The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-11-24

lips made only to smile.
Let Inc own that was greatly struck
by so remarkable combination of rare
endowments, and that, l think, the sharp
eyed rector must have perceived, or he
might not perhaps have been so imme-
diately communicative with respect to the
near prospects of his idolized grand-child
rs he was, the moment the young lady.
after presiding at the breakfast table had
Withdrawn. .
I'VE shall have gay doings, Mr.. Tyrrel,
at the rectory, shortly" he said. Next
Monday three weeks will, with the bless
ing Of God, be Agnes Townley's wedding.
day."
"Yes," rejoined the rector, turning to-
wards and examining some flowers which
Miss Townley had brought in and placed
on the table. ayes, it has been for some
time settled that Agnes shall on that day
be united in holy wedlock to Mr.. Arbuti-
not"
"Mr. Arbuthnot, of Elm Parkl"
"A great match, is it not, in worldly
point of viewi" replied Mr.. Townley, with
pleasant smile at the tone Of my exca-
nation. u.| #..'.
"And much better than that, Robert
Arbuthnot is a young man of high and
noble nature rs well as devotedly attached
to Agnes. He will, doubt not, prove
in every respect a husband deserving and
worthy of her; and that from the lips of
doatng old grand-papi must be esteem
ed high praise. You will see him pre-
sently." .......'.
81 did see him often, and quite agreed
III the rcctor's estimate of his future grand
SOM law. ! have not frequently seen u
h:cr looking y ung nan-his aye was
twenty six, and certainly one Of more
honorable and kindly spirit, of more
genial temper than he, has never come
within my observation. lie had drawn a
great prize in the matrimonial lottery, and
| felt deserved his fortune.
They were 'nalried at the time agreed
upon, aud the day was kept not only ut
Elm PARK and in its neighborlrood, but
through our parish" rs general hoi-
day. And strsngely enough, ut least,
have never met with another instance of
the kind-it WAS held by our entire female
community high rs well as low, that the
match was perfectly equal one, notwith-
'tanding thai wealth aud high worldly
position were entirely on the bridcyroom's
side. In fact, that nobody less in the
social scale, the representative Of an old
territorial family ought in the natme of
things, to have aspired to the hand Of
Agnes Townley, appeared to have been
foraOone conrlnSi,,, yr;,b ,y.r,I>I,, m.
will give the reader truer and more vivid
impression Of the bride thar any words
or colors | might use.
The days, weeks, months of welded
life flew over Mr.. and Mrs Arbuthnot with
out cloud save few dark, but transito-
ry ones which | saw now and then fit a.
,cross the husbands countenanee rs the
time when he should become Il fathcr,drew
nea-, and came To bc more and more
spoken Of II should not sury.v her"
said Mr.. Arbuthnot, one day in reply to a
chance observation OF the rcctor,s, "nor in
deed desire to do so." The gray-headed
man seized and warmly pressed the hus-
bands hand, and tears OF sympathy filled
his eyes, yet did lie nevertheless as in duty
bound utter grave words OH the sinfuness
Of despair under any circumstances, and
the denying in all trials, however heavy, of
pauen. submission to the will of God
But the venerable gentleman spoke in n
hoarse and broken voice; il was easy To
see he felt with Mr.. Arbuthnot, that the
reality of an event, the hare ossibility of
which, shook them so terribly, were n
cross too heavy for human streng gth 10 bear
and live
IL was of course decided that The ex-
pected heir or heiress should be entrusted
TO a wet nurse, and Mrs. Dandy, the wife
of miller, living not very far from the
rectory, was engaged for that purpose
had frequently seen the woman; and her
name, rs the rector and were one even
ing gossiping over our tea, on some sub
ject or other that forgot, came up.
"a likely person" Iremarked; "healthy,
very good booking, and one might make
oath, u truehearted creature. But there
is withal timidity: frighte,lness, in her
manner, at times which, il | may hazard
n perhaps nueharitabe conjecture. speaks
i'll for that smart husband of hers"
"You have hit the mark precisely, my
dear sir. Dandy is aver f'ad fellow, and a
domestic tyrant to boot. His wife, who is
really good, but meek hearted person,
lived with us once How old do you sup.
pose her TO belp ~ ASA
"Five and twenty. perhaps"
"Six years more than that. She has q
son Of the name Of Harper by former
marriage, who is in his tenth year. Anne
wasn't widow long. Danby was caught
by her good looks, aud she by the bait Of
u well provided home. Unless, however,
her hu'baud gives up his corn speculations
she will not, | think, have that much
longer"
"Corn speculaionsl Surely. DANNY has
no means adequate 10 indulge in such a