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lewis m. grist, proprietor.! j|it fnbepcnbent Jfamilu ftetosppcr: Jfor t|e promotion of tjre political, Social, Agricultural anb Commercial Interests of % Sonfjj. TERMS?$3.00 A YEAR, IN ADVANCE. VOL. 19. YOEKVILLE, S. C., THUESDAY, ^PRIL lO, 1873. NO. 15. ??????????????? wm??? ----- 1 ? - - * j. a- .1 %u ?rigiual Written for the Yorkville Enquirer. FLORIMOND; OR, Divorce or No Divorce. BY MRS. CLARK WARING. CHAPTER XVIII. SUNSHINE AND AN UNEXPECTED STORM. a r.mamni-otilo (iiniiemartff, anrl the XLltCl IUIO lU&uiVAuvtv j~?. wJ , rigid self-control which had rendered the occasion a very trying one to Ralph Eglinton, he began to reap the rewards of his cunning schemes. Florimond was not a vain woman (if my reader belongs to the sterner sex I do j not expect him to believe this?yet, nevertheless, it is true) and, moreover, she had not, like so many of her sex, an inordinate idea of the exalted effect her many charms of person ^ and manners produced on others; so she readily gave credit to this apparent change in Ralph's sentiments. Had not another woman estranged the heart of her husband from her? And if she did not possess those graces?that necessary power of attraction to retain his love?could she flatter herself that she possessed the ability to retain the love of a man in nowise bound to her? No! And Florimobd did not consider that the undeveloped, untutored Florimond of those days, was but a feeble object of attraction, compared to the full-fledged Florimond of her present existence. At all events, conviced that Ralph had overcome his hopeless passion for her, Florimond no longer avoided him; and laying aside the frigid reserve which had its birth in Ralph's too evident admiration, she showed herself to him now, in a new and most fascinating light. He gained now, for the first time, a nearer view into the soul-life of the * woman whom he loved, and obtained a closer insight into the rich stores of her brilliant intellect. Not that our heroine was a learned woman, who could argue on points of philoso-. phy, or deliver precepts in ethics, or dive into the profound depths of metaphysics. Far from it. The bent of her intellect was essentially feminine, and after all these years of study, she was merely an accomplished woman ; her very accomplishments being of a WAmonltT nil oranfof* Tlinilfftl Oflftp.il 111 fiftVftT nuiuauij VU?I?VIV.. & al respects, she was not by any means erudite or strong-minded. She had read much and that of the choicest literature, and she possessed the rare art of displaying a knowledge of j facts and books, without being pedantic. Her j mo3t extraordinary gift was her memory, I which was truly astonishing. Doctor Egliu-, ton assured her, it quite surpassed the memo ry of that Greek called Charmidas, who could J repeat from memory the contents of the larg- j est library of the ancients. Florimond could j repeat correctly, whole volumes by rote. She I could do more; she could repeat, perfectly, whole poems, written in a foreign language, * which she did not understaud, having ouly , learned them as an exercise of memory. This j remark of Ralph's was drawn forth by some ; of her numerous repetitions, for now, at his re- j quest, she frequently repeated some of those J poems or elegant dissertations she had studied J under his mother's teaching. The delicious I voice, the graceful posings, the expressive ges- j tures, the perfect symmetry of her face and j her well-developed figure?above all, the mysterious magnetism of her glorious dark eyes? so enchained his senses and his love, that he sometimes called on God to strike him with a J thunderbolt or otherwise destroy this gift of life, if it was so ordered by Fate that he could j never win this woman whom he so devotedly ! and passionately loved. All unconscious of j the fearful struggle going on between Ralph's j heart and his outward seeming?for, accord-' ing to current belief, Doctor Eglinton was j now engaged to Miss Bainbridge?Florimond t 1 t IP A. 1_ ? . l_ ... A. , no longer denied nerseit 10 mm ; uut aucicu with spirit into the enjoyment of his society, and made herself in return agreeable to him, as she unfortunately so well had the power to do. Ralph brought her new books?and old j books (which oftentimes, like old friends, are so much better than the new!) books which she had read with his mother; and now select- j ing those passages which his mother had loved, i she read them to the son, each word, unconsciously to her, tangling him deeper in her toils. It was saying a great deal for Doctor I Eglinton's self-command and firmness of char- j acter, that he never, during a whole month of j such friendly and familiar intercourse, breathed a word of that impulsive love which burned in his heart, which fiHed his thoughts by day and turned his nights into wakefulness ; and which dimmed the ruddy color on his handsome face. "Doctor," said Mrs. Raveuswood one day, struck by this unusual paleness, "I think you overwork yourself. The weather is getting too warm now to work so hard. Directly, you will have to doctor yourself instead of doctoring other folks, which you will find not half so pleasant." "Oh ! it is not work," said the doctor, "I have untold strength aud can stand any amount of work; but my mind is worried and?" ) "Why, what about?" asked Floriraond, looking at him innocently. The Doctor became embarrassed at her continued gaze, which Mrs. Ravenswood observ ing, she feared she had committed some great blunder?perhaps his engagement with Miss Bainbridge had been broken off' J "I beg your pardon," she simmered, "I did not mean?" "Haven't you heard the news?" inquired the doctor, a ray of light