Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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lewis m:. grist, proprietor, j ^n |ntreprnlient Jfamiln Htfospaper: Jor fjjc promotion of t|e political, Social, ^grienltural anit Commercial Interests of t(ie Sontji. TERMS?$3.00 A TEAR. IN ADVANCE. VOL. 21. YORKVILLE, S. C., THTJESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1875. NO. 47. JMt (Original Written for the Yorkville Enquirer. Sleepy Hollow. CHAPTER XIV. A TRUCE.?THE HOLCOMliES ARRIVE. A serious quarrel between us might have ensued, but for a circumstance which temporarily diverted my thoughts from my real or fancied wrongs, and enlisted all my affection and sympathy in my husband's behalf. I found, on the following morning, that he was suffering from faintness and headache, and these premonitory symptoms were followed by a somewhat severe indisposition, which lasted for a period of several days. During this time I devoted myself to him with extreme solicitude, and though I was but an inexperienced nurse, ray ministrations seemed more welcome to him than those of any one else, and I could not but feel gratibed to discover how essential I had become to his happiness and comfort. If I absented myselfiaMver so short - m ?riio iuuiu, liu missed my presence, and was not content until I had returnaA T Kporan tr? Viavfi a sense of resnonsibilitv vv*'t * vvb%*" ? ? * * ?? t 1 ~ vi which had hitherto been foreign to my feelings, and was gradually becoming less childish and careless in my ways. There was, in fact, a certain earnestness and stability in my nature which had never yet been developed, j and which it only needed time and occasion to bring into play. During Dr. Wardlaw's sickness, Barbara went out regularly every day, going and re-1 turning always at a fixed hour. This sur- j prised me a little, as she usually preferred remaining in the house, and I wondered at her | choosing to adopt a new habit just at the time when her presence at home seemed most desirable; but I did not then attach much importance to the matter, being too fully occu-1 pied by other thoughts. My husband was convalescent, and had for the first time gone down stairs one day to dinner, when we received intelligence that Ellen's wedding had been hastened, aud that the couple were to arrive to take possession of their new property sooner than had been anticipated. My aunt, in her letter, assigned no especial reason for the change of plan; but requested me, as a favor, to give an eye to the arrangements of their house, and see that everything was in proper order for their re ception. "They will be here on Thursday," said I, in discussing the news with Arthur. "On Tuesday, if nothing happens, I can ride over to the place. You will go with me, won't you ? That is, of course, provided you are strong enough." "I will certainly go with you, if I am well," he replied, "and if not, one of the men can go instead. You may need assistance in some of your arrangements." Tuesday was an inclement day, so I postponed the excursion to Wednesday. The weather that morning, though a little raw and unpleasant, did not threaten rain ; and Arthur declariug himself quite well enough to accompany me, we set out in the buggy at ten o'clock, followed by a servant on horseback, in case we should require his help. We found the farm looking pretty and orderly. The house was open, aud the old woman in charge of it told us that she had aired it thoroughly every day. and kept everything clean. The carpets were all down ; but a lot of furniture had arrived a few days before, which she had locked up in one of the chambers. not knowing how to have it arranged. "Well, we can see about that now," said I. "Mr.'and Mrs. Holcorabe are expected tomorrow, and I want to get everything in or aer ior in era at once, jusi come wnu me, please, and show me where the things are." The furniture in question was for the parlor, dining-room aud two chambers. There were also a number of curtains to be put up; and when all this had been arranged, aud the house began to assume a habitable look, Dr. Wardlaw advised me not to delay any longer, as the clouds had grown very heavy, aud he thought we would soon ?have rain. I therefore resumed my bonnet and shawl, and telling the woman in charge to be sure and have good fires lit the next day, and everything comfortable, took leave with the satisfactory consciousness of having well accomplished the duty intrusted to me. "I wish we had come in the carriage, or put the top on the buggy," said Dr. Wardlaw, with an anxious look at the sky, gathering up the reins as he took his seat at my side. "I fear we shall hardly escape a storm." "Perhaps it will be only snow," I suggested. "That will not be so bad." "Oue comfort is," he rejoined, "that we have not very far to go." Prince, having had a long rest, was quite willing to go as fast as his master desired, and a touch of the whip was sufficient to urge Ui.M intn kia krial-out frnt Wo had 6P?rrplv accomplished a mile and a half, however, when large, heavy drops of rain began to fall, which the keeu north wind blew directly into our faces. We had a large rug with us, but no umbrella ; and all we could do was to cover ourselves as well as we could, and trust to reaching home before the shower increased sufficiently to give us much of a wetting. The hope was a fallacious one. Faster and thicker fell the drops, and there was but small likelihood of our escaping with dry skins, to say nothing of our clothing, which was rapidly becoming drenched. I was now seriously uneasy in regard to Dr. Wardlaw, fearing that this catastrophe might bring on a recurrence of his illness, as he had not yet fully regained his strength. "What road is this?" I asked, as we diverged from the main road, and branched 08 into a narrower track through the woods. "We did not come this way, did we?" "No; but this is rather a shorter cut, and besides, we shall find more shelter under these trees." "I don't think we shall," I rejoined, "for the branches are already so soaked that the water drips from them in streams?just see! There is actually a little pool in my lap already." "So there is?it is very unfortunate; but what is to be done? I do not like to lose time in turniug back, and this road will soon open