester hung her head.
"Hester"?a pause. "Hester, my dear, 1
must say something to you: you will try to
hear it bravely. Hester, 1 much fear your
sun cannot honestly bear the name of Asleigh.
1 have thought it all over again 1
and agaii , and have spoken to one 1 can
I'lisi on the subject. I fear, my poor child,
vour marriage was not a real one; I cannot
douht but that you in ie deceived. tio?l
oi.ly knows whether he is alive or <lead.
You are not the tirsl victim thii wicked
world has seen, Hester, nor will VoU be the
last; votn case is one that is but too coin
moii, I grieve t>? say. < Mi, if women were
no so ready to fall hi love and many, and ?
that s.,it. of thing, how in ich hotter oil
would they be. Look at ll|e, Hester; 1 do
not believe there is faith or tiutli in any
; man living-?but one; well, I must except
hiiii; 1 do think l'octor Thornton a tunliearted
man. I had oncu other notions,
but. lliaiik H wen, I have outlived them.
"Hester, Hester lUnfi with a stress
on the surname, "resume the name under
which you were happiest?the honest name
which never celled a blush to your cheek
and let vein s.ui be called by it likew ise.
Now weep lie re, my poor one, but let in
not speak more oil this sa l subject;" ami
H sler's arms weie thrown around the old
ladv's neck, and her sobs hushnd on her
sVlilpalhi/ing bosom.
Frank Bciiti-1 1 was a line boy of seven
veais of age. when one day a q'liet paitV,
decorated with a few white favors, set out
\i - \I .. 1 i * '
?"iaa .*i .TMiii .\-v UJrV Sli'jlp- 1
inl>? the which had been hired fur
l!ie occasion, you might have recognised in
the hiide elect no otliei tlian our Itietil
Hotter, Mlili li in Lome, hut very ?1 itt'cr<>nl
Innii the Ib-ster of e o iicr dov->. A 1>> >k of
decision and self-reliance li id ienlaced the
expression of Ousting timidity which lind
been llie cliaracleiistic ol her voiilliful beau
lv. and a seiious earnestness pervaded L>*r
countenance. Sao was about to give lie*
band -Iter heat I bad been bis for iu?u\ a
da\ ?to llie one llunoiablo mail tlie woild
contained, according to llie idea of Iter ben
efaclress, Miss Moms?to lb. Thornton.
He was indeed very estimable, and ibis
marriage delighted llie lie n I ol tins old ! i l\.
I* tank, loo, she prophesied, ivas I > ^m .i up
another "only man to be trusted;" so that
though his predecessor might bo dispose !
of, the world was ii"t to be lell without
some one in who u to put tai.h, when ail
others were proved unstable.
And where, meanwhile, was the Lady
Helen! Ilv astiati^ecoi ciJence, bcr mar
riago was solemnized on the same dav as
Hester's, though hi a far more splendid
m inner. Hester read id the festivities
which had attend*' i t;ie celebration ol tiie
nuptials of the lovely Lid* Helen MaKluii.
an I piixcd fervenily f.ir I er happiness.
She told Iter husband, teaifullv, of the kunl
n. ss she ba*l re wived at the bands of L i lv
Helen, when, fiien*lle?v ai *1 poor, she was
making bet w*arv way towards ], >nd<*n.
Die debt in m *iic\ h >*1 been long repaid,
be s;?i |, but '.lie debt of gratitude she owed
c niM never be obliterated.
(ieorge Asleigb, sli 1 a wanderer on the
face ot llie eatlli, had huiried from place to
place, seeking the repose of mind which no
I'll >SI I>lln |*.|||LI lutn.r III! Ituuiii.i
W """ (? '? "?