presenting for his extrication. "No, I have not?what news?" "We have had a dreadful commercial convulsion in town?the great Central Bank has failed." "The great Central Bank!" exclaimed Florimond, dropping in a seat. "My God!" Appalled at her tone and looks, the doctor ejaculated? "Why?did?you havef Are you interested ?" "Every available cent I have on earth," was the reply to his half finished question. "I am ruined." "But how could you invest everything there?" asked the doctor excitedly. "Put all one's freight in oue bark?'tis too great a risk." "I had no one to advise me," said Mrs. Ravenswood ; "I know nothiug about business ' matters. As for my lawyer, he is as stupid as a Boeotian. I have plenty of land in the . South?a thousand acres ; but it is not under cultivation and has been only an expense tc j me to pay the taxes 011 it. I have a house there, too ; but I cannot go back there, and even if I wanted to, I do not believe I have, at this moment, sufficient money to take me there. My poor child, she cried, putting her arms around Berta, "we are beggars iu a : strange land 1" I "But your house in town ?" asked the docj tor, infinitely distressed; "does not that be; long to you ?" j "Yes," said Mrs. Ravenswood, "but it was only partly paid for and I shall have to sell that to pay some very heavy debts. You know how expensively?how extravagantly?I have lived. My poor child?Oh! what shall I do ?" "Let me tell you what to do," said Ralph, impetuously, all self-control now scattered to the winds. "Come to these arms, which long to enfold you?accept my love, become my wife, aud with God's help you shall never feel the stings of poverty. Dearest Floriraond I am not rich, but I love you devotedly, and I I can work for you, and if health is spared me for a few years, I can even promise you wealth. You shall never want, my queenly Florimond, any comfort or luxury to which you have been accustomed." "Why, Ralph?Doctor Eglinton," said Florimond in profound astonishment, "have you forgotten Miss Bainbridge?your betrothed? My poor friend 1 I see you have an impulsive, noble heart, and feel a sympathy for me in this grievous affliction. But remember, I cannot listen to such words from you?remember our compact? 'Blast not tlie hope, which friendship has conceived, But fill its measure high.'" "I will not deceive you any longer, Florimond. I have only feigned that love to Elinoir Bainbridge, to gain access to you. I am not engaged to her and I do not love her. Will you not believe that my heart is only yours?yours with the most sincere, unchanging devotion? Remember it is the son of Madame Ignatius who pleads to you for happiness?for life?for I cannot live without you. Dearest Florimond, answer me." "Again I tell you," said Floriraond, in a scarcely audible voice, "that I cannot listen to you. I cannot marry you. It is impossible." "Why is it impossible!" he exclaimed, a red * -I * m L : spoc almost line auger uunuug uu ma vuccn.3, and his vigorous frame trembling with intensity of emotion. "Do you think it your duty to remain always true to the memory of your dead husband and to blast my eternal happiness, through a seutimeutal idea of eternal reverence to his memory? Is my suffering heart to weigh nothing against his cold body in the grave? Ah ! Florimond, you cannot be so cruel." Florimond shuddered, and hid her white face and moaned. Ralph bent over her and said almost in a whisper? "Florimond, do not think I am a vain man, it is not that; but we are so well suited to each other, so congenial in our pursuits, and the bent of our inclinations are so harmonious, we would be so happy in each other. There is in my heart an instinctive conviction which tells me that I am not personally objectionable to you, and it tells me more, dearest Florimond, it tells me that you could love me if you would allow yourself to do so. Why do you fight against that love?" Florimond uttered a faint cry and attempted to rise from her seat and leave the room. "You do not escape me in that way," said Ralph, with a mixture of tenderness and decision, and he encircled her waist with his arms. "I will not release you now, until you grant my prayer, or else give me some reason for rejecting ray suit." "You must not hold me !" exclaimed Florimond, trying to escape from him. "I will write you a full explanation." "That will not do," said Ralph, decisively, pressing her tighter to his heart. "You are to tell me now, or else these arms are your prison forever." "You are really uugentlemanly," said Florimond, her pale face now flushed scarlet; "but _ * .. l il.. T ...Uo* T II yOU U1USL KHUYY LUC LIU Lily J. Ulll nut nuat x seem. Ravenswood is not my real name, and my?" She could not utter another word, though her lips still moved involuntarily. "For the love of God speak," cried Ralph, hoarsely, gazing into her face with terrible intensity ; "speak Floriraond, or ray heart will j burst." "My husband," said Florimond, in that peculiar voice of hers, which always thrilled him to his heart's core, "my husband, the father of my child, is still a living man !" Ralph's arms dropped away from her as il she had stabbed him with a poinard, and a smothered sound of horror and anguish, halfgroan, half-cry, escaped him. He sat down staggering on a chair, and leaned his arms I ou a table and buried his face in them, j "Oh ! ray God," he groaned, "have mercy on me." "Ralph," said Florimond, melted to tears, j for the pity she felt for his anguish, "I never j meant to wound you in this way. Did I not j tell you always, that you must not love me ; I that there was an insuperable obstacle in the : way of my marrying you ?" t "Yes," said Ralph, raising his features, still ; contracted with sharp pain, "I do not blame ; you in the least for what I now suffer ; and ; Florimond, you must not blame yourself. As long as you thought I cared for you, you never J gave me the slightest encouragement, and you were not even friendly to me, until you ; thought I loved another woman. It was ray ; own blindness. Even that poor child tried tc i enlighten me. She told me her father was . still alive, but when I saw written on the back ! of that picture, "Dead since Oct. 23, 186-.' "He has been dead to me since that day,' I snirl Florimond : "but he still lives." Ralph groaned again. 