more." "Oh! let us go on," said I, "we will be drenched either way. I hope, Arthur, that you will not get sick." "Never mind me, tny dear, he replied ; "rain does not hurt me." We had not driven much farther, when we came in sight of a house. It was a lonelylooking place, standing in the midst of pine trees, with no fence around it, and no outbuildings in sight. But it was, evidently, inhabited, for there was smoke coming from one of the chimneys, and it seemed to me that, under the circumstances, any shelter was desirable. "Look, Arthur!" I exclaimed, eagerly, "there is somebody's residence just ahead ; let us stop there until this hard rain is over." "No?no!" he rejoined, with a vehemence which surprised me. "It would be useless to stop now, we shall soon be at home." "But we might borrow an umbrella, might we not? John could easily bring it back." "Wecould not possibly manage an umbrella in this bushy road, and when we get into a more open place, the wind would blow it out of your hands." He spoke so decidedly that I was silenced ; but it seemed to me strange that he declined ! to take advantage of what appeared like a I providential opportunity of bettering our con-! : dition ; for we were not much more than half! way home, and certainly every moment's pro-! I gress increased our discomfort. The house ; stood somewhat back from the road, but near j enough for everything about it to be distinct- j | ly visible. As we drew near it, the wind blew-: I one of the front shutters violently to; the sash . was immediately raised, and a woman, with j an apron flung over her head, leaned out to j fasten it back. She looked toward us as we i I passed ; the glance was but momentary, and j she swiftly drew in her head again ; but in 1 ; that brief instant I recognized, or thought I j recognized her face, as that of the person : whom I had seen in the house-keeper's room with my husband and Barbara, on the even- J ing of Stephen Holcombe's visit. "Do you know who lives in that house, Ar- j thur ?" I immediately asked. "A person named Green," he answered, af- < ter a moment's hesitation, and with a certain ' reluctance in his tone which caught my ear. I was silent; I hated myself for being need- 1 lessly suspicious, yet it seemed to me that here was another slight link in the chain of doubt ] . qlkxcI rcoovvo wkiok my kuokaixJ'* had wrought. < "Do you feel the cold very much, Rosamond ?" he asked presently, as if anxious to 1 change my thoughts. "Not very much," was my brief reply ; and i the rest of our drive passed in silence unbro-, " /-V I * 1 T ! ken Dy eitner or us. un reacmug bouib ? j hastened to change my wet clothes. I felt, some symptoms of a chill, and sent Matilda j i down to request Barbara to make me a cup of hot tea. To my surprise, she returned with 11 the intelligence that the housekeeper had , gone out. "Gone out, in this weather, and during our ! I absence!" I exclaimed. "Well, I suppose she j started before the rain, and has been caught | in it as we were. Get the key, Tildy, and : make the tea for me yourself; you can do it ' just as well." Presently ray husband came into the room, j "Arthur," I exclaimed, "can you imagine j where Barbara has gone ?" The question was too direct a one to be J parried. "I think," he answered slowly, "that she ! has gone to Mrs. Green's house." "The one that we passed in the woods?" ! "Yes." "They must be very intimate friends," I remarked. "They are quite intimate." "I suppose it is to her house that Barbara has gone, regularly, every day since you were j first taken sick.'' He made no reply ; and Matilda, at that moment, entering with the tea, I said nothing ; more on the subject. My curiosity in regard to Mrs. Green was 1 now fuliy aroused. I was dying to question ; Barbara concerning her, but a sense of honor ! forbade. My pride would not permit me to make any farther efforts to break my husi band's reserve. So I was forced to wonder l and speculate in secret, trying at the same ; time to convince myself that there was really j uo cause for uneasiness, though I could not j overcome a sore feeling at the consciousness of being, in some way, kept in the dark. The next day the Holcorabes came, and in the afternoon I received a message from Ellen, informing me of the fact, and begging me to go at once to see her. It was already late, but I was not sorry of an opportunity to effect a diversion In my thoughts ; and as DiVi Wardlaw was preparing to go out, I asked him if he could not call for me on his way home. "1 think," he rejoined, "that it is rather tar. Had you not better wait until to-morrow ?" "No," said I, rather perversely. "It is a clear evening, and the moon will be up; what is a distance of three miles, over a good road ?" "Do you particularly wish to go, Rosai mond ?" "Yes, particularly. Remember, it is a long ! while since I last saw Ellen ; and it will be so delightful to meet any one fresh from home!" He sighed a little, and turned away. "Do as you please, then," he rejoined. "Of course I can call for you if you wish. But I thought ' we should have a quiet evening together; I wanted a little chat with you undisturbed." "It is rather hum-drum, being constantly , at home," said I, with the same perverse feeling, which had suddenly taken possession of ! me. I was sorry after I had spoken. I did I not see Dr. Wardlaw's face, but I knew that he was pained, and he left the room without a word. I felt half inclined, as I slowly changed my dress, to reverse the decision I had formed. It would, after all, be better and more suitable to wait until the next day to pay my visit to Ellen; and then, too, there would be less j chance or meeting Stephen. i5ut on tne oiner hand, I had a sort of unackuowledged desire to go contrary to my husbaud's will, part! ly as a retaliation for the injury I fancied he was doing me, partly as a vent for my vexed j and restless feeliugs, which seemed to need an outlet of some kind. If Dr. Wardlaw could leave me alone every evening without compunction, for an hour or an hour and a half at , a time, he ought not to feel aggrieved at my choosing to go out now. I did not see why he should desire me to stay at home on this especial occasion, more than on any other, except for contradiction's sake. Arguing thus, ' I felt justified in