Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-12-23
EDGEFIELD, S. c., DECEMBER %, 1857.


know it by the flashing eye and dhigh ghtened color,
by the half suppressed scorn which beamed from
his face, when Malcolm was more attentive to
me than usual.
The path of duty lay clear before me- ought
to return to. my home. knew it, | felt it; but
what reason could I assign? feared arousing
Annie's suspicious; and hoped that by coldness
and contempt could force Malcolm back to his
rightful allegiance.
Christmas came cold and clear. had prom
ised Annie to remain until after that important
day, but had not specified the time. Duty said
to me, Co." but inclination said, "Stay."
And why stay? That was known only to my
own heart.
There was grand celebration of Christmas
eve at the Evergreens. The rooms were dense
ly crowded, and the heat almost oyerpowered
me. stepped into a balcony for air. had
stood for some time gazing out on the spangled
bosom of night, when step at my side aroused
me. 1t was Mr.. Malcolm.
"This is very beautiful, Miss Denham; do
you not think so 2" he asked, bending his deep,
searching eyes upon my face.
"Very lovely" replied briefly.
You leave us, soon after the holidays, l be-
lieve?"
eyes" And I Would have returned to the
company. Malcolm caught my hand.
"Stay a moment, Miss Donham; julia" he
said, imploringly, "stay moment. Julia, l
love you, love you as I have never loved. Once
thought loved Annie; but oh, Julia! what
was my love to her compared with that bear
to you! She never understood me; but in
your eyes your soul is shadowed FORTH. You
know me better than I knowmyself. Read me,
and say if l do not speak truly. Oh Julia,
tell me that you will not cast me utterly awayw
And Malcolm fell on his knees at my feet.
drew myself up to my full height. My face
burned with Indignation as replied: Wallace
Alancom, have youa soul, that you can offer
me heart pcrjurcd at the very altar of its
love? Go miserable being, and pray forgive
ness of her whom you have so basely wronged;
seek by lifetimoof penitence to atone for this
great sin but trouble me no further, lest curse
yoa." I turned and swept proudly from him.
Isaw no more of Malcolm that night. The
next morning, US Annie and I were sitting in her
tasteful bourdoir, we were startled by astrange
confusion about the house. Annie was much
alarmed but,{w my customary bodness, ]
went to learn the cause
Good God, what spectacle met my eyes
There on the side table in the long hall lay
Wallace Malcolm, his tall form Strengthened to
the stiff: :fornalty Of deathl Philip Graham
lay On the sofa, white and still, the dark blood
oozing slowly from q deep wound in his temple.
Reader, ,tshall elssouaedge-t you that loved
Philip Graham loved him with all the hcstrength
of my wild, lone heart? Judge, then, of my
feelings at seeing him thus. | tottered to his
side. lie saw me not He opened not his
eyes, but hc brcathed, saw by the lahored
qniycring of his broad breast. For even this
was thankful.
The hall was half full Of strange people. Mr..
Graham leaned against the wall pale and motion
less. Preached him and grasped his arm. For
tile love of Heaven, sr,' gasped, "tel Inc all @
Mr., Graham could not control himself sntii-
GENTLY to speak but, from one Of the strange
men who was bathing Philips pale brow, l
learned the sad particulars.
1t seemed that Philip had overheard Malcnlm's
declaration to me on Christmas eve, and, fired
at the insult and the wrong done his sister, lie
had Immediately sent a challenge to Malcolm,
which WAS of course, accepted At sunrise they
had met on a sandy plain some forty rods from
the EyergrecliS. Malcolm fell dcad, shot through
the breast, while the ball from his pistol had
entered Philips temple. This was all; was it
not enough? And the cause
went to Annie. 7 told her all. Her grief
cannot speak Of. 1t would make a child Of
me; and l try to berery calm and composed,
now.
Towards noon, at Annies request, went to
Philip. His wound had been dressed; but
saw no hope in the sorrowful face Of the old
family physician.
Philip was conscious, and begged me to sit
down by his bedside and tell him of Annie.
Words cannot express my agony, my utter des-
pair, as | gaZel on his pale features, where |
knew death would soon be at work. My great
love for Philip Graham came over Inc with all
its overwhelming force, and my heart stopped
its pusations; my brain whirled, | caught a
chair for support, and all things faded from my
view.
When awoke to consciousness, they told me
that had been very i'll; and, as looked at my
wasted hands, realized the truth of what they
said. Ny first words were Of Annie and Philip.
Annie, the nurse said, bore her grief better
than we had anticipated and had gone through
the funeral ceremonies over Wallace Malcom's
remains with resigned composure. Philip still
fingered, though with but little hope OF recoVe-
ry Oh, how glad [ was to hear even this
had so feared that the grave had claimed hlm
Annie came to me- What q meeting! We
lay in each others arms for long time without
s,,caking, but Annic's convulsive sobs told well
her inward agony. She had changed mach.
Her face was pale and thin, and her eyes weary
with vgls over the living, and tears for the dead,
In few days, I was able TO go into Philips
chamber. He welcomed me cherfully, and con:
verscd on different subjects with his accustomed
spirit Night and day lsatby his couch, uninlnd.
full of PHYSICIANS oft.rcpeatcd command that l
should rest. Rest! How could | rest when his
last moments could he made plcasantcr by my
efforts? Sometimes, when, i'll the long still
watches of the night, sat by his side counting
his auttering pulse aud smoothing back the rich
brown hair from his brow, he would raise his eyes
to NV face with such an expression of thankful
ness, that ! would willingly have given half my
existence to see it there again.
Annie would not consent to my leaving them,
and indeed did not wish to; and | fingered at
the Eyerrrcens until the middle Of February.
Philip was failing. Even Annic's hopeful eye
saw the gradual but surs approach OF the dread
DESTROYER. She rcfrancd from speaking to Phil
in on the subject Of Ills death but had spoken
to him freely of his departure. He frankly told
me what had long suspccted-that remorse,
rather than disease. was wearing on his liie-re,
morse ut having caused thedeath ofone noble and
good, though he had been tempted, and yield
inc to his wrong impulses, had fallen. Philip
smoke calmly even cheerfully, of going through
the dim shades of death to the golden portals Of
heaven.
,,;,o, on;to eorlv while was sitting