1 "Do not take it so much to heart," said ; Florimond ; "true I cannot marry you, bill think how many beautiful and attractive women in the world, whom you can marrj without auy impediment. You will be yet happy?very happy I hope." "Never!" said Ralph with bitter emphasis ; He drew a long, quivering breath and thet i arose, and coming toward her, offered his hand saying, with a touching pathos? : "Good bye my sister," and with these word.1 | he vanished from the room, i He had been gone perhaps about ten miu i utes ; and Florimond, dejected, sat immova ble in the same spot where he left her, when ? | ragged urchin ran up to the house with ? j sealed note for her. It was from Ralph. Oi ! a card he had written, "Forgive me, that ii ' the selfishness of my own grief, I forgot your ! ] i j heavy misfortune. I would advise you to em- ' < i ploy, immediately, the services of Mr. Har- {( >' court, whom I consider the most competent of 11 s all our lawyers. Perhaps he may be able to 1 [ j save something for you. I pray God that he I; , J may. If I do not hear from you to the con-; i. trary, I shall engage his services this after- I 1 noon. R. E." j < ' J ' j1 i CHAPTER XIX. RALPH MAKES A NEW PROPOSITION. j ^ Mr. Harcourt could recover nothing for ' { i Mrs. Ravenswood?her fortune was a total j i wreck. He sold her house for her, paid a large j sum still due on it, and also those debts of! j j which she had spoken to Doctor Eglinton ; i after which there was but a mere pittance left. The distinguished lawyer went to Avon- 8 dale and had a personal interview with Mrs. Ravenswood, and was much struck with her ^ beauty and her graceful manners. But Mrs. Ravenswood attributed the seeming interest ; he displayed in her affairs to Doctor Eglinton's influence. "And who bought the house?" inquired Mrs. Ravenswood. "Such a lovely place it is!" 1 "A beautiful place," said Mr. Harcourt. "Did I not tell you ? Doctor Eglintou bought j it. He ran thesale up very high?for at least three thousand more than I expected ; seem- s ingly very auxious to secure it." "Why, I did not think he was sufficiently 8 well off to purchase such an establishment." ^ "He has a splendid practice and makes money very rapidly," said Mr. Harcourt; ^ "besides, has many influential, wealthy friends who would lend him the money, if that were necessary. He is to be married soon, I be lieve." Florimond said nothing. Several days after the lawyer's visit, when she was sitting solitary in her lonely chamber, C wrapped in gloomy thoughts and trying to ( , make up her mind what to do in such an un- ^ fortunate state of affairs, Berta entered with ^ ! a beaming face, saying, uncle Ralph was be| low and begged to see her for a few moments, i Florimond shrank from an interview which ^ she knew would be painful and embarrassing ( to both parties, and yet she could hardly refuse to see one, who Lad proved such a friend | to her. His appearance cut her to the heart, j He was pale aud haggard, and all his brilliancy gone. He spoke to her sadly and gravely, J "I have come," he said, "to see if I can be of any service to you. You need some mas- 8 culine head to assist you under your present I TTatrn trnii mnrlp ftnv nlftns for I the future?" "I have not. It seems to me my braius are . paralyzed. I cannot think! It was all so 1 sudden ; but I presume teaching, perhaps, will suit me better than anything else." "That is what I wished to know," said * Ralph. "I will endeavor to secure a situation for you. Pray put your mind at rest, for I will certainly secure one, which at least will support Berta and yourself in comfort." The doctor was silent for a moment, and seemed Is i to find some difficulty in giving utterance to ! his next remark. At last he said? | "Do you not require some ready money for j I present purposes? If so, will you not borrow . from me? I can furnish you with any amount you would like, and you can repay me when j you draw your salary." "Thank you, my kind frieud," said Florimond, tears welling into her eyes at this evi- ^ dence of his delicacy and thoughtfulness for her; "but I have quite enough for present ^ emergencies. There is one great consolation, at least, in this unfortunate matter, I do not owe a dollar in the world. You must not \ think that poverty will come so hard to me. . I have been poor once before, and .now if you | are able to procure for me, even a moderately j | good situation, I will be perfectly satisfied." I j "You bear this reverse nobly," exclaimed j ( 11 Ralph. Suddenly his face colored and his j whole manner changed. J ( "Floritnond," he said, excitedly, "we are j I not even now, eternally separated, if you do , j j not so will it. There is an honorable mode of! arranging this matter, which will overcome j 1 ... . T__ iL!