putting on my out-door wrappings, and a few minutes later was on ! ray way to "Lilybank," as the Holcorabes' place was called. j Ellen met me at the door, and our greeting I was cordial enough ; but I had not been in the house five minutes before I detected, or fancied that I detected, a change in her raan| ner toward me from what it had formerly ' been. She seemed putting a sort of constraint | on herself to appear affectionate and kind, employing an artificial eagerness to cover i some latent. drawback which I could not un , i derstand. So uncomfortable did this percep- ! ' tion make me, that I felt a regret at having come; but as I was there, there was no help for it but to make the best of the matter. I had, of course, a great many questions to ask about home. "Is aunt Mabel as bright, and cheerful as ever? How much she will , ; | miss you, Nelly." , j "I daresay ; but,after all, she is scarcely as badly off as uncle Lambert. He mopes dreadfully since you came away." , | "Aunt Mabel wrote me that he was quite ! well," said I, resolved not to accept Ellen's t view of the case. "Oh ! yes, outwardly. But I do think, Ro-; samond, that your marriage has soured him. ' You can't think how odd he was the last time j I saw him ; quite cross, in fact." , j "I have never known him to be cross in my i i*j r I.?J lire, suiu i, piuvuncu. 1 "That is exactly what I say. He is decii dedly changed. What a pity you could uot have continued to live with him?you and Dr. Wardlaw, I mean." "He would not have desired that at all. We made the best arrangements in our power. "When do you expect to pay him a visit?" 11 "I have not fixed on any time, yet. But i1 tell me something about the people in the vili lage. Is Lucy Croft still flirting with Ned ; | Parker, and will they ever be married ? Aud are the Clayton girls gone away yet ?" j I succeeded in getting rid of a subject on , | which I felt very seusitive, and diverting the , j conversation to minor topics; and at last | Ellen exclaimed? "I had no idea you would be so much inter[ I ested in all these trifles, Rosamond! I should think you would prefer talking about other things." "What other things, for instance?" "Why, your home and your husband, and all that you have been doing since we last met. Tell me how you pass your time." "Oh! quietly enough. I stay at home a good deal, and read, and practice on the piano, and do pretty much as I like." "Dr. Wardlaw spoils you, I suppose." "He is very good to me, if you call that spoiling." "Is he as formal and grave as ever ?" "Really" said I, "I never thought him formal. He is rather grave by nature, but not too much so to suit me." "How matronly you have grown!" said Ellen. "I really think you look a good deal older than you did when you left home." "Do vou ?" I reioined. indifferently. if ' V "How far is your place from here ? Three or four miles, isn't it ?" "A little over three mile9,1 believe." "Oh ! then we can see a great deal of each other. Do you ride much ?" "I ride or walk every day with Dr. Wardlaw," ? ? ? "~ i>?i w?*rdhrw cnu spare yotr~Krnie occasionally. Stephen has given me a nice horse, and he will go with us, when I want him to." "Is Mr. Holcombe quite well ?" I asked, recollecting, for the first time, that I had made no iuquiry concerning him. "Quite, thank you, and in such good spirits. I don't remember ever seeing him so cheerful as he is now." "That is not remarkable, under the circumstances, is it ?" "Well, no; perhaps not. I suppose I must wait until the honeymoon is over before I can give a fair account of him. I believe that is the time of probation." All this was mere surface talk ; very trifling and unsatisfactory. Ellen was queer, certainly. I did not find it half as pleasant to be with her again as I had expected I would. By and by tea was ready, aud Stephen came in. He was quite hilarious in his manner, and greeted me almost with effusion. I de tected Ellen watching us both keenly, while we spoke to each other. Could it be that she felt any latent jealousy of his former regard for me? I was as cool to him as civility permitted, resolved, at any rate, that my deportment should give her no cause for offense. Tea was hardly over when Dr. Wardlaw arrived. He came in at Stephen's request, but said he could only stay a few minutes. I was not sorry to take leave of our entertainers, and after a somewhat indefinite promise to Ellen to come soon again, I jumped into the buggy, and we set out for home. It was a charming evening, and our drive would have been a most agreeable one but for the slight constraint existing between Dr. Wardlaw and myself. As it was, we drove home almost in silence ; and finding that it was nearly nine o'clock when we reached there, I pleaded fatigue and went at once to bed. CHAPTER XV. STILL IN THE DARK. A fortnight elapsed, during which several visits passed between Ellen and myself, and Stephen came with her once, by invitation, to dinner. Dr. Wardlaw made them one formal call. Beyond this, there was no intercourse between the two gentlemen, whose disposition^} taoioo aud Labito woro <*11 uulikv, and who could, therefore, derive but little pleasure from each other's society. One day I received from Ellen the following note: "My Dear Rosamond Stephen is obliged to go to town for a few days, to attend to some particular business. As I will be very lonely while he is gone, cannot Dr. Wardlaw spare you to stay with me until his return? I hope he can, for I shall be afraid to stay alone, and I do not know any oneelse whom I could ask. Besides, of course, I would enjoy having you the most. Stephen leaves to-morrow morning. Please let me have an answer at once. Affectionately yours, E. V. Holcombe." "P. S.?Tell your liusbaud I will take excellent care of you." t i j tv_ i snoweu me uoie ai uuue iu ur. ir arumw. "That is nonsenee," he said. "Of course I cannot spare you. Write and ask her to come here instead." I hesitated. Somehow I felt an indistinctive dislike to the idea of admitting Ellen to the sanctity of ray home. Dr. Wardlaw noticed my hesitation. "Well, what is the matter?" he asked. "Don't you want her to come ?" "I confess I don't, particularly," I answered candidly. "Do you wish to go to her, instead ?" "Oh ! no; I would not go on any account." "Then, I don't see how you