The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-11-12
CHAPTER II.
'Dca'h finds us mid our playthings-sna,chc

'Dcah finds us mid our play aythings--snatchcs
us,
Is cross nurse might to wayward child,
From all our toys and baudles. His rough call
Uulooses all our favoritc ties OH earth;
And well If they are such rs may be answered
In yondcr world where all is judged of truly
OLD PLAY.
When Horatio Henderson had finished
his studies, preparatory to entertaining
the ministry he reposed from his labors
for II time, and the greater part Of his
leisure WAS spent with Isabella Monroe
Those moments he regarded as the hap
pest OF his life, for he felt that she had
the happy art of communicating her own
JOY to him, and by coming frequently in
to her society he was improved III his
feelings and temper. In fact he was in
the dream land of love-
Before he received II call to settle over
church, he thought he would Quuf the
nectarious cup of Cupid but time when
he did not expect it, II letter was put into
his hands. 1t demanded his presence in
"A town sone three hundred and tif,y
miles distant, aud that too, on the f,low-
ing Sabbath. He regarded this as CAL
which could not be refused, and therefore
resolved AT once 10 accept i, without delay;
he proceeded 10 tho home Of Isabella,
and placed IN her hand the letter he had
received. As she read il, changeful hucs
passed over her fair face, and then with "a
tear on her check, she said,
'1oratio, YOU will 60, Il course Z
Yes, | feel that must
He had determined upon leaving his
native town on the following morning.
Alter preparing for the journey before
him, he returned to Isabella, and they
TAXED with melancholy pleasure over the
separation which must now take place. -
As Henderson left her late iha, evening,
she gave him small parcel, and when
he opened it, hc found mourning ring.
At this discovery he WAS amazed, and
wondered why mourning ring should
hare been selected by his betrothed as n
parting gift.
When he had settled with the church
to which lie had gone, he wrote 20 Isa-
bella and sought an explanation Of that
gl!t, but could obtain none beyond this
that time would explain that which he
now regarded us mysterious
lie had been absent from his betroth.
ed but six months, when he was surprised
by letter from her, accusing him OF
co!dness and Indifference, Of want of
affection for her whicL she did not hesi-
tate TO characterize as cruelty.
he was more than amazed, he was al.
armed, and wondered why that fair be.
mg should for a momen. indulge a hard
thought towards him. Had he not been
prompt 10 write her /; and did not his let
ters speak without reserve both Of his
feelings and movemen.sl They dld then
why such an epistle from her ! She had
hitherto chccred bim in his work Of ner-
cy, ana even longed for the time to come
whea she shosld share his abors and
tolls in the vineyard of God.
He replied to her letter, and promptly
demanded an explanation Of such an un.
founded charge, stating that until it was
fully cleared up, he could not liiiuk Of al
dressing her with that cordiality and free,
dom which sue had hitherto met from
him.
Isabella received aaa read his letter,
AID at once felt that size had wronged
him. She dared not reveal to him the
real eause OF her painful communication ;
still she wrote and endeavorcd to quiet
his disturbed mind but the letter, in.
stead OF oprnly confessing the cause Of
the esIl, was sdToitly written with tie
view of concealng The true motive. The
Young Clergyman perceived this, aud he
concluded that bad had been made worse
b7 the attempted explanation.
lie wiote again and stated that he
should correspond no farther with her un-
til she gave him full aud complete ex
pIaaation Of the whole affair She refu-
sed 10 add any thing 10 what she had pre-
viously written, and here their correspon
dence ended.
Six months more dragged on heavilr,
and Henderson often found himself in
tears wien rejecting npon, the past,
but he ccnsoled himself by determining
that when he returned TO visit his pa
rents, hs would see Isabella and have tlic
existing difficulty adjusted. lie felt as
sured that some one must havo prompted
her to attack him, IN ,ss MANNER ,he had,
Tor Il was so unlike her oatsJc, or dispo.
sItion. The writing was he's, but he was
satisfied the composition was from an
other pen, and he therefore resolved to
;;.reSei 'he n,ysic--yy. ---;..ss- 49,
When he enterei his ustise town, after
paying his respects TO his parents. ho
soagh1 isabella Monroe. When he saw
her he e.s,ood absshed--fos how e!,asee,
was she She seemed sickly, and leol-
ed like dropping lily that could not
again be feyiyed, When alone. be took
hcr. hand 10 his and said earnestly. =
'isabelR, come Ie; us settle this difIicu!.
~. have slfeaiy suffered enough ''''-
49, tt2aRse 80 sss .resa eaa ilT asFs Ssa