The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-06-29
lcoNrISuEpl
CHAPTER TX.

nm the memorable morning that occur
red the fatal event of the last chapter
Mrs. Edgerton with RosaIic was seat
ed in the breakfast room and as the usua
hour for serving their morning meal ha,
passed, and Horace did not make his ap
pearance, servant was summoned and
sent to let him know that breakfast wa,
inwaiting. A few moments elapsed, whcr
the messenger returned and comm uica
ted the fact that Horace was not in the
house, aud that there was no evidence OF
his having passed the night in his room
Although this was but n simple occurrence
in itsclf, yet IL had the effect of rendering
Mrs. Edgcrton uneasy, from the fact that
Horace had never left home upon, any oc.
casion whatever, without first acquain,inr
her with his expected absence and why
he had not done so in this instance, and
what could lave taken him from home
the night previous, when the carly part OF
the evening had been spent with her, were
questions that sllc was revolving in her
inind, when carriage WAS driven at fu
rious rate along The usually quiet street
upon which she lived, aud drew up ut her
own door. Curi.u To learn the cause Of
such extreme haste and to know who
could arrive NJ that carly hour, she ad
vanccd 10 the front entrance of the house
merely in time to sec Edwpvd Manly, as
sisted by Gordon, bearing in the apparent
ly Iiieless body of her son
Never was the firm and sensible char
acter Of this truly matches woman, dis
played to greater advantage than upon
this trying occasion. lnstinctieely she di-
yined the cause of this lamentc.blc catas-
trophc, and that which would have after.
ly crushed the energies Of a woman OF
moderate capacties-the dying condition
Of an only and dearly beloved son--only
nervcd her with redouhled strength to
meet the terrible emergency. No loud
bewailings, no hystcri al shrek rent the
air; but a cold ice like perspiration settled
upon her brow, and an unearthly palIor
pervaded her features as she gave the ne
cessary directions, and despatched messcn-
gers for the best medical aid that the city
afforded.
On the first examination Of the wound,
(which was at first thought TO be mortal
one) the eminent surgeon could give no sat
isfactory opinion, but he with great candour
informed Mrs. Edgerton that there was
every symptom of high fever, and in
which case the ultimate recovery of her
son would be exceedingly doubtful. No
murmuring escaped her lips ;--she meekly
clasped her hands, and raising her eyes to
heaven, ejaculated-"Oh, God! thy will be
doner
We will now turn TO the primary cause
Of this usually happy family's present be.
reavement.
Alice Wilson was endowed with all the
good qualities of the heart, but ever
thoughtless and unrefecting, she lacked
that sound and sensible discrimination,
that capabiity of lasting impressions, that
are regarded as qualities Of the head
Henry Winters passed the evening with
her after the fatal rencounter of the morn
ing, but not by the slightest hint did he
intimate 10 her that he had meeting
with Horace, and il was not until the next
morning, as she was carelessly looking
over some daily papers lying upon the
centre table, that her sight became lascina-
ted, and her feelings paralyzed by the an
nexed paragraphs which met her eye:
Duel IN Hon LIRK.-A duel occur
red yesterday morning at a quie. spot on
the ----- river, between Mr.. Horace Ed
gerton, OF this city, and the dsshing and
wealthy young Henry Winters, who has
for some time figured so conspicuously as
one Of the 'lions" of our good city qfaInr,
The latter escaped Inhurt, but we ,y<ptti
to say that the former received q ~oNsh|
OF 90 serious mature, that no hopes are
entertained Of his recovery. Nothing de-
fDite Is known Of the difficulty between
them, but the knowing ones pretend 10
cay that q lady Is the primary cause Of
the meeting that has Just taken place.
As Alice read the extract, friQhtfiil
paleness ssffnsed her features, and with
one loud, ringing shrek, 50 piercing In ia
tones that il musi have come from the very
depths Of her soul--she fell insensible 10
shs hoor, In this situation, she was dis
covered by the servants and borne TO b .
apartment, Her father was hastily sum
moned, and as the fsss glsnceo her truly
death-iiks countenance- lips Of pal
lid hue, hes cheek pale, 81 nix and hollow,
.--hs thought that her gentle spirit had
burst its confines and passed 10 the pres
eneeof hs Cseator. For twenty-Sour houn