The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-10-13

old garden seat; give up your walk for
his morning; slept but inditferently last
night, and morning finds me languid and
dcpreSSed.'
y shadow passed over Eflc's face, the
little cherry lips pouted, and rcbeIious
feeling was at her heart, but one look at
her mothers pale face decided her, and
untying the strings OF her hat, she leaned
her head carcssingIy upon her mothers
shoulder.
You are i'll, dear mother, YOU are
tro"Ji'd )" and she looked enquiringly up
into Ter face.
" Listen to me, Efie, I have story to
tel YOU of myself. When | was about
your age formed an acquaintance with
young man 10y the name of AloIph. He
had been but Il short time in the village.
but long enough to win the hearts of half
the young girls from their rustic admirers.
Handsome, frank and social, he found him
self everywhere t;lvorite. IL would sit
by me hours, reading our favorite authors
and side by side we rambled through all
the lovely paths in which our village
aboundcd. My parents knew nothing to
disadvantages, AMI were equally charm
ed as myself with his cultivated refinement
OF manner, AMI the iudutinablr charm with
which he invested every topic, crave or
gay, which it suited his mood to discuss.
Before knew it, my heart was no longer
III my own keeping. One afternoon he
called to accompany me upon little cx-
curSlon W" had planned together As he
came up the gravel walk noticed his fine
hair WAS in disorder, but plng Keen as
dc9h, shot through my heart, when he
approached me with rcciiRy unSfcGdy step,
and stanmcrng tongue. could not
speak but the chill of death gathered
round my heart, aud tainted. When |
recovered, he was gone, and my mothers
face WAS bending over me, moist with tears.
Her womana heart knew what WAS pass
ing in mine. She pressed her lips to nv
forehead and only said, "Gol strengthen
You to choose the right, my child"
| could not look upon her sorr0wful ewes
or the pleading face Of my gray-haircd IA
ther, and trust myself again to the witch
cry Of that voice and smile. 4 letter
came t" me; | dared not read it, Alas
my heart pleaded too eloqucnty cycn hem,
for his return. | returned it unopened
my father and mother devoted themselves
to tighten the load that lay upon my
heart, but the perfume of flower, re-
mcmhered strain of music, struggling
moonbeam, would bring back old memo.
,ries with u crushing hitteeness that swept
all bctoro It fJr the moment. But my fa-
thcr's agcl hand fingered on my head with
blessing, and my molhcr's voice had the
sweetness Of an angels, as il fell upon my
ear.
Time passed on, and | conquered my
self. Your father saw me, and proposed
formy hand my parents left me free to
choose, and Etfir, dear, are IRE not hGppy p"
"Oh, mothcr,' said Ellic, (thcn looking
sorrowiuIIy i'll her tacc) did you mcVcr
see AdoIph again :"
Do you remember, my child, the sum
mcr evening we sat upon the piazza, when
n dusty, travel-stained man come up the
steps and ashe | for "Supper." Do you
rrcoIect his boatcd, distigured face! Ell
iir, That ~0$ Adoiph!"
Not that Crcck Of u m1n, mother"
N'" E'H', covering hcr eyes with her
hands to shut him out from her slightly
Yes, that WIS all that remained Of
that glorious intellect, and that form made
after Gods own immagc looded round
upon yom noble fathcr-then-upon him,
anl (taking Etiic's little hand AMI point
ing to the ring that encircled it, ain
yo"r ear, my daughter, | now breathe my
mothers prayer for me-'God help you to
choose the right!'"
The bright head of Efiie sank upon her
mothers breast, and with gush of tears,
she drew the golden circlet from her fin
g"., and placed it in her mothers hand.
God bless YOU, my chld,," said the
happy mother, as she led her back to
their quiet home. Fanny Fern.