can avoid asking her. You must not refuse her request without giving her the option of coming here instead." "I suppose not," I admitted. I wrote the note, and despatched it by the bearer of hers, sending one of my own servants along to bring an answer to the invitation, which I f? lx XI. I J 1 x.J T i. ieu pretty sure wouiu oeaccepieu. i was not mistaken in the supposition, and about noon on the following day she came overbad was duly installed in the guest-chamber, which I had prepared for her reception. Let me explain here, that it was neither persoual dislike to Ellen, nor any lack of hospitable feeling, which had made me unwilling to ask her to stay with us. It was, rather, an undefined dread of some possible evil consequence resulting from her visit. I knew that there was, a9 the saying goes, "a skeleton in our cupboard," and I wa9 most fearful lest she should find out its existence. Nay, more, I felt a shuddering horror in the thought that she might go still farther than this, and that her hand might be the one to reveal it to my eyes. I had brooded over this unknown secret until I had grown morbid on the subject. The idea of it haunted me day and night, and while I often reproached myself for being silly and weak, I could not divert my thoughts from the unhealthy channel in which they had began to flow. I was careful, most especially in Dr. Wardlaw's presence, to betray nothing of this secret uneasiness. On the contrary, since ray last failure to obtain his confidence, I had assumed unusual cheerfulness of demeanor, which I believe blinded him as effectually as I desired it should. Two or three days passed unmarked by any noticeable event. At last, one evening as Ellen and I were sitting together in the parlor, Dr. Wardlaw having gone out as usual, my companion exclaimed? "Rosamond, I want to ask you a question, but you must promise before-hand not to think it impertinent." "Very well," said I, "I promise." "Of course you need not answer if you don't want to ; but to tell you the truth, my curiosity has been excited. Why does Dr. Wardlaw absent himself so mysteriously every a . il 1 i' AM evening, just at mis lime r I was glad we were sitting in the firelight, which was not bright enough to reveal the Hush which I felt suffuse ray face at the question. I resolved to treat it as lightly as possible. "My dear," said I, "I ara too dutiful a wife to exact from my husband an account of all his actions ; so I am sorry I cannot enlighten you in regard to this particular. I suppose lie has a fancy to take exercise after' dinner, I contrary to the old saw which bids us 'After dinner sit awhile.' " "Oh ! does he go out ? I thought, perhaps, ! he liked solitude, or at any rate no company | but yours, and that my presence drove him ' out of the parlor. I am very glad that isn't the case. But yesterday evening it was pouring rain. Surely he didn't go out then ?" "I believe he did,1' said I. "Mercy ! I wonder he does'not make him; self ill. You ought to remonstrate with him." "He is a physician," said I. "He ought to know what is hurtful to him." "And does he leave you alone every even| ing, when nobody is here?" j "I don't in the least mind it," said I, giving the fire a resentful thrust with the tongs. "Don't you? Well, I should. I'd rebel, if I were you. There's good advice from a bride, isn't it ?" The subject was so distasteful to me that I was determined to put it aside at once. "Have you seen the last number of Harper's ?" I said, bringing a new magazine from the table, and ringing the bell. "I'll tell James to bring lights; it is getting late." I succeeded in my object for the present; but the matter was not destined to rest there. Whether Ellen really found cause for wonder ment in tnis naou 01 ur. waraiaws, ana thought it no harm to indulge in it, or whether she discovered that it was disagreeable to me aud-took pleasure in ieaaine me bv con" STtratramnmrno w ?-r *-vutrra iror prrcxnociy-ue? termine; but certain it was that she contrived to make me thiuk about it more than I had ever done jet, and her apparently carelessly uttered remarks fell upon this sensitive spot in my mind like the pricks of a pin on a sore place, until they irritated me almost beyond endurance." "Dr. Wardlaw," she said, one afternoon, when it wanted just a few minutes of his usual hour for going out, "I am going to challenge you to a game of chess. Rosamond tells me that you are a good player." "I am not, by any means, a first-rate player," he rejoined, "but if you care about the game, 1 am quite willing to give you the satisfaction of beating me." "On the contrary, I expect to give you the satisfaction of beating me. But, at any rate, I atn fond of playing, and Rosamond, you know, is a little ignoramus on the subject. I am so glad you like it. Where's the chessboard ??Oh ! here. I'll put it on this table. Will you have white or redk doctor r in sei the men." "Either you please. But excuse rae, Mrs. Holcombe, I canuot play just now," said my husband, consulting his watch. "I will be at your service later in the evening. I am sorry I am obliged to go out now." "Now, Dr. Wardlaw, that is too bad, just when I am in the mood for it 1 I am sure your engagement cahuot be so very pressing! Just stay for one game, and we'll play the rest later." "I dislike to appear otherwise than obliging ; but, really, it is quite out of ray power to accede to your wish," said my husband, with the quiet resolution of look and manner which I well knew betokened an unchangeable will. Ellen, however, was not daunted yet. "Doctor, Fm bent on carrying ray point. Rosamond, can you not add your persuasions to mine, for friendship's sake?" "No," said I with a forced smile. "They will not be more effectual than yours." "Oh! I am sure you undervalue your own powers! I know that Dr. Wardlaw can refuse no request of yours. Come, let us combine to keep him with us this evening! What do jyou8ay? No? You won't help rae? I declare, Doctor, yoia have your wife in admirable training ; or else she's in league with you oirainaf mo roKiitti iia if?" *1 was nervously auxiuua to put a stop to this ill-advised badinage. I saw the cloud deepening on my husband's brow, and feared it might break forth in an unexpected storm. "What nonsense you talk, Nelly," I cried hastily; "as if Dr. Wardlaw could give up an engagement of importance for a simple game, which you can play just as well later ! Don't tax his gallantry any farther, but let him go." "There?of course you two are in league together, just as .