The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-08-17
THE FATAL STEP.
BY NJ ABEL Lam NC,

have been sitting for full hour think
lng OF the past. But what is the past
What is the PRESENT. All! the present
is now while | strike my pen down thus :;
but that ins,ant is forever gone to eterni
'y, and is numbered with the past In.
deed, we may almost say there is no pres
em', so c!os"ly IS the past interviewer with
the dim mysterious future.
But to night have been thinking Of
the long ago when with heart as LIGHT
and free rs the mountain air | roamed be.
SIDE one OF the proudest rivers in the En-.
pire State. All life WAS then scene
Of uninterrupted pleasure. | knew 10
sorrow, and could but wonder why peo.
pie were sad when earth WAS so strange
ly beautiful. Yes mine was a glorious
day dream. Oh! would that It never
had passed.
The river by which spent my child.
hood, flows through the finest portion Of
the state. la Ole place it winds through
green meadows, and peaceful valleys,
where the songs Of the forest birds min
gIed with It's perpetual murnuring make
strange sweet music. Again it flows
through dismal swamps and dark forests
where branch en.wining with branch as
u TO say we clasp one hard in brother
| hood. At some places dark aud olu siah
at some others clear and limpid i. carries
| feelings both of pleasure and pain. In
one place the cliffs on the bank rise al
most to fearful heights and suddenly AS
if hurried on hy some mysterious power
the water rushes over locks which are so
much higher than the bed below that a
cascade so formed which though not fear
fully sublime, is remarkably beautiful, and
almost vested with the power to charm
one into qnie, slumber by its hurIing
sound.
a Few steps below the cascade there is
a whirlpool which is SO deep and rapid
that 1t is utterly impossible to remove
anything that has been thrown into it.
1t was beautiful morning in early
spring that happy group might have
been seen standing on the bank just be
low the cascade. Nature was clothed in
her most glorious beauty. The very air
was vocal with the music Of forest songs
ters. and every heart seemed laden with
sweet perfume. No wonder then tina,
each heart beat joyouslv, and that fair
haired maiden upon whose locks the sun
beam seemed to rest lovingly, almost
shouted with delight AS she sprang from
knoll to knoll culIing the fairest flowers OF
| spring.
'Ah my BRIDE said gentleman who
had been watching her atteniively.
Not vet : she answered with ring.
ing laugh at the same time pushing him
pIaytuIly rom her side. He slipped back
not realizing how near he stood TO the
/ edge Of the bank. The treach erous earth
| gave way and in an instant he fell into
the foaning waters beneath. He strug.
gIed manfnIIy for his life, but in vain
HIS strength was soon exhausted and the
current bore him to the fatal pool. One
more desperate struggle, one longing
look towards the bank and he was drawn
down into the deep, dark, mad waters.
And then shrek rent the air so wild,
SO fearful that through The stiffness which
surrounds me almos. hear il now.
With terror stricken hearts, those that
! had witnessed the scene, saw that she,
the young and joyous being as it were
but moment before was all life acd ami
nation, stood still and pale. Not tear
dimmed her eye and in place Of Wild
ness they looked strangely bright and
beautiful. Her friends spoke to her bu,
she answered not save with caIms
smile, which was proof enough that her
reason was dethroned. She seemed pier.
ced 10 the spot, but when one that she
had loved took her by the hand she
moved passiveIy as child. No one dared
speak to her and they walked in almost
breathess silence Their first suppositon
proved too true. Reason, life, hope and
happiness were lost to the young GIRL
She seemed like one walking 10 a dream;
unconscious of all around yet pursuing
some imagined object. She appeared to
know nought Of outward life but to be
consious Of a life within for with deep
drawn sigh she would place her hand
upon her heart, as il 70 aay my life is
cold and dark and dreary.'
Still her arrangement was not a mad.
ness but rather beautiful melancholy.
She was so quiet, 40 gentle and still, so
beautiful, never speaking OF her great
sorrow. But each day, rain OF shine,
mud or snow, she g,ept 10 the fatal bank