The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-06-29
Sin Orlgilal Stnru,
WRITTEN EXPRESSLY FOR THE LANCASTER IEDr.Ep :,
THE RIVAL FOES
OR, - ...r
THE PURCHASED BEAUTY.
BY w. ". CoNNORs.

"u shc 7" ',aSNuSIhS herSel as tile murder
er Of her ttrmer lover, and when at lns,
these alarming symptoms had subsidized,
and were succeeded 10y calm and more
composed state of mind, she earnestly
vowed, and felt fully resolved never to see
Henry Winters again. But weak. vain.
and crcdu!ous woman your rcpeptont
and hastily formed resolutions, will vanish
before the insinuating tones and graceful
batteries Of the accomplished young Win
ters.
For several days Henry was debarrcd
from her presence, but by the most perse-
vering efforts, he at length obtained ad.
mlttance, and aPproaching,her with that
fascinating manner that he could so well
assume, he apparently exculpated himself
n tho clearest manner from all blame in
the late melancholy event. He set forth
in higli-fown language, his ardent his
enthusiastic affection for her; he painted
wlth.all the coloring of fiction, his suffer.
lngs during her illness, and his absence
from her, and SO artfuly did he ingratiate
himself in her favor, that her confiIinp
nature again loved and trusted with all tho
enthusiasm that shc had previously mani
tested towards him,-so wholly cngrosscd
was she in his presence, that she entirely
forgot the condition Of her former victim
then lying at tile point of death Most
truthtul!y did she verify tie adagc of tue
author who exclaimed:
"Frailty, thy name is woman ~
Time Wore on, and Alice became the
wife OF Winters. The nuptlals were cele.
brated with the utmost spcndor and mag
nificcncc; the honeymoon was passed in
continual round of pleasure and excite
ment; plunged into vortex of dissipa-
tion,-Alice was never satisfied but when
surrounded by a crowd. Yet, was she hap
py! Was the envied of many an aristo-
cratic belle-the apparent child Of fortune
rolling in afflucnce and wealth-was she
really the happy being that she appeared,
or did she wear face Of pleasure but a
heart Of pain'
1t is not Oar purpose to search the heart
OF the young wife, or to Infringe upon the
sanctity Of the domestic circle {; vet extel.
nal observation would force upon ali the
conviction, that Henry Winters had not
observed the many VOWS that he so ten
derIy made in the hour Of wooing. Instead
OF his evenings being spent with the wife
OF his bosom, they Were passed at gam.
bling saloon or son.e other place Of fash
ionable amusement; the same reckless
dissipation marked his course, and the
same dissolutc companionship were asso-
ciated with his nightly reveIs.
The large amount placed by Winters
in MIR. Wilson's mercantile business, saved
him for time; but il seemed that this
magnificent establishment was doomed 10
fall. Circumstances that the most prompt
and energetic action could not subvert,
combined to hasten the downfall, and
twelve months after Alice's marriage, the
same r.rar from which we extracted a
previous paragraph, contained the follow
ing:
"Mr. James Wilson, principal partner
OF the firm Of Wilson d Co., was found
dead in his bed this morning, having COM
mitted suicide by taking large quantity
Of laudanum. The reasons which promp-
ted this act, were but too apparent when
it was discovered that he had failed for n
heavy amount, and to-day It would have
been proclaimed to the city that he was
bankrupt.
This unexpected intelligence falls like
a thundcrbolt amongst the business com
nunity. Many Of our merchants will
doubtless suffer largely"
=
Aitcr this melancholy event, Winters
gathered the remainder Of his fortune now
greatly reduced, AMI together with his
wife and infant, left the city.
A week had passed since the duel, and
Horace Elgerton still lived.
In room on the second story Of the
house, shone the soft light Of lamp placed
upon a side-boartl. At the opposite end
Of the room on couch closed in with red
damask curtains, reposod Horace, his head
raised upon pillars, his dark and shining
locks lying in disorder upon them, forming
astriking contrs st with the extreme white
ness OF the linen. The white chest Of the
young man was uncovered, rs II the cool
ness OF the n.ght would aid his breathing.
A hoarse and noisy sound ike The death
rattle, issued from between his cIenehed
teeth; his 6ice was Of the liyid hue ~
DEATH and bis eyes were partly closod.---
He was doubtless following one Of he de-
lirious dreams that God sends TO fhosS
who are about 70 Gall into the strange un;-
verse Of eternity. On one side Of tie bed