[ said. Well, I suppose I must give up my point; but I take it unkind of you, Rosamond, not to come to my assistance. However, since you say the Doctor's engagement is such an important one, (and of course you know all about it) I must yield with a good grace. What a busy man you are, Doctor! Now, Mr. Holcombe finds the mornings quite sufficient to devote to his outdoor affairs; he always gives up his evenings to me." "He is fortunate in being able to do so," i was the unmoved, though perfectly courteous | reply. "I must wish you both a good even ! ing, for the present. I shall be back by seven o'clock. I see my horse is in waiting." "Well done 1" exclaimed Ellen, laughing, when he was gone. "My experiment has failed, as I expected it would. Rosamond, what is the matter with you ? You look quite indignant ; I hope I have not vexed you." "Never mind," said I, a little shortly. I was afraid Dr. Wardlaw might be put out, that's all. He does not like his doings interfered with." "So I see! But, ray dear child, surely there was no harm in a little innocent jest He must indeed be sensitive if he takes offense at that. Rosamond, tell rae truly, are you not just a little bit afraid of him ?" "Most certainly not," I replied, flushing indignantly. "How can you suppose such a thing?" She laughed again. "Oh ! don't eat rae up, child. But do you know why I asked you ?" "No, I cannot imagine." "Wen, i win tell you. it is Because you ; won't venture upon any experiments with him. I notice that you just let him take his own way, all the time. Now, if you had acted wisely in the beginning, you might have put a stop to this unsocial custom of his, of taking these evening rides and leaving you alone. Really, I wouldn't stand it." "Don't let us discuss that now," said I, impatiently. "I think we have had enough of the subject. I don't see why it interests you so deeply." "My dear little Griselda, since you desire ; it, I will leave you and your Percival to have | your own way, without question or comment. ! But all I can say is, that if he was my Perci, val, I would not be quite as complaisant." I was tortured by her words, light as they 1 seemed. Did Bhe really suspect my husband | of keeping a secret from me which I ought to 1 ft k a II _ _ _ a 1_ ? a. _ J a Know [ At an events, sne niniea at a want j of confidence, and it was misery to me to I think that this should have become apparent to her. I would have given worlds for the | power of concealing the pain I felt, but though I succeeded partially in doing so, I was too ! unskilled in dissimilation to appear as uncon] cerned as I wished to do. Dr. Wardlaw was unusually grave that eveuing, and I fancied that his eyes occasion* | ally rested upon me with a reproachful glance. ; At last, when we were alone, he said to me, I with some displeasure in his tone? | "Rosamond, were you and your cousin acting in concert, this afternoon, to make me feel uncomfortable ?" "Certainly not," I replied, promptly. "I had nothing to do with it. You know I did . not open my lips to you." "Remember," he continued, "I do not wish j any of my habit} to be made a subject of dis| cussion between you, at any time." "The fact is," I could not forbear saying, j "if your habits were not so singular they would not excite surprise." "Don't begin with that que}tion now," he said, wearily. "Oh! Rosamond, if I could only feel that you trusted me!" He leaned his head upon his hand, covering | his eyes as be spoke. A multitude of feelings ! contended for the mastery in my heart. At ! last my overpowering love for him prevailed, j and kneeling down beside him, I took his i hand. "Arthur," I said brokenly, "I do trust you. I cannot believe that you do not care for me, or that you would do me any wrong." He drew me to him, looking earnestly in my face. "Do you truly believe that ?" he asked, quickly. "Tell me so again ! The assurance is balm to my soul." "Yes, I trust you. But at the same time, I cannot help being a little wounded by your reserve?however, you say I must not speak of that." "Rosamond, do you consider me a tyrant?" "No," I said, bravely. "Are you disappointed in me ?" "I am disappointed in some ways?you do not need me to explain that. I know that you do not give me your full confidence, and this is, of course, a painful conviction, and makes me, sometimes, very unhappy." "You are unhappy! And through me 1 Poor child ! I ought never to have disturbed jvut puuiumr,?unwi rtn?mm ??m*u?w w?B and selfish in me." "Disturbed it, how ?" "By marrying you, of course; how else ? If you had remained Rosamond Lambert, you would have known nothing of this anxiety and unrest." "AnH nprharw vnn wntild have heen better I r~ j ? off too," said I. "I know am a torment to you." "You are my greatest blessing. My child, whatever else you believe of me, never believe that you don't stand first in my heart, in my thoughts, in everything." "And yet you act in a way to make people think very differently." "People 1 What people?" "Ellen called me a Griselda this evening. Of course she did it in jest?but still?" "Still you think she really meant you to understand that she thought you worthy of the name? Well, do you object so strongly to the character ? I thought Griselda was a pattern among womankind." "But her husband imposed on her dreadfully, you know." "Did he ? I don't recollect much about him. Who and what was he?" "A horrible cold-blooded creature, who tried his power over his wife by taking her children from her, one by one, and sending them away, and finally taking everything she possessed and ordering her to go back to her father's house in the russet gown she had worn when he asked her to marry him?all of which she bore without a murmur, supposing his lordly wisdom to be due authority for evrything." "And what happened then ?" "Oh ! when he found that she was too meek to resent anything, he turned round and made much of her, and gave her back her children, and all that he had taken from her, and told her she was a pearl among women ; and she was foolish enough to be quite