Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-04-17
Tho coterie Of Old Maids.
BY MISS E. B. c.

from the Southern Literary Gazette, anc
is one of series now being published ir
that paper. We commend the style o.
this writer as being well adapted for slight
and easy sketches. One great merit o.
it is, that it is free from the affected flip,
pancics with which GRACE GREENWOOD
and others like her, interpolate their pro.
ductions, much to their injury. We con,
graduate our friend Of the Gazette upon
upon having procured the services and as,
sistance of a person of such correct taste.
There was considerable interest ex-
pressed in the manner of the group when
Venora Walton prepared to tell her histo-
ry. She had but lately removed to her
present home, but "rumor with a thou
sand tongues" had heralded her approach.
There was something singular connected
with her past life, hut the precise nature
of the singularity no one could tell. She
lived in regal style, and yet, considerable
of her income went into the Golfers of the
poor.
She was tall, dark-haired woman, of
about forty years of age, with keen
black eye, and thin, determined looking
lips. Her manner was stately, and every
gesture seemed a command. She was a
person to be feared, and not loved. In
her dress, she affected the other sex whom
she loudly protested she despised; not
only, she would say, for their utter sell
fshness, but for the merccnary views that
characterize the whole race of them. She
wore tight fitting, dark merino dress,
adorned with large glittering buttons, a
linen standing collar fastened with gold
stud, and lined cuffs. She prided herself
on having overcome the feminine weak.
ness of wearing thin shoes, and she walk
ed about manfully in her doubled souled
leather bootees. Her hair was cut short,
and on her finger she wore large old
fashioned ring.
There was something unlovely and un-
feminine in her very appearance; and the
group wondered what could possibly. have
been her love history. She did not, how
ever, keep them long 10 suspense, for
l,she
f'" My 'dears, am almost sorry that 1
gave the promise [ did, for It is really a
waste of ones time to talk about the
men, you know how despise them.'
Cob! do not retract," said Rose Mar.
tin eagerly, "you can amuse us at their
expense you know, and you will, doubt.
less, take pleasure in laughing at them"
Laughing at them! my DEAR" said
Miss Verona, "many's the laugh have
had at one of their scx-Philip Anson,' -
and the spinster laughed again heartily,
as she took retrospective glance.
"Do tell us about him." said Rose with
unbecoming cagerness, which caused Miss
Verona to turn sharply upon her and say
"I think, Miss Rose, that you have not
only woman's caprice, but also woman's
curiosity" Rose was silent under the
rebuke, and Miss Verona commenced her
history.
al was brought up" she said, by my
grand parents, my father and mother hav,
ing died in my infancy. My grandfather
was one of the richest men Of his day,
he had married my grandmother too for
her wealth, and he always excused him
self by remarking, that every man does
the same when he can get chance,
Verona, he would say to me, keep a
sharp look out my child, for when you
grow up some lazy fellow will kidnap you
for your money, all my possessions will
be yours, and your old grandfather will
not be here to save you from the shar-
pers.' Then would ! lay my head upon
his knee, and weep bitterly at the idea OF
being kidnapped for my money when
grew up. With feelings of distrust and
suspicion, thus reached seventeen, and
made my debut in society, as my grand.
fathers heiress. need scarcel Y tell you
that was the belle of the season, and
saw heart after heart laid at my feet, but
spurned them in dignantlv, for I knew
that they had been bought with price.
Many was the ruin that my fortune was
to build up. men who had fallen from
their high estates,' and who fondly deem
ed, that upon my golden ladder, they
would again mount high. Ruined game,
sters, houseless and homeless youths
who would rather spend my wealth than
work for their own, and shall tell it
two clergymen were in my train; yes,
the hand aspired to by the gamester, was
eagerly sought by him, whose lips heard
each successive sabbath, preach total re-
nunciation of all this worlds goods. Oh
no, said with feelings embittered against
the whole race of men, | could never for
give myself were | to marry you. The
clergymen looked enquiringly at me, il
is easier,' said I, for cable to enter the
eye Of needle, than a rich man to enter
heaven and thus dismissed my two
clerical admirers.
Thus far I had felt no inclination tc
marry, but at twenty-five. met with
Philip Anson, and felt it difficult to ap
ply the lessons Of hard.hearted wisdom
had learned, to him. He was difident
and retiring in society, and evening after
evening I met him in the giddy round ot
pleasure, before he ventured to seek ar
introduction. For Q long time, eycn aite'