_ i every obstacle to our union, in mis oiuib, ; ( i those who cannot live together in mutual hap- j piness and peace, can be separated by the law j and allowed to form new and happier ties, j ' j Now, if you were divorced from this husband j J j with whom you have not lived for years, you j : may then, in all honor, become my wife." I i "There are no just grounds for a divorce," | | said Florimond ; "the only fault I had to find 1j , j with Albert Dandridge was his coldness, : which arose from an entire want of affection, ? and his proneness, like Theopompus and a j ' great many other people, to censure rather { j than to praise. He never mis-used or ill- ^ j treated me; indeed, he is too much of a gen. j tleman for anything like personal violence." ! j "Nevertheless," spoke Ralph, quickly, now ' excited to the highest pitch, "only say that j j you are willing to obtain a divorce and the j ( ; thing shall be accomplished. Nor shall you 1 . be annoyed with unpleasant details. The . matter shall be placed in the hands of com- j" petent persons, who understand their business,: ,' and will manage everything." , Florimond made a gesture of repugnance, j "And suppose," she asked, "I now stood .; i' before you a divorced woman, what then ?" j ( I! "Then," he said, tenderly, "every obstacle ! ? s to our marriage would be removed, and you ; j would be mine." i! "Not so," said Florimond, with firm deci-: i , sion ; "I would not marry you even then, be- j '! cause I hold those vows made till death, can ; > not be set aside by the hand of man, but are | ] i binding till death. I have thought very deep-; i ; i ly on this subject?thought on it for years, {s ' and though I know what you say is true, that i 1 ' the world would not condemn rae for such a ; course of conduct, there is a stern principle within which would condemn rae. And I I trust my ' : j 'High instincts more than all the creeds.' i 5 As long as Albert Dandridge lives, I shall r 1 never marry another; even were I at liberty j ; to do so, by being divorced from him." ! ! "Your argument," said Ralph, gravely, i . with a keen and anxious glance at her flushed i face, "is not sound to the core; for if, as you j say, those vows you made till death are to be kept till rendered void by death, then they j i must be kept to the letter, and this you have ! not done; for, according to your own account, I - you have lived apart from your husband for - years. It is evident you have broken your x bridal vows already, by separating yourself,] i from him, and such being the case, why will j 1 j you sacrifice your future happiness to an ab-11 l I stract idea of principle ? Since you cannot 11 live in happiness with him, why will you not j jonsent to have those vows honorably can-' pc seled, and become the wife of a man who does wi love you, and with his whole heart, and who to: will exert every power of his being to make pou happy ?" tei Florimond was not exactly convinced by an ;hese words, and yet she was very painfully sti imbarrassed and deeply moved ; and seeing | lo ler agitation, a desperate hope leaped into | pa Ralph Eglinton's soul and shone in his eyes. No longer master of his impulses, he sprang sic ioward her, grasped her hand, and pressed it ro ?his lips. ; co "You will consent?" he cried with a soul- F1 jenetrating glance. "You will make me tne j ,UI lappiest of created beings !" j otl "No," she replied gravely, "I have not said ne 10." *' *11 "But you will think of it," be begged eajerly. "For God's sake, do not doom me has- Ai ily to agony and despainj.say at least, you yo vill not decide until you have weighed the pi' natter well. Is ray love to weigh nothing in he he balance? Is it to prove a curse instead Ti >f a blessing to me, because there lives anoth;r man who does not love you?whom you do ?'( lot love?who is dead to you? Florimond, an lo you wish to drive me to despair ?" rei Florimond was startled at the expression of iQi lis face?awed by the terrible emotion which ov hook his frame. ce "Calm yourself dear Ralph," she said in a of oothing voice, "I will not decide hastily?I ci< vill weigh the matter well." ha "And when," said Ralph, pressing his hand o his heart as if to calm its dreadful throb- wi ling ; "when shall I know my fate ?" ?n "A week from this day, at 8 o'clock in the fu! svening." ti k ?1 T m MAW ?'rt tliA rrtflonlima 9" Ch 71UU LLIiiy X IIUISCC jruu ill i/11c uiuiuviiiiv . "You may not I do not wish anything to listract my mind or my attention?I want to lo justice." w' "Say not justice," cried Ralph hastily; 'say you will decide from the goodness of your Be leart, for 'goodness moves in a larger sphere han justice.' If it comes to the justness of he thing, I have such an exalted opinion of ^ 1 mu?you are such an angel of?" M "Say no more," cried Florimond, smiling, be 'or else such praises will annihilate me." *al "A week from to-day, then," said Ralph, jreparing to depart, "I will see you again and iear from your lips a sentence of death or a jromise of life and unspeakable happiness." Florimond avoided his searching glance ln md said nothing. She shook hands in silence. Ralph noticed it, and turned back. "Adieu, Florimond, till we meet again." ' un "Good-bye." a2 "Why do you say good-bye, Florimond, as pb f we were never to meet again ?" inl "You are very choice about words," said to Florimond, with a forced laugh. "I will say ^1 inything you please ; so good-bye, or adieu, ^rc Doctor Eglinton, until we meet again." "And when do we meet again, Florimond? pr Look me straight in the eyes and tell me." st? She raised her luminous glance to his and jo ;aid deliberately? nn "This night week at 8 o'clock, D. V." thi Apparently satisfied, he went off. ye But Ralph was not satisfied. He fancied an Florimond's manner and words had been eva- gi' live, and his inordinate anxiety and suspense nade him suspicious any how, so having al- on owed only two days to elapse he went back pr o Avondale. gi' The capacious landlady was sitting in the he ront piazza. tal "Is Mrs. Ravenswood at home?" asked ga Ralph, touching