The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-01-13


grardmother's illness, or her fears Of los.
my Wallace, Laura alone knew. Her
grandmother WAS really ill-ihu was af.
terward proven incontrovertibiy.
'Iruly, MISS Mead, | never thought of
that Our journey migh' be delayed two
or three days. 1t would undoubtedly dis.
appoint ELISE, but then the circumstances
certainly y would fully excuse the delay
lhe look OF gratitude that flashed up
through the tears that soilenei those bril-
liant eyes settled the matter. 1t Was AT
ranged they should leave early in the
morning. At was too late TO see ELISE
that night, and Wallace wrote a hastp
"poIogetic note, which explained tie
cause of his default.
Three days had passed. They had
been long and weary ones to Elise Hart,
for dim apprehension of evil had rested
all this time on the girls glad spirit. She
sang rs usual around her home, but the
old spirit WAS not in the tune, for the
unknown haud was writing its prophesy
oi SORROW on her heart. She could no,
interpret II, and whispered TO herself she
must be growing nervous. There was
nothing in Wallace's brief but affection
ate note to occasion her alarm. OF course
courtesy demanded that he should sc-
company Miss Mead, how muchsuever
this might conflict with his incinations.
Elite! Ellie! have letter tor vuu."
and htl!e Mary Hart danced into the
room, on the afternoon of that third day,'
and laid it i'll her sisters lap,for the nffic.
WAS between the child's school and her
home.
The address was in Wallac.'s chirog-
rapEy. HIS berrothed opened i, eagerly
and read {:
ELISE | have request TO make Of
you-one which will brand me forever in
your opinion, rs the worst, and the bases,
ot men-no matter cannot seem ,o
you WORSE than feel my self Fuse. viii
you dissolve our eng 'g-Inent!
csterday | learned that Laura loved
me, with al! The tervor of her d-.y. rare.
noble nature; loved me. as YOU, With all
your sweetness and gen,lene.~, never
could.
In my weakness or madness, asked
her to be my wife, and, with Your cun>en,
our marriage will be conSumalrd brfnr,
the close Of the week. do not ask yvr
TO forgive me, or to show me any mercy
even ~ your thoughts. for deserve none
ohly thank G"d, that YOU were spaced
linking your future with one 10 utterly
unworthy of you.
1 .oNel you ELISE, ] love you now,
perhaps better chan do Laura, although,
she has shown me that our tastes ASS. nj
late, that our souls will he married 10
each other, AS yours aud tnine never could
he. But this writing is too painful
May God bless you, EIiIs- @! prsys as he
dare not pray for h,nsef.
'WALLACE TREAT.'
An hour later, little Mary, who was
playing among the bushes, IN the front
yard, SAW ELISE coming toward her, and
her face WAS very white. MARY she
said, III tone which awed the chIid inIo
silent obe'iienee, here is n letter. Take
II immediately TO the office, before ,h.
mail closes Aud Mary took It, and
Elise walked slowly back TO The house,
aud sat down III her old place, covering
her face with her hands.
Soon aherward her mother went into
the room. She knew nothing OF what
had happened, but the glrl's white face
frightened her. ELISE pointed TO the
letter, aud SAID. calmly, 4 have answer.
ed It,
cannot describe the feeling which el-
ectrheG all Moss Gen, or the butter
words that were heapsd on Waiter aud
Laura Treat, when the next week
brought the tdings of their surreptitious
marriage.
Fuse bore herself bravely through it,
attending To all her social and domestic
duues rs usual. Many tears were shed
by those who loved her. but there " as a
quiet dignity, and self Possession in her
manner, wi.Icn precIudea all con, ersatiou
Oh this subject.
Her trends rejoiced to see she was so
little afflicted 10y her lovers desertiou, but
| looked through her deep eyes into her
heart, aud knew it was bro zen.
Autumn came, and when the winds
began to take up the first notes Of ,he
years Do1ology, aud the crimson banners
~ hut'er amorg the forest trees, ElIss
showed trst those symptoms Of disease
~nlcn bad lam sIi her fathers family, in
the pnme oi their days, under the grave
grass Of Moss G,en.
The doctor snook hrs read when he
saw her. There was, IN her case, he SAID
n hereditary prochSity 10 consumption,
but much suffering only could have dc.
veIoped II 50 early.
Sne fingered with us through the mex
W'u'er aud Spring, rpenlug more ano
more Tor that nom where the very winu,
are one eternal lalIelujah.
She iorgave those VINO had SO deeply
wronged her, aud III the DrIgut June time
angels caIue 'or her.
Wallace Treat is q rich man, AND ar
honorable one, IN tue city where he and
his elegant wife have taken up their abode
but those who kaow them best say tina,
III hls dreams hs moaas vi ELISE, aud