The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-02-09

rage ceremony was to have been per
formed, came low, solemn voice, breath
ing the words, "What God hath joincd
together, let not man put asunder."
lie burst open the door, and there, be-
fore the eyes of the infuriated father, stood
Marion in her bridal costume, with the
wreath of orange flowers holding back
from her radiantIy happy face those long
darE curls. Her hand was clasped, not
IN that OF De Manton, but of Edward
Tracy, the respectable, but poor artist, to
whom she had, months ago, given her
heart, and who was now, the father saw,
her husband. Mr.. Trask stood spcechlcss
and immovable; but Marion, as soon as
her eye rested on his, approached him
with calmness and dignity.
"My father" she said, s'my soul was
not to be bartered for gold and precious
stones ! Take the bandcau from my
brow, and send It's forth, as we know YOU
will, penniless into the wide world but
my disobedence is no sin,-your heart
tells you so; let your blessing 90 with me
when | leave your house!"
The old man writhcd in bitter agony
as he remembered the terrible curses
which burst from his lips when he tore
that rich ornament from her brow, and
drove her from his presence
She had gone forth, and he was left
alone-alonc with his idol; and now the
curse began to be felt. Wealth was
sought for before by him, for the position
IN society which it gave him, and the luz
ury with which it surrounded him: now it
was worshipped for itself alone. All his
property was converted into gold; one
thing after another disappeared from that
beautiful home of his, till his establishment
was broken up, and the dwelling passed
into other hands.
For time he kept himself in compar-
atlvcly comfortable circumstances but the
ever-tightcning grasp of avarice had at
length brought him to where he now
was-that miserable garret, a handful of
Goals, and morscl of dry bread; and his
soul was in greater penury still.
1t was not alone, now, the desire of
boarding wealth, which kept him in such
wretchcd situation. There were times,
and this night was one of them, when the
treasures which had so long given him
pleasure, hc tried to forget he was the
possessor Of for in the glitter OF that gold
he saw dark, fiery eyes cleaning with
fendish malice and triumph and in the
cIInkmg Of the coin in his hand he heard
thuttefea cHrs,,s, s,s',l low, biIIeFslpa.,l,s I'm
his dreams he sat down, halffamishcd at
Widespread board, but the viands were
human flesh and the brimmed goblet he
held to his parched lips was filled with
blood. lie drew n covering around his
freezing from, and found himself wrapped
about with winding sheet torn from the
mouldering dead.
a week since, the old man had lost n
large portion of his wealth. The place
where he had deposited caskct of Jewels
had been robbed, and though the rest of
the stolen property had been recovered, no.
thing had yet been heard of his treasure:
but It's loss add ed not, to night, to his sor-
row. In fact he thought not Of it; he was
but thinking Of that lovely form which
had been dccked with those costly gems,
the head on which that splended bcndure
had once rested. Twenty years had passed.
since, to his knowledge, he had looked on
his daughter; nor had he, since she went
from his house, heard aught of her fate;
but how vividly did that face and figure
come up to his memory, as he last saw
her,clad in her bridal robes, with her hand
claspcd in that of her young husband, and
that look Of calm,dccp happiness resting
on her brow. What might she not have
suffer cd during those lorg years. what
mightshe not now be suffering. a.
There was slight sound,--he faEcicd
hand was on his door latch, and he lifted
his bowed head and looked about him.
Was there one in the wide world who
thought Of him tonight as he sat there
so lonely and wrctchcd,-would there
come face to smilc on him,--a voice to
wish him happinessi
No. it was but the wind, rafting the
loosened window panes. He was forgot
ten by all the earth
The moon aud stars still brightly gleam-
ing. What a beautiful Christmas night
10 was lit was Christmas evening when
he last looked on his daughter Was it
not all fearful dream---the twenty years
which seemed since to have passed
away.
Marion, my childi" lie exclaimed, in
low and broken, but frenzied tones; for the
intense cold was benumbing his limbs, and
the bitter thoughts which were occupying
his mind were causing his senses to wan.
der. Marion, have done terrible wrong
to many, but can not have tanned my
child from my doors Marion, come to
thy father ;banish with thy presence this
dreadful phantasy; come'and fix thy eyes
on mine and darkness viii pass away from
my soul! Come to me, for / am dying!"
Surely the past was all dream, or the
old man was dreaming now, for the beams
Of the moon and stars were paIing, and a
son radiance was filing the apartment.
and N the light stood Marion the sweet,
happy smile was on her face, and tho
dark, gentle eyes were resting on him.
She was clad IN bridal robes, from out
whose folds cleaned many flashing
brilliant, and the long dark hair which
fell in ringlets over her shoulder, were
bound by wreath Of orap0et blossoms