his hat to her. "No, Doctor, she has gone away from Avon- de lale." do Ralph's heart sank within him at this real- wc ''otinn r>f Vila fon lfj at< "Do yon know where she has gone ?" Pc "No, I do not. She took an early train yeserday morning, but I do not know in which de iirection." tic "Do you know which one of the hackmen an Irove her to the depot ?" tic "She walked to the depot," said the old ra ady, "and sent a strange boy from the village be ;o take her baggage." be Ralph bowed and turned away from the M loor. Dejectedly he walked along with bow- to ;d head and heavy footsteps. But a few mo- ea nents before, he had walked on ait, at the to Drospect of beholding her, and now his feet cu vere lead. foi "What iron determination there is in that D< voman's soul," he exclaimed; "and yet so en jentle and soft. With this strong hand I an jould crush her, and yet all my strength is no natch for her softuess. She could not answer tri ny arguments ; she could not withstand my F1 mpetuosity ; and yet with gentle words and wt i voice of honeyed sweetness, she soothed my th ;roubled spirit and sent me off?a fool! I fa leek to free her from the power of a man who oves her not, and with whom, defying all his wc Dower, she will not live; I seek to fold her in ihese arms; to shelter her in this bosom and ;o surround her with a worshipping love, and he the flies from me. "Oh ! woman, woman, I to ,rou are an abysm?a mystery ; and he who j wl ,kinks that he knows you, is three times a nadmau. "But," continued Ralph, and his ; mi lead grew erect and his step firm, "I will find ; tei ler yet, poor darling, and she shall be mine, ne f there is any power in determination, an inlomitable will, perservance, patience, con- as itancy and the might of immeasurable love! as CHAPTER XX. sw STRUGGLES. That last interview with Ralph had cost Sa Florimond a night of sleeplessness and aux- ri( ous thought on the exigencies of her present a i lituation. She felt now firmly convinced that da ;his man's love was not the sort to settle down j nto Platonic friendship. His was not a pliant ] sti iature to bend easily to the invincible law of; mi ;orapromise, which rules the universe. In- ha itead of being satisfied with the friendship she ch iffered, he would persevere until he had ac- ve joraplished his end ; until her objections gave fei ivay before this mighty love, which braved all : I ' ibstacles. i "Oh !" she cried, with wild steps and clasped wt lands, "it is a great temptation to me to be I ;husloved ; but am I prepared for such a final , gi itep ? Albert, can I resign thee, eternally ? ce Father of ray child, loved still in spite of all in 1J XT.. T->?1-1. t' ?* JCyiCUt, UUlvlIJCSS) OC|JOiaHUU, JL1U, J.VU1JJII i ?l turn away your face, your alluring eyes so full pi: )f love ! I cannot give ear to your prayer, pr is much as I esteem, admire, pity?all but m< love you." Having arrived at this conclusion, Flori- sh mond sat down and pressed her hands to her \?1 troubled brow. i "After all," she murmured, "if I ever do | issess the heart of Albert D&ndridge, he i 11 never give me such love as Ralph Eglin- f a feels for me." c Which no doubt was very truo. The mas- 1 r spring of Albert Dandridge's life was an i abition which consumed his soul; his next i ongest passion was pride, and then came j ve; whereas, in Ralph's case, the love sur- ^ ssed and outweighed all other emotions. a This thought upset all of Florimond's deci>n. Again she arose and began pacing the ora in violent agitation. In such mental nflict the long hours slowly waned, and still orimond was a prey to uncertainty; her ind swaying first to one side and then to the her. She would think of Ralph's devotedss, which to her sad, yearning heart, pining 1 her life for just such love, was "More sweet than amber honey to the bee." od then she would revert to Albert, her uthful ideal, the husband to whom she had edged those early vows, who had first led r footsteps in the flowery paths of Love, me and separation, and that glamor of reembrance which always hovers like a halo ;r scenes of the past, rendered his beauty d his attractive qualities more vivid in her eollection, and softened her revengeful feelga for his coldness and shortcomings. Moreer, there was in Florimond's composition a rtain peculiarity?a headstrong obstinacy temperament?which made her very tena- a ms of her sentiments and opinions. She c 1 ??.L 1 1 A a r .u?wiin or wiiuuui. ru?uu?iuvcu aiuch indridge most fondly; she would, with or thout reason, continue to love him. But this night her heart was torn with a fear[ struggle. " "Oh! my God," she cried, "how shall I oose between these two?the man whom I /e, or the man who loves me; the cold art which loves me not, or the warm heart lose every pulsation is one of love!" She went to the side of the bed on which irta was lying asleep, and falling on her ees said? "My child, my innocent child, tell me what nustdo! Guide me in your innocence! ust I reward that loving heart?he would kind to thee?or must I be true to your ,her, for your sake, who has never known a iher's love. Tell me, Berta ?" Thus appealed to, Berta moved restlessly in r sleep, disclosing one of her little hands, which she held something, which glittered the light. Floriraond perceived it. It was i antique locket?the most precious to the ild of all her possessions?the gift of that known father, invested by her youthful imination with untold and indescribable arms. The locket was open, and the dark :ellectual eyes of Albert Dandridge seemed search his wife's face with an earnest gaze, orimond uttered a slight cry, and took it >ra the grasp of the unconscious child. "Albert, you have conquered," she said, essing the picture to her lips. "NotwithinHinnr nil vnnr rnldness. vonr neclect? b J > j-.