Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-02-16

~ and tbey:w,iibo stood .ldehin thought that
), he had ceased to breathe
"Isle dead2" ;gaspes Esell. go, tell me
that he still liyes--livesto har me promise to
be another; a true, fond, faithful mother to his
Y babe" ne 1'.SY 8 T..
Gle is.not dead Mrs. atart only very
much exausted," replied Dr.. osborn, the atten-
ding Physician. e.
"Where is my child ?'- asled Eustice, with.
out topcning his eyes, {.
: 'Estell took the little Alic, frem the arms of
Mrs. Mallory, the nursi and placed her upon
the bed, beside her Father, saying, "Here She
is, Eustce / have her and whilelife lasts shall
love and protect her assthough she were indeed
my own little one; aI: believe me, ] ann not
ungrateful for this toaaS of your confidence
and esteem" a
81 have still anothe request to make, Mrs.
Stuart, andI beg that you will listen to
the proposition I am about to offer; and sin
cerely trust you will nbt fefuse me the last re-
quest ever expect t1teske. Much Is res
pect and esteem yon, cannot bear the idea Of
leaving my child to tie care of one who. does.
mot bear my name 9e but that-allow your
Eself to be joined in yedleck t9a dying man.
You will mot hare H sar che yoke long, for
n4 hours I knoSsar1 beretL know am
asking great self-sacrHesat your hands, andif1
have wounded your feelings pray forgive me,
for to what lengths will not dying parent go
when the good of his c6iild is at stake"
~ will take your mime and be indeed
mother to your child7,answered Estcll in
clear firm voice as she turned to her brother,
who smiled family and bowed his approval.
Theirs was strange marriage. E,tell knelt
and casped the cold damp hand with shud-
der as she contrasted tiis strange bridal, with
the happy one of years gone bye, when sue had
given her heart and hand to Clarence Stuart.
But that had been aemrriage of choice, while
this was one of duty. She felt that it could do
her no harm, this union with the dying, and was
willing to make any satrifice of feeling, ifby so
doing, sho could smooth the death-bed Of fel-
low being.
The solemn ceremony over, the certificate
was duly drawn up Rad signed by Dr. Osborn
aud Hiram Douglass. There was no snile-no
word of gayety-no generalization for the bride.
Little Alice was the Oily joyous one she laugh
ed, and crowed, und sapped her badly hands in
all the joy of unconcious infancy, while her
young bright eyes spEkled from very gee.
= nr- .Allslon tassssS1ssridIy. .np4n his weary
pillow and caIIeH fi'' lie still held
the hand of Estcll tirr Y within his own. "To
think" "he said that ssust die just as life has be-
come worth the having. Hiram to- your kind
care entrust those leave behind and lastly
I call you all to witness that I wish my proper
ty to be equally divided between my wife and
child.n
How strangely it sounded to Estell to be
called wife," by the dying man, and he COM
paralively speaking to- stranger. True, she had
known him all her life, though they had never
been OH terms Of intimacy. But then she had
gained priceless jewel. Alice was hers-tLcy
would bear the samo name; through life they
would be ull in all to each other. o, Low she
longcd to 20 home, that she might place her
treasure in her mothers arus and weep for very
Joy. TLis child. though not her own, would
call her mother; and she felt that she had low
nothing left to wish for.
It was decided tlat she should return home
taking Alice and her nurse with her. Hiram
would remain with Eustice and send word Of
his condition every half hour. DR.. Osborn would
alss remain through the night, and should any
particular change take place, Estell was to be
sent for. ~
And so they parted-the husband and wife
of an bour-expAsing to meet no more on
earth, for it never even occurred to the mind Of
Estell that "while there is life, there is always
hope" So great was her haste to reach home
that she almost flew. Mrs. Mallory, who carried
Alice, could scarcely keep pace with her; and
on reaching home, she rushed into her mothers
room cxcaiming "AIother, see what have got,
DR.. Alston has given me his child, and she is
to he mine,-my own-you know, mother, we
aro to bear the same name" And then, sud
denly recollecting herself she said in an altered
tone, But mother, had forgotten to tell you
I nm married to DR.. Allston."
Mrs. Douglass lad risen on the entrance Of
her child, and taking the lovely babe had almost
smothercd it with kisses. But upon the last
exclamation of Estell shc dropped into a chair
quite overcome. shc could only say in help
les,ly sor. Of way Esleli, my poor CHILD, what
ais you? Something dreadful must certainly
have happened sincc you left home, to unsettle
your mind in this manner, ] wish your'father
would come, feel very uneasy about you''
sThere is no reason why you should feel un'
easy about me- mother, dearest. 1t is all just
AZ tell YOU there has nothing happened to
me, only DR.. Allsion did not wish to leave bis
child to one wkeaaiia- not bear his name; and
YOU know it could do no. harm for me to marry
him and he dying. And just see what a little
darling hsvc gained byit. Come to mamma
my own precious one." And strange to say
Alice held up her little waxen arms, and in
moment was nesting in the bosom Of her adop.
ted mother.
aWell, my child" said Mrs. Douglass, 81
hope it is all for the best, but it certainly ap
pears very strange TO me that you should con