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

,uao o Ivvu,, NC uearu Luc people leaving the
house; shortly after, one Of the servants came
to No IL, 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
scttee I went down just as day was break
ing, and thinking it likely that some Of the GIRLS
were in the drawing-room opened the door;
and on seeing that there was no one there cX-
ccpt Mrs. Staunton and Mr.. Conoyer, was about
to withdraw; but Mrs. Staunton told me to
@comc in" So went in and sat down beside her.
Charles Conovcr was seated ut the head Of the
settee, with arms crossed, and chin fallen upon
his breast. lie encither lnoancd, nor spoke while
| was in the room. The dim gray dawn light
cned into sunrise, nature awoke refreshed, the
birds chirped and carollcd their melodious
roundeay, but there he still sat as silent and
almost as immovable as the form he watched.
When the breakfast bell rang Mrs. Staunton
told me 81 had better so down now TO break
fast" l went down to the table but could not
eat. Not more than one third of t:e 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 oi
my life.
This was Saturday. All that day and night,
and all Sunday, Charles Conover sat beside the
inanimate form of Ida Lathrop, refusing to take
anv nourishment. lie had told Mrs. Stauntol
ali, ON Friday night; and had just finished as
entered the drawing room. 1t was as follows:
Ida had promised to clope with I'm; they were
to have been married in the church at twelve
o'clock that night; the same church i'll 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 amon- 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 had hung acrself fastened 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
my heart bounded, and how strangely felt
don't recollect how l got down stairs; only
remember meeting Papa in the drawing-room
passage, and how much affected he appeared to
be at what had happened lie was very mucl
shocked to think that Ida had so forgotten hel
duty to her parents as to give her consent to or
elopement, 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 ; wa:
perfectly delirious-a raving maniac. Hel
mother was in u great deal Of distress, and dit
not know what to do, but was anxious to star
off directly for Pittsburg" But Papa says ht
told lcr she must not do so on any account
urging as an excuse that she must not leave hel
husband. Papa volunteered to get couple 0
gentlemen to accompany him and go himself
Papa appeared to feel deeply for Mr. Conoyer
though he could say but little to console him
Papa and the two gentlemen who came will
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-ris
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 read,
for removal. At ten o'clock Papa and the tw.
gentlemen left with the remains Of poor Ida
Charles Conover accompanying them; Ida hs
! no brothers, both of them having died in earl