Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-02-26

ln.laW SnOulu Ue d lidA VI JioDlIJ, oio
descended from ain honest family"
1t is impossible to describe the mingled
expression of grief, and shame which ap-
peared in the countenance of George
when he heard these words. He was
silent for moment at last he said, in a
voice of great emotion, You are right;
never thought, Enever hopcdit could be
otherwise. Hitherto / have concealed
from YOU who | aun; but tomorrow you
shall know all. Leave me now | beseech
you"
Shocked with. his evident distress,
standhal presse his hand kindly, begged
of him to compose himself, and left him.
The good banker! knew not what to think
of this scene; yet Ihe was persuaded that
no blame was attached to George.
The next morning, he learned with
grief and surprise, that the young man
had quilted the house. The following
letter, which he left behind him, will ex-
plain the cause of this step:
"How little did you think yesterday,
my dear benefactor, that even in the mo-
ment when you meant to render me the
happiest of men, you struck a dagger to
my heart? Yes-I know-I feel that the
mind of your angelic daughter never can
be bestowed but upon the descendant of
an honest man. Unjust then fly from her
forever.
"I will not leave you without telling
you all. Know that | am the son OF that
st. Aubin, who, on being arrested for
forgery, killed one of the gens-d' armes,
who was sent to Seize him, and expiated
his crime upon tile scafold. | had re-
turned home from college about year
and a half before this dreadful event took
place. Imperfectly acquainted with my
fathers circumstances, | asked him to
give me profession. He refused assur-
ing me that it was not necessary, as his
property was sufficient for us both, even
independent of well founded expectations
which he lad, that / should inheri: a con-
siderable fortune from an uncle in the In
dies.
Satisfied with tliese reasons, and con-
cluding from the style in which my father
lived, that he musska very rich, l thought
noamorcs ofSa-Psa l!sssss:sh. Some, months
passed away, when one morning my
father entered my apartment, and an
nounced to mesabruptly that he was
ruined. Shocked aud overwhelmed as |
was, had presence Of mind enough to
attempt to console him. The education
you have given me" cried /, "will secure
US from want, and YOU have still many
friends" "Not one-not. onew cried he
in agony. "Drivcn to despair, by my
losses on Change, had borrowed money
where could, and finding i'll luck con-
tinually pursue me, had recourse to
forgery. My crime is on the eve of being
discovered. must fly, instantly: but !
will not leave thee, my poor ruined boy
wholly without resource. Take this
it is the half of what remains to me" :"
He offered me pocket book: ] rejected
it with look OF horror. This alone
was wanting' cried he, in a voice Of
fury, as hc rushed from the room. fol-
lowed him-I begged his pardon on my
knees, but was resoute in refusing his
money. He fed: and just when be.
gan to congratulate myself that he was
safe from pursuit, heard the overwhelm-
ing tidings Of his arrest and subsequent
execution. A burning fever seized NC
| should have perished under it, but by
the charity of one of those who had suf-
fercd most by my unfortunate father.
May Heavens choicest blessing light
upon the worthy mani Far from re.
proaching me, he took pains to console
me. He even carried his charity so far
as to recommend me to the merchant in
whose employ was when you took me
into your house. You will feel that, after
the avowal, we can never meet again.
Farewell, forever, my friend--my bene-
factor!-May happiness--eternal happi.
ncss-be the portion of you and yours,
GEORGE ST. AUBIN."
The first impulse of Stcndhal was to
cause immediate search to be made for
George; but all in vain: he had Quilted
the town, and no one knew whittier he
had gone. Stendhal was at the first
truly grieved at his flight-but when he
began to reflect coolly on the circum-
stances of the case, he was not sorry
that George had quilted him as he did !;
for with all his affections for the young
man, he shrunk from the idea of giving
his daughter to the son of a convicted
felon.
He felt, however, deeply, for the effect
which the fight of George evidently
produced upon Leocadie; and after con.
sultation with his wife, he determined to
tell her the truth. She wept bitterly at
hearing it; but it was evident that her
mind was relieved, for, from that time,
she appeared more tranquil. She de.
voted herself still more exclusively to
her family, Stunned society, as much as
she could, and .ough always even tenn
percd, and at times cheerful, it was easy
to see that she was not happy.
Four years passed; Leocadie received
many offers Of marriage, but refused
them so peremptorily, thather parents dcs-
paired of ever seeing her married: it