Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-06-03

large fortune has come to you through your
first wife but it was hers to give; she became
the sole heiress of her father, when his three
sons of former marriage were unfortunately
drowned in the"
"Hush, Thornton !" repeated he, hastily, and
in tone so altered and so singular that it start
led me.
"Moreton," said I, rising and approaching
him, and laying my hand gently upon his shoul-
der, eve were once companions-almost friends;
as friend, as well as lawyer, you have sent
for me. There is some mystery here, OF which
am sure it was your intention to disburden
yourself Whatever the secret be, it is safe
with me. But tell you plainly that if you
are resolved to make beggars of your innocent
children without giving sufficient reason for
it, some other than Charles Thornton must be
the instrument of doing it..
"Thornton," said he, in grave tone, and
without raising his eyes, "there is mystery
fearful mystery-and it shall be told this
night. That done, neither you nor any one
can be the friend of Walter Moreton but he
will have no occasion for friendship. Reach me
some wine, Thornton, and pour it out for me
my nerves are shattered: another glass-now
sit down-no, not there-ay, ay-one other
glass, Thornton"
took my place in a large, high backed chair,
as Walter Moreton directed me; and he, pla-
cling himself q little out of my view, spoke as
follows
at is now upwards of ten years. as you
know, Thornton, since I married my first wife,
the daughter of Mr.. Bellenden-old Bellenden
the lawyer. She, you also know, was the child
of former marriage-and that the large for
tune of my father-in-law, which in the end came
-no matter how-to me, belonged to him, or
rather to his three sons, in right of his second
wife, who was also dead at the time of my mar
riage. could not have INDUCED any expecta-
ton that this fortune would ever reach me for
although knew very well that, failing my
wife's three half brothers, it came entirely in
her fathers power, yet there could be no ground
for any reasonable expectation that three healthy
boys would die off and make way for Ag-
mes. Mark me, Thornton, did not marry for
money; and the thought of the succession
which afterwards opened never entered my
mind. will tell you, Thornton, the first oc-
casion on which hope dawned upon me. There
was an epidemic in this part of the country,
and my iather-in-law's three sons were seized
with it at one time. All three were in the
most imminent danger; and one evening when
the disease was at its height, and when my wife
seemed greatly distressed at receiving q message
that it was doubtful if any of the three would
survive till morning.! And if they should die,
said I, within myself! This supposition con-
stantly recurred and was so willingly enter
tanned that lay awake the whole of that night,
planning myself the disposal of this fine nheri-
tancc; forgetting, at the time another lite-that
of my father-in-aw-stood betwixt us and the
succession. Next morning, however, a tavora-
bic change took place, and eventually the three
youths recovered; but so strong a hold had the
hopes, which had been thus suddenly created,
taken Of my mind, that in place Of their being
tlissippatcd by the event, which naturally tie
prived them of any foundation they ever had,
was not only conscious Of feeling the keenest
disappointment, but also as if some untoward
accident had defrauded me of something that
was all but within my reach 81 How near
have been to alllucncc," was constantly recur
ring thought and when heard every morn
ing that this person was dead, and that person
was dead, feeling Of chagrn was invariably
felt. You are perhaps incapable Of understand
ing these feelings, Thornton, and so was |, until
the events took place which gave birth to them."
Morcton paused moment; but did not i'll
terrupt him; and after passing his hand over
his forehead, and filling out with an unsteady
hand another glass of wine, he proceeded:
"You know something of the river here, and
Of the passion for boating. The three boys
often indulged in this exercise and it some
times happened that accompanied them. One
day, about the end of August, we had spent
the day at Eelpits, and it was not far from sun
set when we set out to row back to Cambridge.
1t was fine, calm evening when we left that
place, but it soon began to rain heavily; and in
the scramble for coaks which the suddenness
and heavness Of the shower occasoned, the
boat was all but upset but it rghted again,
and served only as matter of mirth to the
bows, though in ME different effect was pro-
duced. More than year had elapsed since
the presence of the epidemic had given rise to
the feelings l have already confessed to, and
the circumstances had been nearly, but not
altogether forgotten. At that moment, how
ever, the thoughts that at that time had con-
tinually haunted me, recarred with teniold
force " If it had upset?" | said within my
self, while sitting silent in the stern-'lf it had
upsetn and the prospect of wealth again open
ed before Inc.
"Well, we continued to row, and it soon fell
dusk, and then the moon rose; and we contlnu-
ed to ascend the riyer-ours the only boat up.
ON it-until we were in less than two miles OF
Cambridge. | had occasionally taken turn at
the oar, but at that time sat in the stern, and
still something continually whispered to me,
sIf the boat had upsetp | need not tell you,
Thornton, that little things influence the great
est events: one Of these little things occurred
ut this moment. / had a dog in the boat, and
one OF the boys said something to it in Latin
Don't speak Latin to the dog said another,
for its master does not understand Latin
Yes he does said tho elder, Mr.. Moreton
understands dog Latin This was little mat
ter, Thornton, but it displeased me. There
was always a good deal Of assumption of supe-
liority, especially on the part Of the eldest, on
account of his university education; and little
annoyances of this kind were frequent. 1t was
precisely at this moment that something dark
was seen floating towards us; it Glanced to
come just in the glimpse OF the moon on the
water, and was seen at once by us all; and as
it approached nearer, till it was about TO pass
within an oars length Of the boat. You have
heard the story, Thurnton-you have said, il
recollect, that the three boys we're" Here
Moreton suddenly stopped, and hastily drained
the wine he had filled out
"Drowned in the CAM" said l yes knew
of this misfortune but did not know that
you were present"
"I was-I was-present!" said Moreton, lay
ing peculiar emphasis on the word cay,
Thornton, you've hit the world was present
but listen: | told you the dark object hoated
within an oars length OF the boat at once the
three boys made spring to the side of the boat,
extending arms and oars to intercept it; and-n
in ~, instant tie boat Mas keel ulne11n0St !n