~- o ur?Oh! Albert, if you would only love a }! But in the secret recesses of ray heart, * ere is still a lingering hope that we may be ^ t reunited, reconciled, happy in each other; 1 d I may yet hear from your lips the life- r ring words, "Florimond, I love only you." 8 With copious tears, she buried her head the bed, and prayed as she had never c ayed since the unhappy hour when unforring animosity had entered her heart against r husband. She arose perfectly calm, and ? king her seat, remained for a long time enged in thought. ^ "And now," meditated Florimond, "being 8 termined against the divorce, what am I to r with Ralph ? I cannot see him again. It raid be too distressing to witness his passion- c j despair. I cannot do it. I must fly. 8 tor Ralph!" But there was no time for regrets. Once 1 cided in mind, Florimond was quick in ac- * ra. She was already partially packed, in 8 ticipation of an early move in some direc- c in ; and now she hastily completed her ar- r ngements. This done, she threw herself k side Berta for a few minutes' repose. It ? ing absolutely necessary that she should see rs. Sutherland before bidding a final adieu 1 this part of the world, Florimond took an c rly train back to the city. She hoped there c sell her jewels to advantage, and thus pro- j ^ re money for her contemplated journey; iv r notwithstanding Florimond's refusal of i c actor Eglinton's kind offer, her pocket was I' ipty when she had settled her board bill r d bought tickets back to the city. v There was, as usual, on the arrival of the F lin, a large crowd around the depot, and i1 lorimond, holding tightly to Berta's hand, i1 is pushing and fighting her away through j e heaving mass, when she was accosted by a P miliar voice. 8 "Why, goodness me, if it isn't Mrs. Ravens- 8 >od 1 How do you do, ma'am ?" It was a former servant, by name, Sarah, i8 "I am very glad to meet you, Sarah," said j1 r former mistress. "Uome this way, l wish | v have a talk with you. Can you tell me 1 lere to find Mrs. Edmunds?" j v "She is living in street," said Sarah, j rationing an obscure street, of whose exis-. * ice Mrs. Raveuswood's aristocratic ears had 1 ver heard mention before. ic "Well, could you show me the way there ?" i1 ked the lady, hesitatingly; very unused to i ^ k favors. 1 "Why, surely you will not walk ?" j "I'm obliged to walk now," said Floriraond,; J allowing a huge lump in her throat. 8 "I heard you had lostall your money," said ;4 ,rah, rudely, and in such a manner as the -c ;h Mrs. Ravenswood had never witnessed in 1 ? 3ervant before. "Well, every dog has his i 1 y." . * . : c "For that matter," said Floriraond, bitterly r lug," it is true I have lost a great deal of. f Duey, but I am not exactly penniless. I r ,ve still a quantity of handsome jewelry and 1 jthing which, when sold, will support me g ry comfortably for awhile. You need not j ir. If you will guide me to Mrs. Edmunds i will pay you for it." . t "Come on then," said the girl leading the r iy- 1 Mrs. Ravenswood delayed for a moment, to t ve some directions to a railroad official con- c rning her luggage. Then they proceeded , c search of Mrs. Edmunds, only to learn, on ' t riving at the house, that she had quitted the r ace two days before for a new situation, ; c ocured for her by Doctor Eglinton. Flori-1 ] ond was in despair. (a "Are y u any relation to Mrs. Edmunds ?" 1 e inquired of the slovenly, untidy woman,! 10 hf(d answered their knock at the door. ; c l.r i . . JI I _ "l am ner sister. 1 & Florimond thereupon disclosed her name, nade a partial acknowledgement of the un- p ortunate state of her affairs, and asked if she p :ould not shelter her for a fe.y days. .Mrs. j f< Hlsitt had some human kindness about her, p f she was wanting in that quality which is j n anked next to godliness, and she readily c; >romi8ed to do all in her power for' Mrs. Ra- a renswood, "who had been so kind to her dear ti ister." ........ t< Her ability was very limited. It was a v niserable hole; dark, dilapidated, filthy, and ri he air impregnated with the nauseous smell si tf those "thirteen thousand different kinds of o: idors," which a local newspaper reporter has S "l J ? 2 ? ? Ui'a Ann napcnnol Al )ut on recoru, as cuuiiug uj mo vnu jn,iOUU?. ~. ixperience, from the stagnant waters of the ci >estilential river of this great city. g Wishing to hasten her arrangements as li nuch as possible, so as to leave this dismal, ir mwholesorae dwelling, Florimond left Berta isleep and proceeded to Mrs. Sutherland's. tfever having been in this part of the city ^ >efore, she found some difficulty in making { ler way; but after frequent inquiries and nuch time lost, finally found herself in sight >f familiar objects and well-known landnarks. Here, at last, was Mrs. Sutherland's, :nd just opposite, that elegant mansion which lad so recently been her own. Looking on t now, from the depths of her darkened pros>ects, it seemed to her a habitation fit for gods ind angels; and her life there?was it not, in lontrast to her present existence, perfect hap>iness ? Florimond turned from the sight of t and groaned and shuddered. She was just t few steps from Mrs. Sutherland's, when the ront door opened and a gentleman emerged. Horimond shrank closer to the wall and held ler thick veil tightly over her face. It was ialph, but he seemed plunged deep in some ti ^grossing reverie, and took no notice of her. r< florimond could not help fancying the change e: vhich would flash athwart his melancholy 1S ' ? . - J :r _i 1 j CI :ountenauce ana aosiraciea gaze, u sue wuuiu ^ >ut raise her veil for a moment and give him tj >ut one glance from her