Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-04-21

.us .vuu., NC uealu luc people leaving the
house; shortly after, one of the servants came
to No 12, and told us that "several Of the girls
had been taken as evidence, and that the jury
had brought in verdict of suicide"
So ida Lathrop was robed for the tomb! 1t
was almost daylight when they carried her
down TO the drawing-room and laid her upon
a scttee. went down just as day was break
ing and thinking it likely that some Of the Girls
were in the drawng-room opened the door;
and on seeing that there was no one there cX-
ccpt Mrs. Stauntnn and Mr.. Conovcr, was about
to withdraw; but Mrs. Staunton told Inc to
"comc M" SD went in and sat down beside her.
Charles Conovcr was seated at the head Of the
scttee, with arms crossed, and chin fallen upon
his breast. lie neither lnoancd, nor spoke while
was in the room The dim gray dawn light.
cncd into sunrise, nature awoke refreshed, the
birds clirpcd and carollcd their melodious
roundrlay, but there he still sat as silent and
almost as immovabe as the form he watched.
When the breakfast bell rang Mrs. Staunton
told me " had better so down now to break
fast" went down to the table but could not
eat Not more than one third of tie girls came
down that morning to breakfast, and those who
were there did not eat. | count that and the
day following, as the two most dismal days OF
my life.
This was Saturday. All that day and night,
and all Sunday, Charles Conover sat beside the
inanmate form of Ida Lathrop, refusing to take
any nourishment lie had told Mrs. Staunton
ali, on Friday night; and had just finished as
entered the drawing-room. 1t was US follows:
Ida had promised to clope with Inn; they were
to have been married in the church at twelve
o'clock that night; the same church in which
we attended prayer meeting. Charles was near
the church at the time Mrs. Staunton and her
scholars left it; was watching to see if Ida was
not among them was still there waiting for her
arrival, when he heard several per:ons talking
hurriedly, and gathering from their conyersa-
tiun that Young lady belonging to Mrs. Staun-
toms school lad hung aerself, hastcncd to the
spot, and found his worst fears realized.
1t was Sunday night about ten o'clock.
was in No II reading, when heard the sound
of wheels-in few moments the door bell
sounded; and presently Margcry came to tell
me that my father wished to see ME. How
INV heart bounded, and how strangely felt.
| don't recollect how I got down stairs; l only
remember meeting Papa in the drawing-room
| passage, and how much affected he appeared to
be at what had happened. He was very much
shocked to think that Ida had so forgotten her
duty to her parents as to give her consent to an
elopemcnt, and perfectly Mortified at her COM
miting suicide.
"Ida's Father" said Papa to me, "was lying
very i'll from the effects OF the intelligence; was
perfectly delirious-a raving maniac. Her
mother was in q great deal Of distress, and did
not know what to do, but was anxious to start
off directly for Pittsburg." But Papa says he
told her she must not do so on any account
urging as an excuse that she must not leave her
husband. Papa volunteered to get couple o.
gentlemen to accompany him and 60 himself
Papa appeared to feel deeply for MIR. Conover
though he could say but little to console him
Papa and the two gentlemen who came with
him, sat up all night, as also did Charles Como
YER. The coffin had been sent to Mrs. Staun
toms on Saturday night, and now came the un
dertakers to perform their sad office.
It was on Monday morning just after run-rist
that we all assembled in the drawing-room Il
take one last long look of Ida Lathrop! Th'
body was already in the coffin and after shor
and appropriate prayer, the lid was screwed
down, and the coffin placed in rough box ready
for removal. At ten o'clock Papa and the twt
gentlemen left with the remains Of poor Ida
Charles Conover accompanying them. Ida hat
no brothers, both of them having died in earl,