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


friend looked vexed. should be sorry il
the conclusion Of my words should vex
you"
"On Monday, ] accidently discovered
that John Morrison had loved me as his
future wife for six years"
"John !" exclaimed the mother, looking
at them both with an air of unmixed As.
toniShment.
"Yes, for six years, and l second his
love. / thought him too old, too grave
for me, and | owned my affection for
Walter. This morning Mr.. Clifton madc
me an offer of his hand and heart, and |
rejected him."
"Reiected him." cried both in amaze
meHt.
Il rejected him." cried Alice gravelv.
"and dear mother, and dear John, if YOU
both will consent, wish from this day to
be considered the future wife of John Nor
rison."
Alice, why is this!" exclaimed Mrs.
Dempster, who was naturally at first in
favor of the rich husband.
"My Alice" cried John, "this is too
much happiness"
Why i, this Z" replied Alice earnestly !;
"be"ause John is generous an good, and
Walter is selfish; because John loves YOU
and Walter treats you MS An incumbrance
and bore. | declare to YOU, mother
dear, that / now love John rs much more
than do Walter, as l love you more than
stranger"
"But speak, dear Alice" cried the en-
raptured young man, "explain all this"
ut is our mother who shall judge" re-
piled Alice Il will record two conversa-
tions now clearly fixed on my memory,
word by word, but only one Of which
shall recollect after this morning"
She then related, word for word, what
had passed between her and John, and
afterwards the scene between her and
Walter in the gig.c >s'ise- r--s---.-
II have begged you TO ride alone with
me-" said Clifton, warmly, shat may
pour out my feelings to you. / love you,
dearest, with all my heart and soul. |
wish you to share my fortunes-to be nv
wife at once-immediately. My friends
have already consented; your mother has
united her gladness to acquiesce-we
wait your consent"
"Walter," replied Alice, with downcast
eyes, "before you 60 any further, | have
something to say TO you which may change
your sentiments. have a mother, who.
if alone, in the world, che has nobody to
love or nurse her, as long as she lives, |
can never leave her. She has for many
years been my devoted wherever
go, there must she be-"
"Oh but this is nonsense, Alice" cried
Walter, Instantly; II have got enough of
old people at home. mean to travel for
year or two in France and Italy, and
return only when come into my proper
ty."
Then, Walter Clifton" said Alice, rails
ing her head, and speaking firmly, Il
never can be your wife; you must seek
some one differently situated to myself
No! Mr.. Clifton, would not leave my
mother for one / had loved for wears,
much more for one | have not known a
month"
"But every one parts from their parents
when they marry" said Walter, pettish-
ly. "You must be mad on one hand,
young, and fond, and rich husband, and
all the pleasures Of a continental life, of
Paris, of Italy; OH the other, dull home.
along side an old ailing woman, with the
prospect Of being the wife of a sprig of a
clerk, perhaps, like John Morrison"
Enough, Mr.. Clifton" replied Alice,
firmly, and almost angrily "if now you
were to consent n thousand times 10 all
could ask, I would not be your wife,"
"You never loved me-" said Walter,
whose anger was reused almost to frenzy.
II never did was dazzled for
while, because knew you not. saw
you handsome and agreeable, and SEEM
ingly generous. But pardon me, such
observations come with very i'll grace
from me- We can still be friends"
Friends" laughed Walter, fiercely,
mot !, idiot that was to believe in wo-
mans love-in girls, I1mean--nota wo-
man's-who has not yet O.; ss<ss epamy's
sickness"
"You forget yourself MrsC Clifton" said
Alice, with smile Of pity.
"And now, mamma" asked she, after
she had repeated both conversations with
scrupulous fidelity, "do you approve the
choice have made between my two sui
ors n
"Heartily, my dear girl" replied Mrs.
Dempster, taking their two hands, "You
are worthy Of each other"
Happy John Morrison happy Alice
The bells are ringing, Il not human bells,
those rung by angels at so bright union,
| which truly must have been made in hea-
ven. Aud then John Morrison got pro-
NOTED week after, and the wedding took
place amid pleasant and joyous smiles,
and oil three went to Paris; and there
they are now, strange 10 say, and there
learned the story. Before the first month
Of their marriage, John came into some
property worth about Eve hundred year,
Paris seemed 10 suit Mrs. Dempeter, and
Il was agreed to stay there. The cottage
wss Jet, and similsr one hifsd fos fhs