lambent eyes, or utter ( )ut his name from her lips. She watched him f] urtively as he slowly crossed the street, re- c; narking the general air of sadness?so for- ^ iign to his nature?which now pervaded his 8vhole appearance. "This is my work," she P hought, with a remorseful pang, "how differ- g mt from what he used to be?always bril- a iant, always gay, knowing neither cafe nor u ixhaustion, enjoying life almost with the hap- a >y joyousness of a child." d But, all unconscious, Ralph had now passed a iut of sight, and turning, Florimond ascended * he marble steps and nervously jerked the tell. ? A strange servant opened the door, from 5i phora she enquired if Mrs. Sutherland was at | tome. The man did not answer her until he tad bestowed a thorough inspection on her Iress and tout ensemble. In accordance with T he verdict of his experienced judgment, he 4" hen replied? | "She's engaged and cannot be disturbed;" 2, md without further observation, quietly shut 1 he door in her face. Florimond was motioness for a moment, with a mixture of contendDg emotions. Finally, anger at the impertilence of the man predominating, she rang ^ igain. "Well, what more do you want ?" he asked, n m reappearing. b Mrs. Ravenswood raised her veil, and with yes burning in liquid fire, said with her y ;randest air? "V "I wish you to inform Mrs. Sutherland, that lira. Ravenswood has called, and wishes to y ee her particularly. Do you understand ^ ne?" "I beg?your?pardon, ma'am," said the j, nan, astonished and overwhelmed by the look Ci he gave him; "will you walk in ?" Florimond entered the well-known apart- b nent, and feeling weary after so unusual a valk, took possession of the nearest seat. The | ervant sought his mistress in the opposite I rawing room and delivered the message. In t] eply, Florimond heard distinctly, in Mrs. C( Sutherland's familiar tones, "tell her I am en;aged and cannot be annoyed this morning." The man came back, but Florimond did lot hear a word of his muttered speech. Like. ^ me in a dream, she arose, and somehow got iut of the door, which he held open for her. tl This was a bitter experience for Mrs. Ravens- w rood. She had now discovered what a vast ^ w lifference there is in being rich or poor. ^ 'Poor and friendless 1" she muttered, "synonynous words. And I have been kind to that e roraan. I once gave her an elegant breast- p )in, the price of which would keep Berta and nyself from want for three months. Now, a hat I cannot give her any more presents, she ^ urns me from her door. I would not have >elieved it. Oh ! it was so heartless and in- r< ulting, and I loved her so 1 My God, this is i hard world!" o With bowed head and gloomy soul, con- 0 umed with the corrosion of its own bitter- ^ less?disappointment, mortification, anger, lisgust and other emotions impossible to enu- g aerate, struggling for mastery?Florimond ri valked back to her miserable lodgings. n A weary, sleepless night, spent in anxious hnnirht for the future, and then the sun arose ~ ? t tl ipon our heroine but to develope, during its ^ laily course, a new and heavy misfortune. ^ Vfter a night passed in the stifling closet, vhere Mrs. Tilsitt had put Berta and herself o sleep, Florimond was more anxious than sver to remove to more comfortable quarters. ^ !n such a place she feared both for her own n md Berta's health. So, at an early hour, 011 <$ he morning after her arrival, she engaged a tl iartraan to go to the depot and fetch her lug- 3 jage. For several hours she patiently awaited " lis return, and then not arriving, she threw j >n her hat and went herself to the depot to w nake inquiries. The luggage, consisting of 2 bur large sized trunks, containing all she ii low possessed of value in the world, had j ci eft the depot four hours before. Florimond ! ;rew dizzy aud perfectly frantic at the pros- j |j iect of losing this. To be brief, she did lose : t. She had 110 clue whatever by which to j ^ race it; in her ignorance having employed a j a" nan of whom she knew literally nothing? ! 4 lot even name, or place of living?and worse j $ han all, she had not the means to pay for the , C1 mly measure likely to be successful in its re> j overy?the employment of a successful de-1 c, ective. So Florimond was now indeed pen-1 n liless, and completely stunned by the enormity d if this new misfortune and its consequent ills. I Tor several hours she did nothing but weep e ind wring her hands, and hopelessly bewail ? ler unhappy lot. "Mamma," said Berta, wiping for the hunIreth time her poor red eyes, "I am so hun- d ;ry. Will Mrs. Tilsitt give us some dinner ?" 1< 1 bis question arouaea r lonmaau w wie radical necessities of her condition, and ahe erceived starvation would be their next misirtune if she did not hasten to avert its aproaches. Mrs. Tilsitt give thein some diner ? No, poor woman! She had not suffiient food for her own half-starved children, nd however kind her heart, could not' connue to take out of her own children's mouths ) feed strangers. Florimond fingered nerously at her engagement ring?her wedding ing. No, she could not sell them yet! Then le fingered at her brooch. It was a thing f small value, bat had belonged to poor Mrs. uramerville. No. she could not sell that ither; but she could pawn it and thus pro11 re food for a little while longer. And beging Berta only to be quiet and patient for a ttle while, Florimond hastily left the house i search of a pawn broker's shop. [to be continued next week.] Heading. DRIED APPLE PIE8~ I loathe, abhor, detest, despise, Abominate dried apple pies; I like good bread, I like good meat, Or anything that's goo J to eat; But, of all poor grub beneath the skies, The poorest is dried apple pies; Give me the