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

SdhI LEX ia.
hN the memorable morning that occur.
WH red the fatal event of the last chapter
Mrs. Edgerton with RosaIc was seat.
ed in the breakfast room; and as the usual
hour for serving their morning meal had
passed, and Horace did not make his ap.
pearance, servant was summoned and
sent to let him know that breakfast was
in waiting. A few moments elapsed, when
the messenger returned and comm, nica-
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 simple occurrence
in itself, yet II had the effect of rendering
Mrs. Edgerton uneasy, from the fact that
Horace had never left home upon any oc-
casiou whatever, without first acuuain,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 she was revolving in her
mind, when carriage WAS driven Mt n cu
rious rate along TIE usually qnict street
upon which she lived, aud drew up nj her
own door. Curious To learn the cause of
such extreme haste and To know who
could arrive ar that carly hour, she ad
vanccd 10 the front entrance of the house
merely in time to see Edward Manly, as
sisted 10y Gordon, bearing in the apparent
ly liie,ess body OF her son
Never WAS the firm aud sensible char
acter Of this truly matches woman, dis
played to greater advantage than upon
this trying occasion. lnstinctisely she d-
yincd the cause Of this lamentablc catas-
trophc, and that which would have after.
ly crushed the energies Of a woman OF
moderate capacilies-the dying condition
Of an only and dearly beloved son--only
nerved her with redouhled strength to
meet the terrible emergency. No loud
bewailings, no hystcri al shrek rent the
air; but cold ice like perspiration settled
upon her brow, and an unearthly pallor
pervaded her features as she gave the ne
cessary directions, and despatched messen-
gers for the best medical aid that the city
afforded.
On the first examination Of the wound.
(which was At first thought 10 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
donep
We will now turn TO the primary cause
Of this usually happy famiIy's present be-
Teavement.
Alice Wilson was endowed with all the
good qualities Of the heart but ever
thoughtless and unrefecling, she lacked
that sound and sensible discrimination,
that capability Of lasting impressions, that
are regarded as qualities Of the head
Henry Winters passed the evening with
her aftef ;iie E.sa! .eaeornter Of ,hn morn
ing, but not by the slightest hint did he
intimate to her that he had meeting
with Horace, and il was not until the next
,norning, as she was carelessly looking
over some daily papers lying upon the
centre table, that her sight became iascina-
ted, and her feelings paralyzed by the an
nexed paragraph which met her eye:
DUEL IN Hon LIFR.-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 tho "lions" Of Our good city uf faIzs,
The latter escaped unhurt, but we.ftnis.
to say that the former received Wo9s.l
OF so serious nature, that no hopes are
entertained Of his recovery. Nothing de.
finite Is known Of the difficulty between
them, but the knowing ones pretend 20
say that lady is the primary cause o.
the meeting that has just taken place.
As Alice read the extract, frightfuI
paleness suffnscd her features, and with
one loud, ringing shrek, SO piercing in is
TOTES that IL must have come from the very
depths Of her soul--she iell insensible 10
the floor. In this situation, she was dis
covered by the servants aud borBe to Il =
apartment Her father was hastily sum
fnoned, ard as the fist glance Of her truly
dcath-like countepance- her lips Of pal.
10 hue, her cheek pale, 81 nix and hollow,
.--hs thought that her gentle spirit had
burst its confines and passed 70 the pres
enee eof its Crestor. For twsnsy-iour hoars