The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-11-27

. business on my own account. / took
situation as book k.keeper, which / held unit
l became useless from age. and younger
men were preferred to me. Thus my cir
cumstances were always circumscribed, bu
my domestic happiness was complete. My
wife, an angel Of love, kindness, and fond
, ness, good and pious, active and affection,
ate; and my daughter is the true image ol
her mother. But age and illness have
, brought me to the last extremity, and my
conscience reyolts at the idea Of the best
child in the world sacrificing her life for an
} old useless fellow. l cannot have much
longer to live; and hope the Lord will
pardon me for cutting off few days or
weeks of my life, in order to preserve or
prolong that of my dear Bertha"
"You are fortunate man, my friend" I"
exclaimed the young man; II have never
seen more fortunate one. What you call
your misfortune is sheer nonsense, and can
be cured at once. Tomorrow / will make
my will, and You shall be the heir to all my
possessions, and tomorrow night l will
take the leap from the Main Brucke alone.
But before leave this world l must see
your Bertha, for am anxious to look upon
one who is worthy the name of human
being"
"But, sir, what can have made you SO
unhappy at this early agel" said the old
man, moved with compassion.
II believe it was my fathers wealth.
am the only son Of one Of the richest bank.
ers OF Frankfort: when mention my mama,
you will be at once convinced of the truth
ofmy assertion. My father died five years
ago, and left me the heir to an immense
fortune. From that moment, every one
that has come in contact with me has en-.
deavored to deceive and defraud me.
was child in innocence, trusting and con-
fiding. My education had not been neg
lected, and l possessed my mothers loving
heart. l endeavored to associate myself
in union of love and friendship with good
and generous people, but found only hypo
critics and impostors, who pretended friend
ship for no other reason than 10 partake Of
my wealth, and enjoy themselves at my ex-
penee. My friends, or rather the villains
whom mistook for my friends, and to
whom l opened my heart, betrayed me,
and laughed a: my simplicity; but in time
l gathered experience, and my heart was
\
rich heiress, possessed Of all fashionable ac
complishments; adored her with enthusi.
asm; her love, | thought, would repay me
for all my disappointments. But | soon
saw that she was nothing moro than
proud fool, who wished 10 make ME her
slave, and yoke all other men beside to her
trumphal chariot. / broke off the engage.
ment, and selected poor but charming
girl-a sweet innocent being, as thought
who would be my ile's own angel. Alas !
found her one day bidding adieu with
tears and kisses to youth whom she
loved: she had accepted me for my wealth
only. NY peace Of mind vanished, and
sought diversion in travel. Everywhere |
found the same hollowness, the same
treachery, the same misery. In short,
became disguised with life, aud resolved to
put an end this night TO the pitiable farce"
unfortunate young man." said the
other, with tears of fsympalhy, "how deeply
i pity you. | confess have been more
fortunate than you. possessed wife and
daughter, who came forth pure and i'm.
maculate from the hand Of the Creator
The one has returned to him in the white
ness of her soul, and SO will the other"
"Will you give me your address, old man,
and permit me TO visit your daughter to-
morrow? But you must also give me
your word Of honor that you viii not in
form her in any manner whatever that
am rich man." The old man held out
his hand.
81 give you my word. am anxious to
convince You that have spoken the truth
My name is Wilhelm Schmidt, and here is
my address," giving him, at the same time,
a bit Of paper which he drew from his
pocket. "And my name is Karl T.
am the son of Anton r. Take these
bank-notes, but only on condition that you
do not leave this house until fetch you
from it. Waiter! bedroom for this gen
tleman. You require rest, Herr Schmidt
Goodnight. Tomorrow you will see me
| again; but under whatever circumstances
this may happen, do not forget the word
you have given me-"
The name the young man had mention
cd, as well as the large sum, struck the old
man with astonishment; but before he could
recover himself, his companion had left the
house, and the waiter came to light him to
ms bedroom, where, wearled and worn out,
he soon sank into profound sleep.
III.
In one Of the narrow and ill.ighted
streets Of Sachsenhausen, in an attic of n
lofty and unsighty house, sat pretty
bIondiHe, about twenty years of age, busily
employed with her noodle. The furniture
of the room was poor, but clean and taste.
fu!. The girls whole dress would not have
fetched many kreu,zers; but every article
was as neat and fitted her as well, as il it
had cost hundreds. Her fair looks shaded
a face Enlightened by pair of eyes Of hea.
yenly blue, which bespoke a peaceful mind
and pure soul. The spirit of order,
modes.y, and cleanliness reigned in every.
thing around her. Her features were deli
cate, like those Of one nobly born; her eyes