The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-04-09

ny A'oeft. WAS soothing, indeed, to the
depressed spirits Of Edward, bu. he would,
10y no means, permit of such sacrifice "a
Albert proposed to make. "No," said he.
alter having acquain, his friend with
all The circumstances of his peculiar posi-
ton; 81 will not allow YOU to partaLe
oil my misery must not take advantage
ot your generous impulses; besides, nv
father would not like you to depart thu,
suddenly"
Albert continued to urge his prrpo.e,
but Edward was incxorab!c, and ali the
ia'our that he could &c. him to accent of
WAS few letters addressed to diil.ren,
pcrsons in the South, which Edward
promised TO use in any case of e,ncrycn.
cy.
Tho fiicnds convcrscd long and earnest.
ly, III regard to Edward, future course
but as we design 10 follow the fortunes
OF tie latter, all their previous specula.
tons would be out Of place here.
CHAPTER VII.
We have already stated, that Mrs. Ed
wards had enjoyed more afiiuent circum
stances than she was now possessed of
IN fact, her means were quite Insufficient
Tor her present simple style of living, but
She WAS greatly assisted Ly her deceased
husbands brother, Mr.. Henry Edwards.
who resided in the neighboring town OF
C, and who WA. reputed to be man
Of considerable wealth. lie also had the
reputation OF being misery, bu', perhaps
this last WAS only gratuitous calumnv
for, however, he nay have been to Others.
to Mrs. Edwards he certainly never ap-
resrci in that character. On the contra.
ryv, he had ever been most kind. and
e'inced for herself and family, a very
! praise~orthy solicitude.
BeSides Mrs. Edwards and Josephine,
he had another relation, who had been
reared 10y his bounty; in fact, was gener.
ally regarded as his future heir. Thi,
vas young man, bv name, Richard
iiallam. lie was tho only son and child
of sister Of Mr.. Edwards. Her husband
had been captain Of a ncrchan,man. and
.iled OH a voyage 10 the East Indies
HE shock Of his death, upon u consti,u,
ton naturally feeble, brought o. di.
ease, from which she never recovered. bu,
her last moments were solaced, by the
promise from her brother, that her orphan
bs'y should be cared for and treated a.
his own, whica promise he has reiigiously
observed.
This young man anl relative Of Mrs
Edwards, was frequent visitor at her
house he was, also, an acquaintance Of
r. ward Malcolm's, formed years before,
when both were boys. lie had lust LEFT
the cottage, on the evening Of the day, in
which occurred the incidents of the last
chapter.
| Mrs. Edwards health, particularly. in
latter years, had been extremely delicate,
and her frequent complainings were often
source Of deep anxiety to her daughter.
On this particular evening, she seemed 10
be unusually desponding. In convcrsa
ton with Josephine, sho remarked:
"Conld / know, my daughter, that
your future WAS provided for, | could bet.
ter submit to the fate to which feel tina,
! am has,ening."
DO not, mother" said Josephine ;
"let such thoughts disturb you; | hone
you will be spared to us for many wears
10 come, and IN any event, can yon .ot
believe that Providence will protect tho
orphan!"
"Yes, my dear" replied Mrs. Edwards;
mo oae Is more susceptible than mvself,
OF the presence Of an over.ruling Proyi.
dence, and no one has more cause 10 La
thankful for his favors, under some Of ,Le
most trying circumstances but il is still
our duty TO pray;de for ourselves and fam.
lilies, so far as lies within our power. AMI
we should neglect none Of those means Of
doing so, which perhaps that very Psovi.
dence has purposely placed within our
reach. know Of no better opportunity
than the present, to speak to you upon a
subject which deeply concerns your future
welfare. I have long been under the i'm.
preston that it was the wi.l, of your nm.
Gle Edwards, to unite you TO your cousin
Richard, aud the note that i received by
Richard to day, confirms that impres.
sion"
Josephine was overwhelmed and alarm.
ed at these words; never had the kea Of