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

!, Ily, and they who stood 55esjdehim thought that
he had ceased to breathe.
"Is he dead 2" gaspee Esell. go, tell me
that he still liYes,-livesto har me promise to
be mother, true, fond, faithful mother to his
;, babe" x :"
) "He is not dead, Mrs. Stuart ; only very
much exhausted" replied DR.. osborn, the atten-
ding Physician.
"Where is my child e. astcd Eustice, with
} out opening his eyes.
Estell took the little Alic, frem the arms OF
Mrs. Mallory, the nurse, and placed her upon
the bed, beside her Father, saying, Here she
is, Eustice have her, and whilelife lasts shall
love and protect her aSthough she were indeed
my own little one and believe me, / am not
ungrateful for this to3ss of your confidence
and esteem"
~ have still anothet request to make, Mrs.
Stuart, and 1 beg that you will listen to
the proposition am about to offer; and | sin
cerely trust you will nht refuse me the last re-
quest I ever expect quake. Much as res
pect and esteem yor Icamot bear the idea OF
leaving my child to tie care of one who does
not bear my name. .gt9e but that-allow your
self to be Joined in yedlock to a dying man.
You will not have 4 ssar the yoke long, for
nI hours I knossar, 3ereal know am
asking great selfsacrifcsat your hands, andif /
have wounded your feelings pray forgive me,
for to what lengths will not dying parent go
when the good of his chlli is at stake"
~ will take your name and be indeed
mother to your child: answered Estcll in
clear firm voice as she turned to her brother,
who smiled family and bowed his approval
Theirs was a strange marriage. E>tell knelt
and clasped the cold damp hand with shud-
der as she contrasted tiis strange bridal, with
the happy one of years gone bye, when she had
given her heart aud hard to Clarence Stuart.
But that had been aalurriasc 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 sa.rfice of feeling, if by so
|
low being
The solemn ceremony over, the certificate
was duly drawn up sad signed by Dr. Osborn
and Hiram Douglass. There was no smile-no
word of gayety-no consratulation for the bride.
Little Alice was the oily joyous one; she laugh
ed, and crowed, and ,lapped her badly hands in
all the joy Of uncouciuus infancy, while her
young bright eyes spTked from very Slce'
riIsw aa szs aH Ais ssili Efa1 Hsi
the hand of Estcll tirr8 y within lis own. "To
think he said that nust dc just as life has be-
come worth the having. Hiram to your kind
care entrust those I leave behind; and lastly
call you all 70 witness that wish my proper
ty to be equally divided between my wife and
childn
How strangely it sounded to Estell to be
called wife," by the dying man, and be coin
parativey 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 hrrs-thcy
would bear the same 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 aruis and weep for very
10Y. THIS child, though not her own, would
call her mother; and she felt that size had Low
nothing left to wish for.
It was decided tlat size should return home
taking Alice and her nurse with her. Hiram
would remain with Eustice and send word o.
his condition every half hour. DR.. Osborn would
alsa remain through the night, and should any
particular change take place, Estel was to bf
sent for.
And so they parted-the husband and wife
of an hour-expsSing to meet no more OF
earth, for it never even occurred to the mind
Estell that while there is life, there is alway'
hope" So great was her haste to reach hom'
that she almost flew. Mrs. Mallory, who carried
Alice, could scarcely keep pace with her; ant
on reaching home, she rushed into her mother
room cxcaiming "Mother, see what have got
DR.. Alston has given me his child, and she
to be mine,-my own-you know, mother, W
arc to bear the same name." And then, sud
denly recollecting herself she said in on altere
tone, " But mother, had forgotten to tell 20
, am married to DR.. Allston."
Mrs. Douglass lad risen on the entrance
her child, and taking tho lovely babe had almoE
smothered it with kisses. But upon the las
exclamation Of Esell she dropped into q chai
quite overcome. She could only say in helr
lcs,ly sort Of way t'slcIl, MY poor elild, whH
ails you7 Something dreadful must certainl
have happened since you left home, to unsc'tl
your mind in this manner, wish your fathe
would come, feel very uneasy about you''
aTherc is no reason why you should feel Ut
easy about me, mother, dearest 1t is ull ju'
as tell you; there has nothing happened t
|, me, only DR.. Alston did not wish to leave h
child to one who-,sddia not bear his name; an
, YOU know it could do no harm for me to MARI
him and lie dying. And just see what a littl
| darling have gained by it. Come to mamm
my own precious one" And strange to sa!
) Alice held up her little waxen arms, and in
9 moment was nesting in the bosom Of her adol
, ted mother.
| aWell, my child" said Mrs. Douglass,
I hope it is all for the best, but it certainly Al
, pears very strange to me that you should col
, sont tn marry man on his deatll-bed. hay