Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-10-15

scarcely give uuerance 20 hisfeeliags; Ne. Fos. !
ter stopped all expression OF thaEks, and after
some demurTings, some scruples on the psu ol
Edgar were overcome. Il was decided thai he
should Immediately take up his residence with
Mr.. Foster and commence his career.
In q few weeks Mr.. Fosters exerlions were
crowned with success, and with an amount of
capital much larger than Edgar deemed necessa-
nv TO abstract from his friends fortune, be was
taken into large and Aourishing firm.
Harriet, during this period, spite Of herfather's
prohibition, was constant in her afectionaie at
ientions TO her brother, cheering him in his pro-
gress and consoling him with her sympathy and
hopes for the future. Immediately after Edgar
left his fathers house, Harriet had written to her
cousin, informing her Of the unhappy event that
had occurred, and Of her brothers. steady deter
minaton TO pursue the course he had laid down.
She expressed her own friendly and affeCuonate
sentiments towards her atel discovered relatives
with an assurance Of the pleasure with which
she looked forward to oneday becoming acquain.
ted with them. This letter was replied TO by a
hurried, sgilated and most incoherenI note, upon
which the traces Of tears were apparent. This
note was too precious 10 Edgar 10 be returned,
and Harriet, like good sister, suffered him to
keepiI.
Harriet was unable TO give her brother any
favorable accounlso Of her fathers feelings towards
him, and she would not distress him by telling
him the whole truth. Mr.. Gransden never in.
qured for his son, and never uttered his name.
! If by any chance il was mentioned before him,
he flew into violent passion, and upon several
occasions, when letters addressed 10 Edgar came
INTO his hands, he had Irampled upon them in
| frenzy Of rage, or thrown them into the fire. Al
present she saw no hope of change, bat with
firm faith in the infuenceof time, she awaited the
moment 10 sow The good seed.
Months passed by, and Edgar never saw Flor
ence, save once q week, from the gallery Of the
church, for though shut out from his fathers pew,
he could not deny himself the pleasure Of offer
! ing up his prayers within the same walls with
her, of gazing upon her sweet face, and feeling
the elevang influence Of her presence. Mr..
Sandys he occasionally saw at Mr.. Fosters. By
him he was always received with warmth and
feeling, but Florence ceased her visits TO their
I old friend when he became an inmate of his
house.
A long, drenry winter passed away, followed
by sober, active summer, and still more busy
autumn, closing Edgar's first year as business
man. Though slow, his progress had been stea-
dy, and he sill Stocked with un un(ading hope to
the future.
About this period Mr.. Gransden was seized
with n violent infammatory disease, aud he re.
maned for some days in very critical situation.
When her fears were most deeply excited about
him, Harriet venlured TO mention her brolher's
name to her father and ask him TO receive him,
bur this proposal threw Mr.. Gransden into such
a paroxysm Of rage, that the physician assured
her he would not answer for her fathers life, if il
was repeated
| In few weeks Mr.. Gransden was again re-
stored 10 comparative health, but with the assu-
rance from his physician, that any imprudence
would bring on fatal relapse. Mr.. Gransden,
however, in his indomtube self-will gave little
heed TO this advice. He ate and drank and ex-
posed himself without the least precaulion, and
the result was, Rs had been lorelold, that he was
again seized with an attack so violent as TO leave
litle or no hope Of his recovery.
} Under these painful circumstances, Harriet wa
at a loss how 10 act. Iler knowledge of the ef
feet which the mention of her brolhers nam'
had produced upon her father before, rendered
il highly dangerous 10 attempt it again; yet how
| could she suffer him TO die in enmty with hi
} son--how overlook the important influence which
} il might probably have upon her beloved broth
er'S worldly INTEREST," Thephysicians, however
) forbid positively any allusion TO agilOling topics
and she was obliged TO await in deep anxiety the
event.
Several days of great tanxiety and fading hopes
passed by, when, one night, Harriet took hel
place beside her fathers bed, 10 relieve the nurse
who had retired TO take some rest. The patient
was restless and uneasy, and as the night deep
ened, the Supor which had obscured his mind all
day, gradually passed away. At his request
Harriet raised his head and placed the light upon
the table beside his bed. For some time hi.
frightened eye wandered rapidly round The room
then in voice scarcely audible, he directed his
daughter TO bring him a certain dfawel from q
small escrore in the chamber. Harriet did So
The sick man took from il with his trembling
hands a paper bound up an1 sealed, and laid il
upon the bed. Again his eye wandered over
every object in the apartment, then turning 10 his
daughter, he said, in a hollow whisper--"lt will
all be yours, Ilurriel--all Take IT." and he
handed her the paper.
"And Edgar, my dear father, my beloved
brother! viii you not forgive him! Oh! dc
not shut him out from your heart in this awful
hour"
"Never!-~Let him sturve!" hssed the dying
man.
"Ohl no, no, father" exclaimed the terrified
girl, sinking on her knees beside the bed, "for'
give hm,--(orgive your son. Destroy this fatal
paper, und lei your children share alike. Die no
with curse upon your ps!"
With dying effort the sick man raised him.
self from his pillow, and in a steady voice called
upon his daughter 10 swear that MOI farthingoI
his should ever be shared with her brother. II
appeared as if for the first time it had occurred
10 him, ihatahe purpose of his will might be
frustrated by his daughters act. Tho idea thai
any one would be willing to surrender large
fortune lawfully their own, having been the las
to enter his mind.
Harriet arose from her kneeling posture ant
r stood erect before her father. 81 cannot swear
, to wrong the innocent" she said, "nor will
. I,.l 80, IL, -, II.