The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-05-07

orous blow from the arm of Ashley, Sc, il
aside, and they Leheld a spectacle that
confirmed their worst apprehensions.
Inc Senator wsa trying to raise him
sell from where he had fallen from his
char; the livid seal of death seemed to
have settled around his brow-his eyes ap.
peared rs IT staring from their sockets,
ana stream OF blood was flowing from
his mouth and nostrils
Father! cried Ellen in a voice Of
agony, "what is the matteri"
lie clutchcd convusively to newspa.
per winch he held in his hand, and ex.
claimed in voice broken by the surglng
sound OF blood issuing from the lungs:
MY boy! My boy! my noble but
misguided Edward Lost! lost TO me for
everw
"0hi father" said Ellen, atell Inc
that you arc mi,taken-tell mo that poor
Edward is not dead, il you would save me
from despair"
aut her father had swooned from the
loss OF blood, and she was in a scarcely
less pitlable situation. Ashley, alone, had
presence OF mind for the emergency, and
with the assistance Of the servants. con-
veyed the Senator to his room, Medical
aid was Immediately summoned; and,
Tor days, death seemed TO have set his
seal upon this man of iron nerves and
brilliant intellect.
AS soon as he was allowed moments
opportunity, Ashley examined the paper
that he had taken from the cenvulsive
grasp Ct the Senator. and he too read the
sad details Of the wreck OF tue Chelsea,
and the probable death Of his friend, with
grief scarcely loss poignant than III a,
evinced LY his relatives.
CHAPTER XII.
1t was just twelve months TO the dav.
sIpce VIC first introduced to the notice Of
the reader, the little cottag, of Mrs. Ed.
wards, and ,ha, short space cf time had
been fruitful Of many changes. The inev.
table destiny that surrounds eye,y object
OF His creation, had oeen slowly, but sure
~ completing the measure Of its fatality
lrue, the Same Aowers that we admired
before, had again put forth rs luxnriant
and fragrant AS ever-the little cottage
presented the same neat and cheerful o,
pec'-the surrounding scenery had not
changed, apparently, and the beautiful
Hudson sparkled and flowed ns boldly as
1t did twelve months ago. The chances
OF nature, whQse existence may, perhaps,
be estimated 10y thousands aud thousands
oi centuries, may not he noted in the short
space Of twelve months; but, to mortal
man, whose pilgrimage is computed Ly
years and months, that period of time
may be productive Of many changes for
eithe, veal or woe.
Mrs. I'd" yards was seated in her easy
elaiS, enjoying the evening breeze, aud
the iangour and paleness Of her features
showed that time had not improved her
declining health. Josephine was sitting
hy her side; her couniepapce less sad
than when We saw he5 last-=ber match.
less beauty epdmlpeI, and shore, If posi-,
bIe, with pore thrilling effect and irresis
table ATTRACTIONS. Seated with the mother
and danghter was young man who
seemed t" be regarded viii peculiar favor
by his companions. IL was not Elward
Malcolm; Oh ! no, we will not a,temrt
to compare him with Edward, tut still, a
very NICE Young man, Of easy ani eeu,le.
paply department, and whose moral and
social character was unscathed. 1t was
Richard Hallum, the cousin Of Josephine.
and who now stood in the sapas 5elaiion
to her that Edward had occupied one
year before! Start not, gentle reader. nor
pour your maledictions upon the defence
:ess head Of the fair Josephine, until you
have heard the circumstances that
brought about this result.
The tidings Of the supposed death Of
Edward, taa: caase,! saeii meisnenoI,
CONSERVATION at Malcolmville, as a mat.
ter OF course, was not long concealed from
the inmates OF the cottage. II was truly
sad blow to the heart Of Josephine
when she heard Of the wreck Of the Cbel.
sea, and that her lover had met the terri.
ble fate in common with the passengers
OF that ill-fated vessel. No grief was ev.r
more poignant than hers, and no heart
ever moaned more intensely for the lost
o'gfct Of its idoIatry; but she was not of
tem9eIa1spt to brood long over mis-.
fortunes; her Gantic. grief spent itself
with the tidings of calamity, and time.
ths healer Of all wounds. aSf,el, her sor.
row, and eventually d;sRsllsl Ass mslap.
choly. That she stands convicted Of the
charge Of hckleness and Inconsistency, may
be partly true; Tut We are all the victims
OF circumstances and the inheritors Of
passions and faculties, over WHICH we haxe
only partial control. That her attach.
ment Tor Edward was strong we have
snown, but that il did not stand the .est
OF absence and death, and prsgspt the
transfer oS her affections TO another, wa.
only The result Of a particular organization,
and inherent intuition. for which she |
should not ss held wholly accountable.
We haze befeIa shQxp. that Mrs. I'D. |
waTds had but little romance ip her com. |
position. She did not enter into the ian.
crfal specula,ions Of Edward, when his
'anguine nature promised the delusiye