grateful for his condescension. Now wasn't he a wretch ?" "Ho was rather hard on her, I must say. But I don't treat you quite as badly as that, do I?" "No ;,but sometimes I fancy you are proving me, to see how far I will let you go." "Give up that idea, Rosamond; it is a wrong one?utterly wrong." "Arthur ifunn will makfi me one nromise > "" J "" r T will try and Hp pnntent. "What is that, darling?" "Promise me that some time or other you will tell me this secret that you are keeping from me now." "That secret?that secret! Why do you harp upon it so continually?" "Because the thought of it is the bane of my life 1" "It is the bane of my life too," he rejoined sadly. "But believe me, it is nothing hurtful to you." "Then there really is a secret?and one of importance. You never admitted that much to me before!" I cried excitedly. He paused before replying. "My dear child," he said, slowly, at length, I cannot prevaricate. You have guessed the truth. But I cannot throw any light upon the subject?at least, not at present. This secret, as you call it, is, after all, a simple affair ; but it concerns another person as intimately as it does myself, and for that reason I must keep it inviolate. It is nothing of recent date. It originated yearsand years ago." "And Barbara knows it," said I. "Unavoidably, Barbara became a party to it." "And Mrs. Green knows it." "Only partially." "His loo nara, saia i, oursuug iutu Leaie, "that I, of all people, should be kept iQ ignorance." "You, of all people, Rosamond, Bhould be spared the knowledge of it." "Is it something so terrible, then 7" "It is, in a measure, terrible?it is so to me. It weighs on me sometimes like a nightmare? yes, like a nightmare 1" A shudder passsed through him as he spoke, and looking up, I saw that his face wore a look of intense suffering, that won my pity in spite of myself. "Rosamond," he said, pressing me convulsively to his heart, "if you love me, don't speak of this again. Some day, perhaps, when I can nerve myself to the confession, you shall know all about it. Meanwhile, trust me?believe that I am acting for the j best. He my help and comforter?Jet your love support me through the trial I have to endure I" I yielded to his appeal?I could not do otherwise, in the love I bore him. I promised to be his help, to do whatever he asked me, to seek no more to know what he judged it best I should remain in ignorance of; and so ended, like the preceding ones, this effort to win my husband's confidence in regard to the ; mystery I had so desired to solve. [to be continued next week.] John Van Buren.?John Van Buren? | "the Prince"?son of Martin, had, in his ear- j ly days, some habits not approved of by his : I father. On one occassion, while his father, : | was President, John visited Washington and | stopped at Willard's Hotel. One morning ! 1 the President called at his rooms, and after a j j kindly greeting, said to him, "John, I had ' | hoped you would some time prove to be a | worthy representative of our family, but I fear j ! you never will; in fact, I am convinced that | you will bring disgrace rather than reflect I j credit upon it." "Father," said John, "you may think because you happen to be President of the United States, you are something more than an ordinary man, but permit me | to say that you will never be known in bistory except as the father of John Van Buren." i A Gentleman.?Show us the man who is : ever ready to pity and help the deformed; j show us the man who covers the faults of others with a mantle of charity ; show us the ! man who bows as politely and gives the I street as free to the poor sewing girl as to the i millionaire; who shuns the company of such | 1 as gather at public places to gaze at the fair j | sex, or make unkind remarks to the passing i ! girl; show us a man who abhors a libertine; j who scorns the ridicule of his mother's sex j and the exposure of womanly reputation ; show us the man who never forgets for an instant the delicacy due woman, in any condition or class?and you show us a gentleman. potoig of JF. ^atolwa. Written for the Yorkville Enquirer. H1STOBICAL SKETCHES OF THE Early Settlement of South Carolina. BY BEV. BOBEBT LATHAN. (CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.) Tilflrlff in 17.QR PoKopf .TnKnonn rliorl Tho last law to which he assented, is dated April 28, 1735. He was succeeded by Thomas Broughton. Robert Johnson was Governor of South Carolina in 1719, when the government of the State passed out of the hands of the proprietors and became a royal province. In 1730, he succeeded Arthur Middleton as the third royal Governor. Robert Johnson was more than popular?he was universally beloved. To perpetuate his memory, a monument was erected at the public expense. From the inscription over this monument, we ^arn^the following facts : ^ He died on the was the first Captain General, Governor and Commander-in-Chief, and Vice-Admiral of the province of South Carolina after the purchase of it by the King of England. The marble upon which these facts are recorded, was given, we learn from the same source, by the General Assembly as a "mark of peculiar esteem and gratitude." He was buried near St Philip's Church, of which he was a member. Hissuccessor, Thomas Broughton, had long been connected with the colony. In 1710, we find him contending, as one of the deputies of the proprietors, with Robert Gibbs for the office of Governor. Again, we find him speaker of the lower house of the Assembly, under Nicholson and Middleton ; and now, in 1735, Governor of South Carolina. Thomas Broughton is quaintly described as a "plain, honest man, but little distinguished, either for his knowledge or valor." He continued in office until 1737. At this time, that portion of the State south of a line drawn east and west across the State, as high up as King's tree, was partially settled. In some sections of this territory, there were only a few settlers, and in other sections there were only a few traders. In 1704, a trader, by the name of Henry Sterling, established a kind of trading post on Lyon creek, in the present county of Orangeburg. During the administration of Broughton, as previously, multitudes continued to pour into the country from Germany, Ireland, Scotland and England. All of them were Protestants, and