The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-08-10
5r(tttr1 Galrs.
THE MAIDEN'S CHOICE.

nhee 1eHpstcr Was wnat IS called q
pretty, comely girl. She was not bcauti.
full but she still could. have scarcely pass.
ed along the street-even in England.
where beauty is less rare than in anv
country, without being noticed. She was
the daughter Of a poor widow in a village
IN Devonshire--that picturesque and char
ming country. Mrs. Dempster had been
the wife Of a sailor, vino, out of his earn.
ings, had bought cottage in his native
hamlet, in which his widow resided after
his death. She had little else save this
cottage, except her daughter, who was,
indeed, treasure Of affection and love-
But then Alice was one Of those frai and
delicate beings, who gave pain while tley
do pleasure to a parents heart. From
about twelve to eighteen her mother was
her devoted nurse. Never was a pale
face, or hectic cough, or meagre form, or
constant languor, watched with more in
tense anxiety by parent; it seemed new
er of the Young girls face. Mrs. Demp-
ster had lodger, aud he came of rather
badly but he never grumbled or complain
ed; he would, on the contrary, sit with
the poor widow, and comfort her under
aftiiction, with rude kindness Of manner
which soon won her heart.
John Morrison was a railway clerk, with
small salary at a station about a mile
of. He had lived with Mrs. Dempster
six years and had mainly directed the ed
ucation Of little Alice. OF a studons and
serious tun Of thought, he spent all his
leisure hours in reading. Mrs. Dempster
sent Alice to school when mere Child :;
but village educational establishment is
not usually the place to learn much in.
and that OF Dame Potter was not an ex-
ception. But John Morrison took fan
cy to the little Alce-and finding her
fond Of study and her book, took great
pains with her.
About the age Of eighteen, Alice out.
grew her ailments. Her cheeks filed
out, her eyes became lustrous and clear
her cheeks were rosy and blooming--but
Mrs. Dempster began to feel the effects of
her long vigils and constant Watching
She moved about with the tread Of an
old woman; her appetite began TO fail
her, and positions were gradually revers.
ed. Before three months, a coy arm
chair in the bright sun by an open win
dow, was the usual place Of the mother,
while Alice hustled about, did the work
OF the house, and attended to the invalid.
Mrs, Dempster had no particular illness
she was simply worn out with anxiety
and fatigue But il she suffered she had
also her reward, for Alice was now her
devoted nurse.
But Alice was eighteen, and pretty, !
have 'aid, and the men made the discov-
cry as well as her mother. John Morri-
son, sednte and grave young man Of
eightand-twenty himself remarked it to
Mrs. Dempster, rs did soon many others
In the neigliborhood were several extern
siye farms, and, among Others, one be-
longing to Mr.. Clifton. Mr.. Clifton was
yery rich, and had two sons, Walter and
Edward. Walter was very handsome
lively. pleasant fellow, full of generous i'm
pulses, but somewhat too fond of riotous
pleasures, Of the bottle and cards. With
plenty Of money at his disposal, he wa.
the centre Of group Of frolickers that
were, on many occasions, the alarm Of
the whole country, and Walter Clifton
was the widest Of the lot. II is true that
he was generous; ifhe broke head or
damaged field, he paid the expense
and hhe broke n heart he was sorry for
it.
One hot summers day, Alice was sit
ting sowing by her mothers side, the win
dow was open, and the warm air poured
in upon the face Of the invalid. Her eyes
were pleasantly fixed on the honey suck
u, jasamin, and clematis, which twined
round the window, and the rose tree that
filed the strip Of garden before the house,
but more pleasantly still on the innocent
sweet face Of her child. Suddenly two
horsamen pulled up before the window
they had oftsn been noticed before, but
this was the frat time they had ever hal
ted.
4Mn. Dsmpster," said q dark, hand
sonpe young man, while the other, q fai,
youth, held back and blushed, ave hav,
Puiled up 70 AK Cor drink Of milk, OF
beer, osanything you can give Us. Il !,
. long time since We haso drank ANYTHING
in your hovss, but h win be with piea.urs
We shail renew the custom"