The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-08-10

ana drink ms goats milk"
"a long time; when your daughter
Alice there, was six years DID," replied
Clifton, land Ned and l were sprips OF
boys. Poor Mr.. Dempster, we missed
him very much when we came home from
school,"
HE often talked of you when he came
home from his voyages" said Mrs. Demp-
ster, as the young men were shown in by
Alice.
II suppose you have forgotten us" con-
t'nued Walter, addressing Alice, by whom
he had sat down.
NO" exclaimed the young girl blush
lng-"l have forgotten neither of my old
friends-Wally nor Ned"
Meanwhile Alice, was bustling about
preparing plain but wholesome lunch of
bread and cheese, to which the gentlemen
did ample justice This done they re-
manned an hour in conversation, Walter
chiefly addressing himself to Alice, Ed
ward to her mother
FROM that day Walter became a regu-
lar, Edward an occasional visitor. Wal
ter soon allowed his admiration of Alice
to peep torth-he. lost no opportunity Of
speaking with his eyes, and soon began
TO whisper words Of affection. Alice lis
tened with downcast looks, but made
scarcely any reply. After about month
Mrs. Dempster asked him to take tea and
spend the evening. She perceived the
dawning passion which was rising on both
sides-and as she saw no disproportion.
except in fortune, between a rich farmer.
and a merchant captains daughter, she
was inclined to foster the feeling for her
child's sake. John Morrison was to be OF
the Party-Mrs. Dempster had confided
to him her secret-and after one or two
objections to the character Of the Young
man he consented to be present. 1t was
about an hour before tea time when he
came to his resolution-and as soon as he
had done so, he went into the garden.
John Morrison was n pale, cookbook
ing mau, Of moderate statue. He had no
pretensions to be handsome, but none
would have looked at him without motto.
ing his marked and speaking countenance
to admire, not its beauty, but its pow
er and intellect. But why is he now SO
overcast and sad Let us listen and we
may hear.
"And is it for this have trained her
upf Is it for tSis have devo' ed my ex.
istence to her for several years-for in
the girl | saw the dawning woman-to
be the victim OF the wild and reckless
youth who will break her heart! Be.
cause she will be rich, easy, comfortable.
Well! if she could be happy. | should Be
glad-but Walter Clifton loves with the
love of a boy-a love Of impulse-give
him his toy and he will break itr'
What are you talking to yourself about
so freely" cried Alice tripping from be-
hind some bushes, where she had been
cutting flowers for he evening. "But
how pale and i'll you look 4! Shall get
you anythingl'
mo. Alice. am well in body, but
the mind is i'll at ease"
"Are you i'll John my friend, nv
brother"
"Ah yes y cried he passionately, "there
1t is, | have been fool, have taught you
to treat me as brother, and the idea
could never enter your head of thinking
me as aueht clse."
"But it had mine, Alice! !" cried John
forgetting all reserve and prudence, 'ever
since you were twelve years old, looked
on you as one who might be my future
wife. Six years has passed awa,, six
long and happy years, nearly seven. dur
ing which each day l have loved you
more and more. waited, and waited,
putting off the day Of declaration until
you were quite young woman, and it is
now too late"
Alice groaned, astounded, hurt and
panied to the last degree.
"Too late,' said the unusually calm
young man in tones Of deep and wild
passionate feeling, and sll my dreams are
fed. ] hoped, IL heaven blessed me with
your affection, 10 be united with you on
your nineteenth birthday we could then
have made my two rooms up stairs ours
and have leis your mother yours. She
would have found no change, save that in
place Of one child she will have two
"Oh John why did you not speak be-
fore never thought never supp sed
-I-I-"
"Alice, il was not to be. So TO more
Of it. must be away, not Just yet Il
would startle your dear mother, but by
and by"
"My friend, my brother exclaimed AL
ice, as she gazed on his face, flushing eyes,
and trembling lip.
"Say M more, dear girl. You have
the prayers and good wishes Of John Nor
rison."
And the young man turned away and
went up 10 hs room. An hour later he
sat down TO the tea-tabIe Of Mrs. Demp-
ster, far calmer than poor Alice, who
scarcely had courage 70 lock up. The
talk was varied, and generally trifipg,
Walter not being one Of those who can
think Sufficiently seriously TO converge any
other way presently he spoke Of grand
subscriptions ball for the following Thur
day, in which he invited Alice. IN the