Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-04-22

destinies of hundreds, and gave peculia
character TO the history of n populous State
Charles Grayson, and his Indian girl wer
wed. In u few days they left the tribe tt
which she belonged, and were soon com
fortably settled in hunters lodge on tn
extreme verge of civilization.
Years flew by-and The settlement bat
already assumed the badges Of civilization
The gems Of art and agriculture were gilt
tering on the ruins Of the wilderness, ant
prosperity empticd her horn Of plenty owe
the land.
AS accounts of the change reached thu
East, hundreds focked to the cline of pro
mise, and among them one who to persona
beauty, the most cqusite, was added thos,
graces of metropolitan refinement and edu
cation never surpassed, but rarely equaled
Mary Alton was the belle Of the city
Her father had, in the vicisstudcs of the
times, been suddenly reduced to compara'
tive poverty, and, like many others in sim
liar situation, turned his face westward
Bitter was the struggle in N1ary's heart when
she became acquainted with her parents fail.
urc, but more bitter still when she saw the
necessity of his seeking new habitation.
1t is hard for the young and sensitive to leave
q home hallowcd by Il mothers memory, and
the angcl-like associations of childhood.
But the young, too, arc hopeful. The rain
bow sparklcd out upon the bosom of the
cloud ; and Mary Alton, with cheering and
radiant smile, consented to depart. Oh !
smiles of the beautiful, do We not speak of a
SUMMER world "a world where the fuun-
tain of tears is forever sealed by the seraph
of happiness, and grief lies buried beneath
the fadrlcss bower Of joy!
And the two, father and daughter, bid
adieu to the crowded city for the solitude
Of L far-distant wilderness.
If Marv's charmes were all powerful in
the East, they were not less attractive in her
new home. She was the toast, the wor-
shipped beau ideal of the young hunters.
Her name chccrcd their hearts, and fired
their eyes amid the dangers and privations of
the life which their lot often compelled them
10 lead for even yet the emigrants of that
region were frequently dependent on the
chase for subsistence.
Among Mary's admirers one was particu.
larlv conspicuous. His name, Henry Segard,
was I'M honOrcd one lie had more than
onced saved The settlement from the dread,
ful tomahawk, and rescued many captive
from their border foes
The only rival, in prowcss, to young &c.
gard, WAS Charles Grayson. Fate seemed
10 have pittcd them against each other from
gSas ESHAaea hs d fthaaEs r and Hs
intrigucs of their respective followers
There WAS rumor, indeed, that they had
sworn friendship. But the oath, if such had
ever been made, WAS soon to prove valueless.
There was one master passion whose mighty
arm could siiver the holy bond and over
turn forever the sacred altar.
Henry Segard was the accepted one
Oh how his heart thrilled when, arm in arm,
he ard his bctrothed wandered through the
majestic old woods, beneath the silvcry stars,
and surrounded by all the sweet influences
of nature, whose lofty brow yet wore the
unsocd diadem of the lonely wild. How
much do we lay down before the shrine of
civilization! How much of the beautiful do
we sacrifices The mighty river is turned
inside, the ripping stream dried up, and the
lofty mountain stripped of its emerald core
nal, which ruslled in kingIy magnifcence
around the marble summit. So let 1t be;
such is our irresistible law.
in these walks, unseen as they imagined
there was MI eye on thcm-an
eve dark and keen and slccpless.
A glorious erening-a twilight of North
Americawcloud on cloud, in crimson dra-
perry and ruby gold clustering around the
azure palace Of the Hesperides! And Mary,
in the still solemn wood, keeps her trust.
The beautiful girl had been waiting but
few lnoments-yet those moments We're
hours. and her lips murmured,
"Why comes he not!"
"Ilc is here!' cried one lcaping from
clump of small trees, around whose delicate
branches clustered the luxurant tendrils of
that small vine peculiar to the West
"He is here" !" he replied; one who loves
you, who has long loved you-onc whom
Won must love"
"Never!" and she recognized Grayson.
"Nevcr have sworn it,"
"Am bound by your unhoy oath cried
Mary, | the betrothed of another! Away !!
away, sir! your rashness and villany may
yet remain undiscovered"
"Mary Alton" said Grayson; in those low,
deep, hai.arliculated toncs-which ever
speak wild and uncomfortable passion
MARY Alton have watched you for months
i have watched you at noon, ut eve. at
night have kissed the very flowers your
fingers have touchcd-I have stood for hours
on tie blessed spot your feet have pressed
will you not! Cannot you return my
love"
Grayson kncIt and suddenly seized her
hand. Mary stood pale and motionless with
fear and astonislment
"Answer! implorc you" he continued.
"Traiioress! wretch" shriekcd rather