most of them poor. One of the first acts that was passed by the Assembly after Broughton became Governor, was "an act to provide a full supply for subsisting poor Protestants coming from Europe and settling in South Carolina." Previous to this, the sum of five thousand pounds?about twentyfive thousand dollars?had been annually appropriated, by the Assembly, for this purpose; but so great was the tide of immigration, and so needy were the immigrants, that this sum was found insufficient. It was proposed that some of the immigrants be bound out to masters, for a terra of years; but this proposition was not acceded to, and a tax was imposed for the purpose of relieving the poor. Pkoi-lfloTnirn akrmt tkio timn nroapnfpd ft VimilU} Avnuj UVVWV VWIU V*IMV| |??wvvm*WV M very strange spectacle. Husbands were seen carrying all sorts of household stuff' on their backs, whilst their wives and children were following at their heels, each loaded with something. The old settlers were kind, but so great were the numbers of new-comers, that all could not be comfortably provided for. Some of these immigrants were the sons and daughters of wealthy families, whilst many of them were from the humble walks of life. The tyranny of the governments of Europe, in conjunction with the oppression of landlords, drove to South Carolina some of the best families of the Old World. These immigrants had, at first, many things in common. Prominent among these was the fact that they were, whatever might be their nationality, all protestants. At first the majority of the settlers were Dissenters. These dissenters embraced Presbyterians, Baptists, Huguenots and individuals who, although members of the Church of England, were not in full sympathy with it. The Huguenots, who were what are known in Church history as Geneva Presbyterians, gradually became, almost, as a whole, a part and parcel of the Church of Englaud. Many things made the transition easy. Their forms of worship, in some things, bore a striking resemblance tc those forms practiced by the Church of England. They were kindly treated and gently dealt with by "the society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign ports." By this so1 ntltsv onAbo fKo 1?rnnnK Ian* UietY, LUJUlOtClO ?*uu opwag i/uw JL ?wm guage were furnished the Huguenots. This had a powerful effect upon the minds of these French immigrants. Almost imperceptibly the majority of them soon became warmly attached to the Church of England. In 1698 an effort was made to establish Episcopacy as the form of religion of the province. This law was modified in 1704, and Episcopacy became the established religion up to the time of the Revolution in 1776. This enabled Episcopacy to grow aDd flourish as no other form of religion could. For this particular denomination churches were built and ministers supported out of the public treasury. Dissenters not only had to build their own houses of worship and support tbeii own pastors; but also to contribute their part to the support of the established church. At the time that Broughton was Governor ol South Carolina, the province was, when we take everything into consideration, well supplied with churches and ministers of the gospel. With regard to the ministers, it may be said that they were men of learning and excellent natural endowments. At a very early period, the settlers of South Carolina directed their attention to the propagation of the gospel and the establishing of high schools. A public library was formed in Charles Town, within thirty-five years after the settlement of the province; and in 1710 and 1712, free schools were established by legislative enactments. In 1723. the Rev. Thorn as Morrit proposed to the Assembly a plan foi establishing a college. The early settlers of South Carolina read the Bible with great regularity, and the effect was seen in all their acts, both public and private. People that study the Bible and make themselves thoroughly acquainted with its history and its laws, will always be a strongminded people; and those who make its precepts a rule of conduct will always be a moral people. During the administration of Governor Broughton, the Carolinians and Georgians came very near becoming involved in a serious difficulty. After Oglethorpe had put the Georgia colony in a state of defense, he returned to England, in order to adjust a difficulty with the Spanish government in Florida. During his absence, the Carolina traders discovered that Augusta, on account of its fortification, was a favorable trading post. In order to reach this point with a supply of goods suitable for Indian traffic, it was determined to boat the goods up the Savannah river. It was one of the fixed regulations of the Georgia settlement, that rum should be excluded from the colony. The restriction was made, not so much, it would seem, on modern temperance principles, as from the fact that rum was thought to be deleterious to the health. The settlers were not forbidden the use of wine; in fact, they were required to make wine. One of the principal articles which the traders sold to the Indians, or rather, bartered with them, was rum. A company of traders got their cargo of rum and other commodities ready, and commenced to make their way up the river. When opposite Savannah, the officers of the town ordered the boat to be stopped. The goods were all opened and the barrels of rum knocked to pieces. This incensed, not only the traders, but the people of the province generally. The result was that a deputation consisting of two individuals? one from each house of tfre legislature?was sent to inquire into the matter. The Georgia authorities were not slow to discover that they had acted rashly, and promptly restored the articles of traffic, set the traders, whom they had imprisoned, at liberty, and made ample apology. It was then agreed between the two colonies that the Savannah river should be used in common by the two colonies, and that South Carolina traders were at liberty to trade where they saw fit The Carolinians agreed, on their part, not to engage in the sale of rum, or any strong liquors, to the whjte settlers of Georgia. / ftlnnv mil at nivwa a Failure if tll6t)Ian of fiTOV ernment adopted by the Trustees continued in force. The location was unhealthy, especially