The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-10-06

fear, he urged me to stay. So kind and
thoughtful he was too. Because his en-
gagements here would keep him much
from me, he made me take likewise my
sister Louisa. She is good girl, and a
dear girl but miss Laurence did es-
pecially in my walk to-day, through love-
" wooded country and sweet little vii
lage. was thinking of him oil the time,
so much SO, that ! quite started when
heard one of the village children shouted
after as Laurence"
Very foolish tits ofmc--a loving weak
hess have not vet got ovcr-but never
hear the name my husband hears without
Il pleasant thriIl; never even sec it writ
ten up i'll the street without turning again
TO look at it. So, unconsciouslv, | turned
to the little rosy urchn, whom his gran
dam honorcd hy ne name Of Laurence"
a pretty, sturdy boy of five or six wears
old-a child to glad any mother. won
dered had he Il mother 2 stayed and
Asked always notice children n,,w.-
Oh, wonderful, solemn mystery sleeping at
my heart, my hope-my joy-my prayer.
think, with tears, how | may one day
watch the gambols Of a boy like this and
how, looking down in his little face, NAV
see therein my Laurence's eyes. For the
sake Of this future-which God grant,
went and kissed the little fellow who
chanced to bear my husbands name.
asked the old woman about the child's
mother. dead, dead five years." And
his fatherl a sneer, n muttered curse
bitter words about "poor folk" and "gcn-
tie folk" Alas alas saw it all. Poor
beautiful unhappy child!
My heart was so panied, that could
not tell the little incident to Laurence
Even when my sister began to talk of it
asked her to cease. But pondered over
it the more. l think, if am strong en-
ough, | will go and see the poor little fel-
low again tomorrow. One might do
some good-who knows2
Tomorrow has eomc-to-morrow has
gone. What Il gulf lies between that yes
terday and its tomorrow
y Louisa and walked to the vii
lage-she very much against her WILL
" 1t WAS wrong and foolish" she said zone
should not meddle with vice." And she
looked prudent and stern. l tried to
speak OF the innocent child--of the poor
dead mother; and the shadow of mother
hood over my own soul taught me com
passion towards both. At last when Lou
lsa WAS half angry, said ] would go, for
l had secret reason which she did not
know. Thank heaven those words were
poe ;'..s my lips- .-.-------z----..- !
So we went. Ny little beauty of a hoy
WAS not there; and | had the curiosity to
approach the cottage where his grand
mother lived. 1t stood in garden, with
= high hedge around. heard n childs
laugh, and could not iorbear pecping
through. There WAS my little favoritc,
held aIOtt i'll the arms OF man, who stood
halt hidden behind tree. =" lie looks
lax" II gentleman :pc,haps it is the wretch
oI "a father" wins ,crcd Louisa. "SiStcr.
We ought to come away" AM J walk
cd forward Indignantly.
But | still Staid--stiI lo"k"l e
my horror Of the crime, :,t 81. ,,.. at
traction it was some sign e grace in the
Hiaii tial hc SiloUiu Ht iPtN, 'thhbNlctnc
and show kindness to the child. And the
miserable mother! |, n happy wife, could
have wcpt to think Of her. | wondered,
did Er think Of her too! He NIGH, for
though the boy laughed and chattcrrd,
lavishing n him all those pet diminutives
which chiIian make out "f the sweet
word "tarh"r," did not hear this father
answer by single word.
Louisa came to hurry me away. "Hush"
| said, lone moment and will 90"
The little one had ceased chattcring :
the father put it down and came forth
from his covert.
Heaven it was my husband!
= | think should then have fall
en- down dead, save for one thing-I tnrn-
ed and met my sisters eyes. They were
full Of horror-Indignation- pity. She,
too, had seen.
Like lightning there flashed across me
all the future: my fathers wralh--the
worlds mockery-his shame.
said--and | had strength to say il
quite calmly" Louisa, you have guessed
our secret but keep it-promise!"
she looked aghast-confounded.
You see," went on, and actually
smiled" you see, know all about it, and
so does Laurence. II is-a friends child.'
May Heaven forgive me for that lie |
told it was to save my husbands honor
Day after day, week after week, goes by
yet | Twelve, and living, keep the hor.
rible secret in my soul. 1t must remain
there, buried forever, now.
1t so CHANGED, that after that hour did
not see my husband for some weeks: Lou.
lisa and | were hastily summoned home
So had time to think what was TO do.
knew all now-all the mystery of his
fits Of gloom-his secret sufferings. II
was remorse, perpetual remorse. No mar
vel |! And for a moment my stern heart
said, Lot it be So" !, too, was wrong
ed, Why did he marry me and hide all
this 0 vile! o cruel Then the
light broke on me: his long struggle a.
gainst his love--his terror OF winning mine.