The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-05-09

and cheertuness, being more active than
ever rs houskeeper, and more than ever
attentive to the wants of those around her.
Among other good arrangements, she had
IN imitation of her mother, closet con.
tanning such drugs as are moss needed by
the poor, with stores of sweet-mcats and
wine for their use; and to this closet uone
ever had excess but herself One morn
ing poor ''oman having applied for
tamannds, Mary hastcned To Get them.
aud iinIing the contents Of deep lar
nearly consumed. she carried il To- the
window tor the better inspection of the re-
mainder, when, to her aStonishment, she
discovered the long missng'deSsert spoon!
She instantly felt set-condemned. 1T is
alone am the guilty one said she. i
remember 1t all now. And then came
the recollection of n mothers application
to her, for tamarinds for dying child; of
running to the pl te drawer and taking
the spoon, which she thought she had re.
placed, but in her hurry had evidently
forgotten. All this, and the remembrance
OF the falsel y suspected aud suffering Su-
san came with orerpowering rapiIity into
her mind, and sitting down she burst into
tears.
Her first Impulse was to seek for Susan;
but having already done this for several
months, without success, it was useless to
hope to find her. The discovery of the
spoon had come too late.
The onl ly alternative left open to Mary
was to confess all to her father; bu, this
she could not bring herself to do. She
Was unwilling that he should have cause
to think less highly of her, and perhaps
give publicity To her fault by the active
measures which lie would be likely to a.
doPt TO recover Susan; she therefore reso!v-
ed 10 hide the spoon III the medicine closet,
and conceal its discovery from every le.
| She did 81; bat from that tim. she lost
her cheerIulucss. There was, too, ano,h
er change, equally apparent to those who
loved her, and one which they rejoced AT
namely, her disiruSt of self, her ceasinr to
Judge OF the faults or faiimys Of others,
her readiness to make ex.uses for them,
her extreme gent!eucss and humiIit' an,l
her prnmplness i'll acknowledging AN lit
tie error of judgment, aud TO EeIress any
wrong unintentionalIy committed.
Susan Vas not forgotten. On the con-
trnry, Mary continued to make inquiries
III every quarter likely to bc successful :;
and frequently, if gure passed resemb-
lug hers, It occasoned u melancholy feel
Ing, for the wrong done 10 an innocent
person lay heavy upon her conscicncc.
thus years passed away, and no one
"" surprised th It Mary was united to
vnc IN every way worthy Of her, and pla-
ced her IN IL circle which gave her manv
virtues il ct Larger sphere OF action. The
first year Of her married life was one OF
uninterrupted happiness; but her second,
although 1t gave promise Of Yet further
felicity, WAS clouded by much suffering
from i'll health, and visible decay OF
strength, which caused considerable anxi,
ety Oh her accounts
About this time Mnry's sister, next 10
Aye to herself was enga ged to be married;
and as The day approached, Mary's health
50 much improved that she WAS able to
Accompany her sister TO the church and
witness the ceremony. On their return
home through somewhat narrow street
the carriages were obliged to stop in con
sequence OF "A crowd, and on inquiring the
cause; they were told Iiat an accident had
occurred, and that some one had been
drowned. The crowd approached nearer
and unfortunately on that side of the car.
rage which Mary occupied, 50 that even
had She been so disposed, she could scarcc-
ly have avoided seeing the ghastly object
that WAS borne past. An indiscribable
feeling impeiIed her to look, and to her
honer she saw the body Of Susan exten.
dei on shutter, with infant lying beside
her. Yes, she it WAS unquestionabIy
though years had slightly changed her.
There she lay, her long black halr falling
back from her death like countenancc, and
by her side the little infant.
Papa said Mary, hoarSeIy, do you
see thatf aud she pointed to the sad pro-
cession.
i do, darling he repied but compose
yourself Tor the sake of those who love you.
! will learn all the particulars, and If any
thing can lie done | will do it,"
Mary had tainted before her father had
finished his sentence, so that he could not
leave her. Ordering the man to drive as
quick possible, he took his daughter To her
home; but her fainting fits continuing with
out intermissinn, he sent for medical
man, and when she was somewhat revived
llc left her TO the care Of her husband and
nurse, and set out to gather all par,icu.
lars, and see what wight be done about
poor Susan.
Mr.. Danvers had not long to wait for
the intelligence he required, for every one
was talking about the accident; and he
was informed that the young woman had
been seen to throw herself from the bridge
into the river, first taking care to secure
her child to her person. She had, how
ever, been quickly rescued, and might,
they supposed, yet recover; but the child
was dead. lie nov lost no time in
Fastening to the receiving house, where
they had taken the bodies, and owing to
bis being able TO identify the party, he
was admitted at once into the room where
Susan lay, restored TO animation, but as
yet giving no signs Of consciousness. The
J baby. too, was there.