The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-03-12

III the city some three or four weeks. and
was one day down on the wharf admlinc
the shippir z, aud while thcre, SAW Black,
holding by the hand little girl of somu
fourteen years, apparently seeking the
sane qualification. Black no doubt re.
cognizca me, but we did not exchange CT.
,iliics, for We had never been favored by
ceremonial introduction. The little cirl
seemed TO be iutcntly engaged Observing
small sail boat gliding down the stream,
whilst Black, letting go her hand, went
on Joard of II ship alongside the pier. |
too looked at the little boat in the stream,
with her white sails spread to the favornc
breeze, vending her way SO gracefully to
her destined port. a, | gazcd at the
little craft, suddenly | heard splash.
Looking TO where the little girl stood, She
was not there. The splash was occa ion
ed hv her fall. Prompted by AN instnc
tive impulse, without moments refec-
ton, jumped into the dock after her. |
succeeded in keeping lcr head above wa
ter, although with difficulty, for my coat
and boots encountered me no little. Our
situation was very soon discovered by
some Iaborrrs on An adjoining wharf, to
where We had driiicd-a boat soon came
to our rchct, and We were both rescued.
No on, could describe the look which nc.
c"mpanicd :hc action Of Black. as he
cam" to where we stood, aud squeezed my
hand. :" shall never live long enough
my dearest Sir 10 thank YOU, ami show
my gratitude tor your Kindness. Mv sis.
ter would have drowned sir wcieit not for
YOU. ! must take her home nowhere
is my card-p,casc hand me yours
will call om you" went home and
changed my CLOTHES, and no sooner had !
done 50, than | was favored with Il visit
from Mr.. Black. In the course Of convcr.
saiioa, we touched on family matters,
which III no long while led TO a frccr in
t@rciinGc ofscntimc3ts, and finally was
gratiiicd to hear
I'll" liIsroHr OF TuoS. BLACK.
give it in his own words, rs nearly a~ |
can. 81 am native of Kentucky. Nv
father was a lawyer, and was wcairhv.-
sister, you saved this evening, aud myself
his only children. There is great dis
parity in our ages, she being only four
teen, while ! am twcnryiour Before
was twcnty.oMc, ! WAS in partnership with
my father, but had not attained nv
twcnty.sccomd, whcu he was taken from
us. In the town we resided was beau
iiful yGung laly--hcr name was Mary
| loved Mary, and my love WAS returned.
My fathers death prevented our marriaca,
but III three months time, expected 10
make her my wtc. = BROTHER LAWYER
had boon partial to Mary, but meeting
with no success, | believed he became re.
concilc'l to hi fate; in this belief, how.
ever, was mistaken.
About month after my fl,hor's death,
| called one evening om Mary, and WI.
surprised to note something distressed her.
After considerable effort, WAS surprised.
Indignantly surprised, to linl reports had
reached her, detrimental to my character.
| was unable To trace these reports TO
their proper source, but from various cir
cumstanccs, was more than sure, they
owed paternity TO lawyer Browa. Inn
pulse prompted me to confront him, and
accuse him rs the cadthor-ii,cretion Sur.
gcstod the proprjcty Of waiting for further
developments. | was in no cnviable state
OF mind can assure you. IA evening or
two after, ! again called on Mary. She
wore a sad face. She had rcccycd an
Anonymous letter, which at my urgent re-
quest she showed me. In tha: letter,
was accused Of boing gan bier, and a
sot. The writer said regard for Mary and
her family, was her motive for ,autionine
her The writing was tcmalc's; OF that
had not the least doubt, but felt sure il
was copied Mt the instigation Of Brown.
| told Mary it was falsc-that believed
Grown was at the bottom Of it. She be-
!ieve,! what J to!4 hes sou may % sagc,
] had no good feeling for Brown.
Some two weeks after this had occa.
sion to go to Louisville to arrange for my
marriage. | stopped ut the Gait house,
and While registering my name, noticed
the names Of Brown and also Mary's bro
ther. was on terms of intimacy with
the latter, ms may be expected from our
anticipated relationship. Henry was n
noble fellow, but very impe;uous.
Brown saw me "a time or two, and the
devil mast have completely mastered him,
for he 80 managed rs 10 brood quarrel
between Mary's brother AMI myself
was in the Ear.room one evening, calinly
smoking scgar, when Henry very much
excited, partly by wine rs well as passion,
abruptly confronted me and accused me
Of being n coward. An assertion Of this
kind will stir any young mans hot blood
and 1t did mine. Becoming excited N.Y.
self, | told him fatty he was liar. am
eycitable myself but lot the consequences
be Mat they may, was not going 10 sit
down passively under such charge. /
had no sooner spoken than he drew n
sword from his cane, and thrusling it at
me, made a wound in my breast, and had
it gone an inch or so nearer The centre,
would have finished me. Qaick as
thought, drew pistol from my pocket,
and aiming at his head, fired. A minute
afterwards, regretted the act--it was al
ready done. He iel TO the floor --.mcli.