travelled through Greece tliiJ E^vpl, lie
j?>nrnev?nl oti t?? Imli.i. lie had e\|>?*cled
upbraiding, froin hi* wife, in answer to the |
letu-i lie li.t l sent lier on leaving England,
or, at any rate, dial slio would have drawn
iho allowance placed at her disposal. Find
ing neiihet to he the c.ec, lie wiole, at die
end of twelve mouthy to hit man of hud
n?M, requesting that inquitie* might ho
mftdo aratut a lady with w'.iooi bo hxd to44p
sided in shire. The answer lie receiv- i p
od to tliis letter was to the eirect that she tl
had disappeared, no one knew whither. e<
The writer added that her health had, prior ti
to her disappearance, been much impaired, si
and that in all probability alio was wince \
dead, especially us no inquiry had ever been ti
inadc at the banker's w ith whom the money i>
left for her maintenance had been placed, o
Asleigh's sufferings and remorse were in- H
creased fourfold alter this. Oh, if the past tl
could he but his once mote!?but there was a
now no remedy, no?none. Ho could not d
present himself before his cou>iti, the wo- 1
inau still so dearly I -ved, for adaik rnysle b
ry hung over his wife's fate, and all his ef- j
forts to clear it ? way were baffled. With f<
anxious eye did he search the newspapers, tl
dreading to see the announcement of Lady ' ti
Helen's marriage, but for very long he was it
spared this additional pang. At length. ; c
when seven years had passe I over the head j c
of the sell exiled man, he learned that she
had pledged her faith to another. h
He could remember her husband, one t!
worthier than lie had himself ever been to ' 11
possess the treasure he had lost. [ si
Alter passing two years longer in India, (
the climate began to tell seriously on As- | t<
leigb's health, and, little caiiug where he m
went, he retraced his steps through Egypt, ' b
and over the well-known beaten track I o
through the Continent, until he respited t t<
Paris. While idling in that capital,during b
the lentli year of his banishment, tidings e
reached him of his uncle's death; and si
business rendering it necessary that lie *
should now return to England, the new earl s<
once more set foot on his ualive land. i n
Helen cotil I not avoid an involuntary
start as she read "that the Karl of llcdland
had, after ail absence of some year*, arriveJ s<
in London;" hut slie had tutored h rself i]
perlectlv. Had she not torn his unworthy
image from her heart, with a merciless hand i i]
made strong by wounded pride? She could ! r<
long since have ui?-t liiin any where, with- n
out h?-r color deepening a shade or the | I
quickening of a pulse. And now, as a wife
and mother, she would indeed have scorned *
herself had it been otherwise. ! g
"I s,-e my cousin liedlnnd has relumed," j a
she said, in her coldest accents, when she u
met her husband, Colonel Allenby, at din- ti
net. 1
I 11
"Oh, indeed! 1 wonder lie has not come |j
to see you. I must call on Kim to-morrow."
n
"No, if you please, do not: we quarrelled
many years ago, and I should not wish my |i
husband to seek him " a
"Surely it is tune now, dearest, to forgive u
atid forget," Colonel Allenhy remonstrated,
half laughing, hut the way in which his e
wife utteied the word "never," ended the s
conversation. ? ( f
Helen piqued herself on being a good
wife, and her husband's devotion to her ad- |
milted of no question. If her exhausted
heart li td been iucap.tble of loviug again, }t
still her admiration and respect for the part- t
ncr she had chosen were most genuine, and t
enabled her to do her duty towards him |]
cheerfully and well. Alicnbv remembered ; t
?though he had never exchanged a word ' p
with Ins wife on thosuhject?that the world j i
had once given Lady Helen to her cousin, j u
Lord Kedland, and he refrained from any i v
further teniaik about him, believing he ful- ' r
lv understood her reasons for speaking as y
-ho had ju-t done. ;
It w,.s fated that Lord Kedland should ; s
soon go through the ordeal lie most dread- ! v
oil, and which he had yet, in a manner, f
- night?a meeting with his cousin Helen, j \
It was only when her black eyes rested on t
h. earc worn face for an instant, and wore i
withdrawn with an expression on them of t
Co!] unforgiving disdain, that lid fell how j*
ninoli lie luitl miscalculated ilie ell'ccl uf the ]
inflnetice of old recollections. ' *
lie liad s.tillered m.1 much?such dreary c
years of remorse 11 ;il been hi>, that it see ill- j
e?l lo hint sis M slit) and all (ho world should ^
have ht-eii aware of tins, and. instead of t
si .thlii ii ? still m >ro deeply, liar . placed I ho |
linger of lovo and pity on the \ el open |
w-muds, and hid them close, and lliroh no |
hi ne. II- left the hi!! room in wnieh they I
had litot, to i tinneived to he ir society, and |
wandered through the streets to his lonely c
In mi".
