The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-01-13
LANCASTER H. SOUTH CAROLINA MORNING. JANUARY s

time, E;Iise2'
lie said it with one Of his smiles, smoo
thing dowL her curls, and she answered
him with one Of hers, bright, uuslluI,
confiiing.
Aunt Harriet, you don't mean to tell
me Mr.. Treat is really engaged to Miss
Hart, that pretty little golden haired glrl,
with her soul in her blue eyes! am SO
surprised Blu, then, after all, men of
his intellect and taste usually prefer such
womon for the sake Of the contrast, sun
pose. Any way, he'll have II sweet little
doll.wiie, who'll love him to distraction,
and make him the richest soups, and jel
lies IN Chrstendom, and Laura went uo
stairs, humming tune as naturally as #
she didn't know Wallace WAS under the
window, and had heard every word she
bad spoken.
Mr.. Treat, have such = favor to sole
It OF you! and Laura Mead land her little
fingers on the geutemnn's arr, and lifted
those Gark, melting ewes, whose power
many a conque-t had taught her, to the
gentleman.
We'll, speak it, Miss Mead. shall
only he too happy to ogra,ify YOU
Tins morning, saw the sweetest white
rose IN u little vase on your table. 1t WAS
precisely what | wanted for my hair
You know Aunt and are going out to
Mrs hortons tea party, and \ white rose
=" this braid will just complete my toll.
cite.
Wallace hesitaied moment. The
flower WAS ElIise's gift, the las, one that
had blossomed on the bush, and he had
promised 10 keep it until the next Sum.
mer should bring her It's fresh blooms.
But he looked on the elegant pieader
and he thought i, would he very ungen.
uemanIy 10 refuse her. i am only too
happy tn ohlIge you,' he sard, AS he ran
MP stairs, and 1t WAS pity he did ;.o,
see the triumph in Laura's ewes, AS she
placed tue rose III her black br .ids.
| noticed that Elise started rs Miss
Mead entered the parlor, ut Mrs. Nor.
tons, and fastened her ewes eagerly on
the young lady. Then "a shadow crept
INTO her biue eyes, and for moment her
lips qulvered. Blu, she regalned her com
po>nre, and all that afternoon WAS unusu
ally gay, though knew her bright face
did not paint the cloud that WAS in her
heart. For the first time suspicion thai,
WAS in itself fearful psng bad entered
it!
Two DAYS later Elise came up to our
house. 1t had been beautiful day. and
the Wes. MAS medallioned with gorge.
GUS Aurumn sunset.
WI" didn't Wallace come with you .
| asked, se'zing her hand and pulling her
INTO the house: She laughed, not quite
naturally, thought. 'IIe dni intend TO.
but Miss Mead was very anxious to visit
An old friend Of her mothers at the Fort.
The doctor was not at home, SO he ac-
:umrauiei her
i believe Am not qnite, we'll, Matte,
for I've had the blues All day.' She lean
ed her cheek ON my shoulder, and burst
into tears.
We went up stairs, and at las, Elise
told me that change had Of late come
over Walter. 1t WAS slight. intangible,
but she FELT it, lie seemed distracted.
and liked to converse about Miss Mead.
whose manners he pronounced the per,
tect'on OF elegance
Do you think her so very beautiful,
Matte questioned the girl, lifting her
sweet face to mIne, and looking as il her
life d-pended on my verdict
No, not half so much so as are you,
dear Elise answered, adding what
words of comfort could, till at last Fl
ISe smiled, add said with her old aniIns
ton, Next week, Matte, We are to 20 to
Grandma's. and then all will be settled
nicely. You know we are to invite her
to the wedding, whicl: takes place next
month";
ALI me. poor Elise
do not think Laura Mead loved Wal
lace Treat when she first conceived the
idea OF trying her coqaettish art on tina,
gentleman, but Wsllsce WAS not an ordi.
nary man, AMI 1t WAS not long before the
city belle found, TO her sstonisnInent, that
her affections were warmly enlisted ia this
matter
| believe Wallace loved Elise. as be
never gould love anv other woman, but,
rs said. he WAS mental epicure. and
MISS Mead's elegance, her file eyes. and
great conversational powers fascinated
him. lie Vas greatly to blame, and yet,
had you seen, know you would pity
him.
That night " allace had made every ar
rsngemrnt to accompany Elise the next
day to her graudmother's. He had been
like his old self, tender, stfectionste, and
he left his bride elect with heart beat
ing to its old tune Of happiness. Ir WAS
THE LAST TIME THEY NET
Wallace returned to the doctors, and
found Miss Mead alone and iu tears
She pointed to a letter she had receive,.,
informing her that her grandmother WAS
very vi, aud her nurse had written tha,
her recovery WAS doubtful, aud she was
yery desirous OF seeing Laura once more.
Dear, dear Grandma II could only
go 10 her, sobbed the lady through her
tears. 1t is nearly forty miles FROM here,
and the place is accessible BY neither r.il
road or stage
Wallace wss greatly touched. DO no: