Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-04-14


qucntly his property; but her associates were
nothing TO him. Ida's mother was woman
such as we often see and seldom like. She was
a very little lady, with very little nose, q
very little foot, a very little waist, and very
little sense. She was essentially vulgar, though
not altogether ignorant Of the uSages of society.
1t was almost laugLable to hear the blundcrs
she would make in trying to repeat phrase
(without knowing its lneaning) that she had
heard another make use Of What she was be-
fore she married 10 one III Brook Valley ever
kncw,--cvcn "Aunty Beck" had failed 10 find
out, and after her failure every one else appeared
to look upon it as hopeless task. The oil
lady gossips declared that "Judgc I.athrop
must have married good deal beneath him."
but nothing certain was known about it. The
family of three children, two sons and daugh
ter, were born i'll Brook Valley. Judge Lathrop
was Lawyer wien he moved there; he had
then been married about two years; was rather
fine looking young man; and by dint of hard
struggling, and changing his politics two or
three times, had at last reached the height Of
lis ambition, he was now "Judge Lathrop"
And he certainly looked the Judge from the
centre of his glossy bald head, to the toes Of
his glossy patent leather boots. Such were the
parents Of Ida, the heroine of my story.
Charles Conover was splendid looking young
man; quite tall dark chesnut hair, black eyes,
and remarkably fine features. The expression
of his face was thoughtful, almost stern at times,
when his features were i'll repose but as soon
as he would commence speaking, his eye would
brighten, and his whole expression change to
kndliness and affection. Independent Of his
good looks Charles Conover was really one Of
the most agreeable men | have ever known.
His father had been Clergyman, and had died
when Charley was only few months Of age
His mother was most excellent lady, but very
proud and after the death Of her husband re-
fused the many kind offers made by her kind
hearted neighbors, saying she could not think
of imposing herself and child, upon those who
were no kin to them. So.she took her babe i'll
her arms, and left for Vermont, where her rel
atives resided; and for the next twenty-three
years, no one in Brook Valley had any tidings
Of her. 1t certainly caused good deal Of sur
prise, and not little extra visiting, when it was
understood that Mrs. Conoyer was about to re-
turn to Brook Valley; people wondered how
she looked-where she had been SO long, and
what she had been doingw Charles came first,
and purchased lovely little cottage, then left,
and in about two weeks returned with his
mother. Mrs. Conovcr was beautiful woman;
every one knew from her sons age that she
must be forty; but from her looks no one would
have supposed her to be more than thirty Ger
tainly " time had delt kindly with her." 1t
sounded strangely to me to hear Charley call her
Mother" as she looked almost as young as
her son. So they came and settled down in our
quiet little nook of village, rather apoor place
for lawyer, but then it was only very short
distance to X the county town, and tvcry
soon became generally known, that the son OF
their former Clergyman had come home to the
place of his birth to make q support for himself
and mother Every one appeared to like him,
many liked him for what his father had been,
but the greater number liked him for what he
had proved himself to be, namely, young man
of steady habits and eminent business qualiii-
cations. Then, too, he understood short hand,
and could note down, not only the evidence in
court, but the lawyers speeches and the judges
charge to the jury, and anything he wished,
with the utmost easc,-afterwards he could
copy the proceedings at his lcasure. So business
increased and Charley Conover prosPered, and
won the hearts Of the people almost without
their knowledge.
Imust now return to Ida and Mrs Staunton's
school. Every thing was going on very much
as usual, it was now June: the loyeliest month
of all the twelve in that rather ungenial cline
the month of bright blossoms and calmy breezes;