How changed was the aspect of all things |
t > lite cliil . whose hiuh fortune had luno j
in w itii g.hieti hells. 1 j,
Ho tried lirst one thing, and then another;
still the old I tiI ii-_j of instability seem- i
ed to h .t ii ii l hi 111. hut now it was not from \
tick cness of purpose. Want of lieait in | |
i-vi-iv pur uit rendered Ii hi incapable ofper- t
fuming, as Ire ought, the duties required of (
him, "in! a sense of no'ot, in many inswtn- ;
m s, in.t ie tii-orge Adeigh give up wh it lie . j
felt he could ih> with ?(> little earned nos*. ?
Thus the two tir-l years, after Ins letiirn to ' j
K igl rati, we e devoted l? politics. On en- j
lei ing the arena, cheered by his friends, and ^
excited for a while hv rjueslio s which we e i c
it th.it time the interesting topics of tire I _
day. lie seeitie I to have end aside forever 1 |
the apatli) lliev ha i so d"j>l ?red, an.I hi- (
taleli's, vat i?- I ail< I itiiliaiit.ftli one ft>rl!i and
caused the c amity to reckon him amongst ]
her ii-ing sla'esin-m. I til I llie highest of. c
fers were made to hint in vain. Sick of r
puhlic life, where all w is empty as the Void t
within Ins own warning head, he dotei- I
mined - ii buiving liimsell in the country, |
and seeking llie-e f ?r the pen at of niirid
. I ,?l. I... I r .il. . l. . .. I -i i '
I.-* ti M.i t iiiiiinin iMTM it hum nun.
Worn in miii< 1 and hodv, Iti^ health had
*I-.i ?av, and before leaving I >vvi?, c
hi*. >%i ili*? m?!i it .lion-. of soma of ln> oldest ?
friend*, agreed to a?k the advice of one of *
the great inebeal authorities?iiouo other I,
lli hi Do.-l'jr Thornton, now an established i
mail. a
llo-tur'R hi)-.band hail mounted, step by ?
step, the ladder of eminence, ami, re-pected 1
I?v all who knew him, |> ?s*e.v?ed <>l a store i
?*f this world's* goods, ami of licllci hopes j I
beyoml, her lot with hi in was indeed ail (
enviable otid. Their union was b! o-.se d | I
wiili throe children, of which number one, j t
a little girl, alone survived; and how Ilea li
ler loved this (lea. one, many mothers may "
tell. lit
Har son, Fiank Bonfio'd, now a fine
remising I.id ??f twelve years, whs, through
.? good Doctor's liberality, pursuing kit
location under a clergyman in the cuuuy,
prior to entering the army, the profcl;
oil lie had chosen, and for which Mist
(orris had expressed her intention of fitno
hiin out; for, still as kindly interested
i Hester and her ton ?s of yore, their good
Id friend had settled her little fortune on
tank?"her boy." as she called him; and
jus all was bright and prcisjHsrous in and
bout the house of the once friendless and
escrled girl. " " '
Hester was in her dining-room, her child
y her side, dressed (or her morning's walk,
"There, darling, go to nurse," mid thu
>iid mother, piercing a kiss on the hps of
ie little upturned lace. "Shall mamma
ike you to her?" ami catching up the child
i her aims, she Carried her from the rootn,
ailing as she went, "Here, nurse, take your
barge."
The nur-e was standing without at the
ail door, through which, at the moment,
lie man servant was Hd.liilting a gentleinn.
by whom, ere Hester Could escape,
he foor.d herself accosted.
In some little con fusion, she begged hitn
? walk in, adding that Docl<?r Thornton,
rlioru ?he presumed he came to see, would
e disengaged directly; and was in the act
f leaving the room, when, with an agitai*d
gesture, he detained tier, and in treiuling
accents, a voice which she now reognised?one
she had believed lobe long
ilf-nced in the grave?called her by name,
Hester, Hester! don't you know me? am I
o changed?" She staggered back, and
early fainted.
i- r ?
ayhiii i
ifier these ninny years, why have you
ought me? I* il to biing more shame on
lie head ?>f one who never wronged your'
"You mistake my purpose in coining to
Itia house, Hester, though seeing you hat
elieved me from h load of misery and relorso.
1 came to visit Doctor Thornton,
low is it that I Hud you heie?"