toothache or sore eyes, In preference to that kind of pies. The farmer takes his knarliest fruit, Wormy, bitterand hard to boot; They leave the cores to make us cough, Ana don't take half the peeling off; Then on a dirty cord they're strung, And from some chamber window hung, Where they serve as a roost for flies, Until they're ready to make pies; Step on mv corns or tell me lies, But don't give me dried apple pies. NARROW GAUGE RAILROADS. The comparative advantages and the relave cost of the construction of broad and nardw gauge railroads are now attracting genral investigation throughout the country. It i particularly desirable that information calu] a ted to lead to a cheapening of the con;ruction of railways should be desseminated iroughout the South. From the Knoxville Chronicle, of a late date, we take an extract ora an article by Capt 0. G. Vankerhoff, ivil engineer, giving some moat interesting icts showing the comparative coat of the two psteros of railway. It will be found to repay erusal: The following is a comparative cost of the ve foot and three foot gauges after graded nd prepared for the track. No definite figres can be made in reference to the grading, s it would vary in different localities. Graing per mile will average between $1,000 nd $3,000, according to the locality and the mount of bridging and masonry to be put up. 1VE FOOT GAUGE? RAIL FIFTY-FIVE POUNDS TO THE YARD. 1 tons of rail at $70 00 per ton $5,000 00 X) rail splices at 1 00 400 00 ,500 spikes at 5 .' 275 00 ,640 crossties at 50 1,320 00 .aying 1 mile track 500 00 Total $8,585 00 HREE FOOT GUAGE?RAIL THIRTY POUNDS TO THE YARD. ri tons rails at $75 00 $3,562 50 30 rail splices at 50 165 00 52 pounds spikes at 6 211 20 ,000 crossties at 25 750 00 .aying 1 mile track 300 00 Total . $4,988 70 iifference in favor narrow gauge $3,598 30 Cost of rolling stock?engines half less than he broader gauge: Coaches, cars, etc., over alf less, according to style and finish. From this estimate a fair statement can be lade that a three-foot narrow gauge can be uilt for one-half less than the wider gauge. Comparative weights and capacity of cars: FULL GAUGE?EIGHT WHEELED CAR. ITAirrh* r\f nar amntv nnnnds 20.000 w vigi4v v"*rv * r*~ ? t Veigbt of car loaded, pounds 40,000 Paying freight, pounds 20,000 NARROW GAUGE?FOUR WHEELED CAR. height of car empty, pounds 4,500 height of car loaded, pounds 12,000 Paying freight, pounds 8,000 Here the narrow gauge has the advantage l paying freight?giving a larger profit per ar than the broader gauge. First-class narrow gauge locomotives can e built for between $4,000 and $6,000. Passnger cars, according to finish, will cost from 1,000 to $3,000. Freight cars from $200 to 500. Passenger cars used will seat 30 perms, and from all the information to be had le passenger rides with as much ease and orafort as on the wide gauge. I ? The Narrow Gauge.?The St. Louis Nar3W Gauge Convention Committee have reorted the following advantages of that sysjra: "1. Costing only about one-half as much as se broad gauge, it is within the means of all actions to build them; hence it will enable aem to avail themselves of railway facilities 'here otherwise they might be compelled to ispense with them. "2. From their small cost, light operation xpenses and small interest account, they will rove to be paying investments. "3. They will supply the great want of the ge, cheap transportation. "4. Cheapening transportation, they will evelop dormant interests more rapidly than ur present costly structures, with their high ates, can possibly do. "5. Their general adoption in sections withut railway facilities will enhance the value f properties largely in excess of their cost. "6. Penetrating those sections, and rapidly eveloping their resources by low rates they ill bring a large new business to the broad auge roads, enabling them to reduce their -L ? nilrvinlofA on/1 rlotralnn lies nuu tilCl VUJ ouiuuiaw viu uuu MVW?V{/ ew interests. "7. A failure to adopt the narrow gauge in ae sections referred to will necessarily defer ie construction of railways until such time as ieir means will admit of the more costly road gauge, with its consequent high rates." Annual Conference.?The minutes of ie Annual Conference of the M. E. Church outh, held at Anderson, S. C., in December, ave been received. They are printed very eatly in pamphlet form, by Walker, Evans s Cogswell, of Charleston. The statistics of ie Church are as follows: White members, 6041, increase, 1304; colored, 658, decrease, 70; white preachers, 122, decrease, 13; colred, 2, decrease, 4. Baptisms?white infants, 838, increase, 200; colored, 32, decrease, 20; hite adults, 1240, decrease, 394; colored, 6, decrease, 72. Number of schools, 441, lcrease, 14; officers and teachers, 2816, inreaso, 93; white pupils, 17,205, decrease, 91; colored pupils, 44, decrease, 72; volmes in library, 29,211, increase, 502. Numer of churches, 526, iucrease, 27; parsonges, 54, iucrease, 1; value of church proper8597,505, increase, $64,330. Paid pastor nd assistants, 861,762.79, increase, $4,994.6; paid presiding elders, $8,966.25, increase, 876.58. Conference collection, $4717.20, inrease, $765.32. For missions, $4,172.02, inrease, $,501.32. For education, $,031.10, ecrease, $166.45. For bishops, $861.70, inrease, 823.55. For educating candidates for rinistry, $151, decrease, $295.85. For Sunay-schools, $4,851.03. increase, $630.21. 'or building, repairing churches, parsonages, tc., $25,180.05, decrease, $15,773.97. For ther benevolent purposes, $7,835.52, increase, 3,134.28.? Columbia Union. Star If men would hate themselves as they o their neighbors, it would be a step toward iving their neighbors as they do themselves. t