to Europeans. So many restrictions were made by the laws that the people became discouraged, and many of them crossed over the Savannah river and settled in South Carolina. By law, the Georgians were forbidden to own slaves. The South Carolinians were not. A petition was addressed to the Trustees, praying that this prohibition might be abrogated and the citizens be allowed to purchase slaves. The Scotch Highlanders, who had settled at New Inverness, protested against the introduction of slavery into the colony. Their protest was founded upon conscientious scruples mainly; but they regarded the introduction of slavery as dangerous to their settlement, since it would expose them to constant attacks of the Spaniards^ The relations existing between the courts of Europe to the time of the Revolution of 1776, materially affected the American colonies. On the 19th of October, 1739, war was proclaimed by the British Parliament against Spain. Previous to this, however, the two nations had been at variance, and more than once been on the verge of open hostilities. It was the wicked practice of the European nations that had planted colonies in America, to make these colon ies a kind of battle ground. Whenever any difficulty occured between the courts of Europe, each at once set about to destroy the other's colonies. Not only so, but France, England and Spain, each claiming the sole right to all of North America, made it a point to do all it could to get full possession of the country and prevent either of the other two from establishing colonies in the country. The contest in the North was between England and the French; in the South it was mainly between England and Spain. PretriAna *a flip /ipfilftrftt.inn of war. Soain had been making preparation for it by sending reinforcements to St. Augustine. Treaty after treaty bad been made respecting the possessions of the two nations in America, and boundary lines bad been pointed out; but neither respected the treaties or feared to cross 1 the boundary lines. English vessels claimed the right to cut logwood on some of the West Indies isles and navigate the gulf of Mexico. This right was practically admitted by Spain I for some time; but aboat tbe time of which we are speaking, every vessel that was found in these waters was captured. The merchants began to complain, and the matter was referred to Sir Robert Walpole, the English minister. Walpole was beguiled with fair promises, but the practice continued. In 1737, Thomas Broughton was succeeded by William Bull. Samuel Horsley had been appointed as a successor to Broughton, but [ he died before he left England. So soon as , Bull assumed the duties of his office, he immediately informed the British government ( of the true state of things. Since, from cir( cumstances and situation, the same fate await, ed both South Carolina and Georgia, he also | opened a correspondence with the Trustees of Tim T.iioffl/Mi of nnoa mado annlt. I VJCUI glll# 1UC X A UOWVO UV VUVV u4M\?v cation to the King for assistance, in view of the threatened invasion of their colony. A regiment of six hundred men was raised and James Oglethorpe made military Governor of the two colonies of South Carolina and Georgia, with the rank of Major-General. Two ships?the Hector and Blandford?were ordered to convoy the transports which were to convey Oglethorpe and his regiment to America. Forty individuals accompanied the expedition, who might be ready to take the place of those who might sicken, die or be killed in the expedition. So soon as Oglethorpe landed, he commenced the work of fortifying posts on the coast of Georgia and some of the most important islands. In order to be successful, it was necessary that the friendship of the neighboring Indians be secured. The Creek nation was warmly attached to Oglethorpe, but during his absence in England, the Spaniards had been tampering with them. Some of their more prominent leaders had been invited to visit the Governor of St. Augustine. That they might be induced to accept the invitation, large presents were promised them. On arriving at St. Augustine, these chiefs were told that Oglethorpe was sick on board of a vessel then lying in the harbor, and was very desirous to see them. The wily Indians dis, covered the plot and would neither go on board the vessel, nor accept of the proffered presents. This was a trick of the Spaniards to cut off the Creek chiefs that they might, the more easily, in some way or other, overcome the whole nation. On returning home, these chiefs found an invitation awaiting , them to meet Oglethorpe at his headquarters. This | invitation was accepted, and a thousand warriors were at once promised Oglethorpe when ever he would call for them. The British soldiers soon become disheart ened. The difficulties with which they were called to contend, were much greater than . those to which they had been accustomed, i Two of the companies belonging to the regi. meut, had been formerly stationed at Gibral. tar. Some of the men could speak Spanish, and one of them was a Catholic, and at heart favorable to the government of St. Augustine. These companies were stationed on Cumberland island, within speaking distance of the Spanish outpost. This Catholic soldier was corrupted and induced to engage in a secret I plot to kill Oglethorpe, and then escape to St. | Augustine. The plot was a bold one and as | fearlessly attempted to be executed. A band ; of armed soldiers came to the general and made a most unreasonable demand. This he peremptorily refused. With a shout, the whole band rushed upon him, one shooting at him from a distance of only a few feet. Fortunately, Oglethorpe sustained no further injury than the singing of his clothes and burning of his face. Another soldier aimed at him, but his musket failing to fire, he drew bis sword and was about to plunge it into him, when an officer came to the assistance of Oglethorpe, and killed the mutineer at once. The others of the band attempted to escape, but were captured and put in chains. [to be continued next week.] The Lord's Prayer,?-It has been truly and tenderly said, "Even that perfect petition, the Lord's Prayer, gains something from the fact that every man who repeats it remembers that he first learned it at his mother's knee."