"I am ? I ain?his wifr.!'' she almost
lirieked; and then, dropping on her kneet,
!a?ped her hands, and said in a voice scarce
uJilde, "OR, for the lore of Heaven, tell
ue. George Asleigh, tliat I was never yonrs;
ell me I was wronged, deceived?anything,
ml not that I am your wife. My child, ruy
illle Mary, think of her."
"Tlie infant I saw in your arms but
iow?"
"Yes, yes, she is dearer to mo than my
ife. Oli, Asleigh, iu mercy tell ine it was
,11 as they said, false, and that you deceived
ne."
"J did not deceive you, Hester, as regardd
our marriage, nor did I wish to do so
ubsequently. A letter from me, did il not
each you I"
"N'one?oli, none; and God knows U'ow
ong I sought for and trusted you."
"And now you hate me?is it not so? I
,m detestab'o in your eyes. Listen, Keaer,
while 1 explain the past. Accident
hrew us in each other's way; at the time 1
net you I war smarting from what I believed
o he my rejection by the woman I loved
leyond all else on earth. You wero beauiful,
and the thought seized upon my mind
if making you my wife, in the hope of
rounding the pride of one who had so laceated
mine. I meant to do my duty by
'oil. I saw you were not indifferent to me,
,n.l it was in my power to raise you to a
photo much above that in which you iLeu
lore. This, perhaps, 1 looked ujK>n assufioiont
compensation (<?r everything else,
iVo weta scarcely married when news
ca lled me of the dangerous illness of a
lear relative. I hurried to what I believed
? be Ins death-bed?the death-bed of ukk
at her. There it was my miserable fate to
earn that she loved me, and had erer done
o; ai d, like a coward, unable to face the
oi:?e juenoes of mv own actions. I tied ?
led from England: but ere I left, I wrote to
on. When, ;?ftor waiting many months,
10 ?n*wer came to my letter, I wrote to Engami,
nt .1 directed (hat inquiry should Ur
uade about you. From what 1 learnt, I
i ad reason to believe \ou were dead. What
suffered from remorse. God alone know*;
thank him now, that at least I did not > :;?l'so
your death."
"And. George A*le gh, you iit-ver loved
ne, and \el I aiy your wife. Oh! great
leaven*, he merciful; it cannot he that I
mi bound t > ibis man."
Hester, hu?l>! There is hill little lime
o spate; we may l>e interrupted. Listen
el again. I can make you this sole re*
nation; no one knows of our marriage?
?o one need know, if you can keep your
i*ii secret, of my existence; my uaine even
ias b? < i. changed *>i:iCe we last met. Hear
ue: 1 -o'.einnly swear, by all I hold most
acicd, never to molest yon more by mv
rcsence. inn to reveal anything that may
blow light on the past. Let us make this
ompact: swear with me that the events of
mi earlier days shall he Lmied in oblivion
?sweat;" and their bands were j >inetl oiico
n<>re n> register :i vow, how ditfatonl froiu
lie Gist!
"Ami now, farewell for ever; l>o
iMiicul to my memory; pity me while vou
oiuleinn, tor 1 am a wanderer nn the face
if (lie earth," anil, turning from her, he left
lit] loom, the nounj of tho closing of (ho
i:t|| door telling her the next moment that
io wn< genu.
[to ni: cosru'dkn nkxt week]
A Wahniko io l'uvaicuxs.?Dr. Lo?
ock, the Queen'* p!i\>iei.ii), hat been |hmv
mptorily dismissed fioin further ntlelidutua
hi the iovi'.I family, wlium h? ha* been
>ilhcrl<? admitted <m term* of familiar in.
ercoUiML Hi* salary, ?5,000 per annum,
i royal present ou each safe delivery of the
11eon, ?iinl h lai^e practice among the no?ility,
is no iiunU low. The doctor hat
nolo every oftort toward* reconciliation,'
?ut the Queen remains inexorable. It seem*
hat it came to the Queen's ears that Dr.
>>c'k'k wm given to tm? much talking, and
hat though she told PrinO Albert that )ii?
iahlt of sleeping between the hlatikels was
a vulgar, dirty Dutch pracli?"e,** ?he did
lot care to have it >!d abroad.
' liverpnrif P^t.