The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-12-22

iou VIII hot lnention what mas passed, L
know; remember, within q month l am to
hear. Think Of me kindly, and believe
that might make you love me as love
you. Now, go to her, go before she finds
you here" -.
Edwin pressed her hand in parting, and
she bent down her forehead, but the kiss
imprinted there was cold and passionless.
He met his sister at the door, and led her
back affectionately to the drawing-room
she had just Quilted.
The old gardener had deposited port
manteau and knapsack on the very edge
OF the footpath by the side of the high
road, and had been watching for the mail,
with great horn lantern, some half.hour
or 80 before it was expected; while the
house-maid was stationed inside the gate;
upon the grave walk, ready to convey the
intelligence, as soon rs the lights were vis-
ible coming up the hill, and the cook stood
at the front door, gnawng her white
apron. The family were assembled in
that very unpleasant state of expectation,
that generally precedes the departure of a
friend or relative; Edwin, walking about
the room. wrapped up for travelling, impa-
tient and anxious to be off. At last, the
g-rlcncr halloed out Justify; Betty ran to-
ward the house, rs If pursued by wild
beast, and screaming, ats coming;" and
cook, who had been standing still all the
time, rushed in, quite out Of breath beg
ging Mr.. Edwin to make haste, for the.
coach never waite1 minute for nobody;
so he embraced his mother and sister, and
then, taking Catharine's hand, raised it
hastily, but respectfully to his lips. Miss
Reed watched the movement, and saw
how he avoided the piercing gaze her cou-
ain fixed upon him, not so intently though,
but that she noted the faint CLEAN of sat.
lsfAct'on that passed over Annie's pale
face; and cursed her for it. Strange, that
the idea of any other rival had never
haunted her.
"GooI-by, once MORE" said Edwin. al
may return before you expect me; God
bless YOU all!'
And, in another FIVE minutes, he was
seated BY the side Of the frosty old GEN.
tleman who drove the mail, putting away
vigorously at his meerschaum.
The ladies passed a dismal evening:
more so, indeed, than the circumstances
would seem to warrant. Annie commenc-
ed large piece Of embroidery; that, judg-
ing from its size and the slow progress
made, seemed likely to afford her occupa-
ton and amusement until she became an
old woman; while Mrs. Reed called to.
mind all the burglaries and murders thet
had been committed in the neighborhood
during the last twenty years; deploring
their sisation, discussing the propriety Of
havinA an alarm bell hung between two
OF the chimneypots, and making arrange
ments for the gardener to sleep on the pre-
misses for the future. Miss Anatti never
raised her eyes from the book over which
she bent. Supper, generally their most
cheerful meal, remained untouched, and.
earlier than usual, they retired to their re-
spective chambers.
For several hours. Catharine sat at her
open window, looking out into the close,
hazy night. The soft wind, that had ev-
cry now and then rustled through the
trees, or shaken dewdrops from the thick
ivy clustered beneath the orer-hanpipp
caves, had died away. As the mist set,
tied down, and few stars peoped out lust
overhead, black curtain Of clouds seem
ed to rise up from tho horizon, hiding the
nearest objects in impenetrabls darkness
The only sounds now heard were those
that told Of mans vicinity, and his rest
lessness; the occasional rumble Of a distant
vehicle; the chime Of bells; sometimes the
echo OF . human voice, in the direction Of
the town; the ticking of watch, or the
hard breathing Of those that slept: and
these fell on the ear with strange distinct
ness, amid the awful stiffness Of NATURE
Presently the clouds that hung over val
ley far away, opened horizontally for An
instant, while faint fash Of lightning
fiickered behind, showing their cumbrous
outline. In q few moments brighter
flash in another quarter was followed by
the low roll Of distant thunder; and 10 the
storm worried round, nearer and nearer
until it burst in all its fury over tho hill on
which the cottage stood.
MIS-, Reed, who from her childhood had
always felt an agonizing and unconquer-
able fear during thunderstorm, reused
from her light slumber, lay hudled up,
and trembling, with her face buried in the
pillow. She did not hear the door open
or the footsteP that approached so stealth
ily, before hand was laid upon her
shoulder; and starting up she recognized
her cousin. -
"Oh, Cathariner' she faltered, covering
her eyes, "do stay with me awhile; am
30 terri6ed--and think Of Edwin, too, ex-
posed a. he must be to IL" as y
II have been thinking Of him, Annie
"But you are frightened, also, . little,
are you not--with all your courage, or
what made you shake so theni" said the
poor girl trying to draw her cousin nearer
as fash AFTER flash giared before her eye
lids, and louder claps Of thunder followed
each other at shorter intervals.
al fri0hfenadfD rA,sl;ad fha ,sl,,,n,io..