The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-10-23

A Romance Off al Life.-A Touching
Story.

A Romance Off al Life.-A Touohins
Story.
The editor Of the Chicago Times, HAVING
been on the Nor,I, side Of that city 10 nee :
friend, was recently prevented from reach
ing his home, in consequence Of steam
tug having passed up the river with small
fleet Of vessels in tow, one of which had
been cast off and hauled in just West oftl,e
bridge, leaving the "draw" still open. While
waiting he witnessed the following scene :
The vessel we have mentioned was moor.
ed or made fast outside of several canal
boats and rs we stood looking at the men
upon her, one of them approached fe-
male, who had been couched upon deck,
and addressing llcr, pointed to the shore.
then TO the bridge and then down toward
the tlronged and busy streets of living,
moving, headlong Chicago. She arose
picked up small bundle, from which she
drew forth a coin which she rendered to
the hardy sailor. lie refused it, whatever
It was, and lending her hand, helped her
from the vessel to the dock up to the
bridge. By this time large crowd of per-
sons thronge,l the North end of where the
bridge would be if it were always bridge :;
and in contemplating the new faces, and the
representatives of the various classes there
assembled we had almost forgotten the in.
cidcnt we have related. Our attention was
called from the vain cndeavor to discover
some cessation Of tugs going up and down,
and brigs and sclooners pulling in and out
by hearing most audible sob from some
one near us. 1t was not sob Of child
hood, caused by some sudden change Of gay
ETY. togrief; it was the sob of some ma
tured breast, filled with sense of loneliness
and dispair. 1t reached other ears than
ours.
! A lady dressed in a manner which be.
! spoke wealtl, that could CRAFTY taste and
| elegance, and who like ourselves, was de-
tanned at that place, stood near, acconpa-
MED by three children. whose desire to get
at the extreme edge Of the PLATFORM, she
difficulty reprcssed. With woman's ten
| derness her heart recognized til. stified
| ebullition Of sorrow. and approaching the
person from whom it came, who was none
other than the other woman we had lust
seer land from the vessel, she quietly, and
in that soft sweet voice Of woman which,
none can resist, inquired if she stood in
| need, or was she i'll or Was her sorrow sucl,
that she could not be relieved. A portion
! Of the railing near us was vacant. and TO.
; wards that and almost at our side these
two women came to converse. The stran-
ger was IA fair. handsome girl, of about
seventeen years; neatly bnt coarsely dress
! ed with shdcs not only we'll worn but hea-
w, and unsuitcd as much for her sex as for
the season. The poor girl. in honest sim
plc'tv, and with an earnestness which dis
pair alonec m impart, related her history
! uninterrupted by single observation from
her companion, but often accompanied 10y
; the tears Of both. We have not space for
it at length, but we will give it, changing
! its order just enough to enable US to state It
briefly.
Shc said she was born in Buston she,
had no brother or sister now : she remem.
bcrcd that she had Il sister, the oldest whose
name WAS Lizzie that sister years ago a.
gainst her father S will had married, and
with her husband having been banisl,ed
from her fathers sight, had gone off and had
| not been heard Of since--no doubt dead.
AT the time of her sisters marriage her pa
rents were wealthy. The pride which drove
away Lizzie had brought silent regret, and
! after while came melancholy complain
ings by the mothers singing for the EN-.
brace Of her first born. These soon led to
anger and elimination at home. and dissi-
patton by the father abroad. Losses came
upon them, and ut last, gathering the few
remaining goods they left the proud city of
their birth, and settled five years ago upon
the land purchased Of the Government in
Wisconsin. Her brothers, some older and
some younger than herself, one by one
dropped and died and soon the mother,
calling in agony upon her long exiled
daughter joined her boys in happier cline.
! None were now left but the father and
: this poor girl. lie too was humbled and
stricken hy the slow but certain, disease
which lights up the cheek and fires tile
eye with the l,riliiancy Of health, even
when its victim is on tho confines of etcr.
nifty.
lie woul sit and tell to his survivi ing
child the acts Of winning love and sacrific-
| ing devotion whiri, lad made his Lizzie
the very object of.bis life. lie woulI talk
Of her sweet smiles happy disposition, TN
til memory would lead % the hour when lie
bid her 70 depart, ssnti not let him see her
face again. His decline Was rapid. and his
lonc child saw Tie flowers which the
warmth Of Spring had called from the soil
Of her mothers grave disturbed, uprootcd
and thrown aside, that his astes might
minsle with those Of the mother Of the
children. o. l3., aa. ,ah'i
At i,isdeath he charged her to pay off
as far asshe might be able, the debts incur