The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-05-28


and many heart has sank beneath the
feelings that It engenders. The pomp Of
bridal display was scattered around her
the dazzling robe glistened with its
costly trimmings-every Object around
told of gayety and splendor; and vet
there was a tear in Ellen's eye. OF all
the days in the life of one of Gods fair
creatures, that in which she pichts her
troth to man, and yields hei hand. her
happiness and her heart to his keeping,
is, perhaps, the most momentous. II is
not for day, for week, or for wear.
but the fortunes Of life time are at issue
the solemn compact seals her destiny. and
then her hopes, her joys, her fears and
her pleasures, all revove around one COM
mon controller husbands love. He is
all in all to hcr-his smile cheers her
heart, or his frown chls her with gloom
he can gladden. her life with devotion. or
wther her heart by neglect; she risks her
all upon the hazards of the die: trustful-
ly yields her blooming youth and her vir-
gin heart; alas! how often fatally, ruin
ously, diSastrously.
Ellen felt all the importance Of he sol.
cmn event so near at hand hence her
serious looks, her trembling hopes, and
her fearful eye.
At length the crisis that all seemed to
be expecting arrived; carriage was
driven up to the door, and from it first
aHghtcd our hero-Edward, SPARKLING
and radiant as f lie had at length reach
In 81
came n young lady whom the Senator
called his daughter. She is Il beautiful
lady, reader, and one that we lave seen
before. We first saw her on the banks of
the Savannah, lying pale and scn>eess on
the arm of her pre>crvcr; we saw her
again beaming forth her thanks and graf
'iude to him, and we see her now at Nal.
coImviIle, the happy bride of Edward
Malcolm. Next altghtcd from the same
carriage the tall, meagrc, and white-har.
ed veteran, whom We have also seen he.
fore, under the character Of father TO this
young lady. The Senator salutcd him as
Gen. Farley and in the warm grasp of
their hands, might have been seen eyi-
dence OF friendship that had stood the
test of years, and Vas now cemen,ed bv
the nuplial union o! their children.
The earl y wish of their mothers, and
the rigid adherence of their fathers, was
at last crowned with success but not
alone to the embryo contr,ct that con.
spircd to mould chain around the inf;,n
tile hearts OF their offspring, were thev
indebted for the success of their plans :;
but rather to accidental circumstances,
which, though trifling they may appear,
are often sufficient 10 effect the most i'm.
! portant Oh angcs in our existence.
For long time after the Senator and
his party had 1T Savannah, and had
reached their home, they were content to
remain quietly secluded at Malcolmylle; {;
happy in the reunion Of their little circle,
which happiness they could so much bet
ter appreciate, since they had felt the
bitter fruits OF ciIiuntortunate separation
1t was with trembling fears for the result,
tha. Ellen acquainted Edward with the
marriage Of his former betrothed, which
she did not do until they arrived at Nal
colmviiIe; but, although the disclosure
blanched his cheek and chilled the blood
in his veins, still that same pride and he
roic firmness that had sustained him in
other trials did not forsake him in this.
| When he met her, several months after.
wards, at a gay and fashionable assem-
blage, as radiant and lovely as ever. and
greeted her with the frankuess of an old
! acquaintance, not one evidence of an in-
ward emotion could be traced in his coun.
tenance, though the little hand that he
grasped trembled within his own
The Senator said no more to his son in
regard 10 the daughter Of Gen. Farley ;
he bad not mentioned her name since
that fatal conversation but subsequent
Iy. when on visit to New York CITY, ac-
companied by Edward, partly by accident,
and partly 10y design Of the former, the
parties were brought together. The SEN
ator was no little surprised, when he saw
Edward and the old General and bis
daughter mutually recognize each other,
with such warmth of manner and evi.
dence of former acquaintance. Neither
was Edward less surprised, when he heard
the name Of Gen Farley, AMI learned that
this fair girl was Frances Farley, whose
mana he had once so peremptorily refused !!
1t was no hard matter to enkindIe a
flame between two hearts that had met
under such peculiar circumstances, and
that already expanded towards each other.
Edward had. long since had his suspicious
aroused IN regard to certain matter, and
after be had been some time acquainted
whh Miss Farley, he asked her, as they
vete sitting alone in one Of those splendid
smily paflors attached 10 the ST. Nicho.
las Hotel, to pass her opinion on the mer-
its of piece Of writing in lis possession :;
and, he unfolded to her, the Identical lit
tie note that covered the draft 10 Mr.. b!
1t needed not the crimson blush and the
faltering tone to convince him that she
was the author; he had long feH that il
was her, aud although the act may have
been the offspring Of purely generous
feeling towards her deliverer, yet it is
more probable still, and requires but little