The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-02-02

sad story connected with this portrait,
which will reveal TO YOU, and then, per,
haps, bowing TO the agtated girl, YOU.
Miss Minnie, will tell me how it fell into
your possession
Alter moments silence, he resumed
Twelve years ago, at which time had
reached the age OF ten, my father sud-
denly lost the large fortune which had de-
sceuded to him through three generations.
and shortly after he died, leaving my
mother and myself pennlcss. One after
another Of The lew articles preserved from
the wreck, were sacrificed to get brenJ
I'll at last this picture was all that re.
maned. My mother hesitated long, and
We were on the verge Of starvation. ere
she couiI resolve TO part with It, for il
was not only an exact likeness Of my de-
ceased parent, hut he stood in that same
at''tud" annd the scenery represented
there, when she fist behe.d him. \ wral
thy artist was the purchaser, who prom;s
ed that it should be hers again. +, the
Prrcs he had given, whenever she could
rcI,cm II. A few weeks later, my moth
cr lay on her death bed, and among her
parting mlnncllOns, WAS this: If ! ever
possessed the means, TO redeem my EI.
Tiers portrait. And ] renewed vow
already made IN my secret soul. Then
She died, leaving me 10 an agony Of sOr.
row, nhoae bitterness slH remains.
The physician, who on hat day had
been called IN for the first Time, plying
my d"solate condition, took me home and
employed me several years as crrand boy.
Then, finding | was bent on entering the
navy, through the influence Of friend,
he procured me a mll~hipmau's warrant
ant deirny"d tie expenses Of my outfit.
Now, my chief aim WAS to atcumu.a,c
enough TO redeem that picture. Ftuauy
It was accomplished bot the brcur,i lis
appointment awaited me. The artist had
died, and his paintings had all bceu so.d
liy every means sought TO find this one:
but nIl efforts Were fru;lcss, and at last
CAV" mp in despair. Now, however,
thank God, J once more behold this 81
cred relic of the past AID he pointed ont
minute mark made on the painting IT,.
sell 10y his mothers hand.
ia trcmu.ous accents Minnie then told
how 1t had ta1.en into her possession.
And now,' she added in close, let me
restore 10 You picture SO haIlowcd Lv
It's associations. 1t shall be sent to vour
lodgings immediately
hand he pressed it respectfully to his lips
you are AN angel /" he exclaimed he
could say no more, but bowng now left
her presence
'DuA't ask me now, said Minnie, oLsar.
wing cousin Octavia's look of inquiry ::
want week, and then, cousin, YOU shall
know all
And with a look half reproachfal, half
sympalhelIc, her relative moved away,
closing the door behind her, thus lcav.
ing the wrelcbed Minnie alone TO gaze
her last on the mysterious picture.
The following morning the young girl
was alone, occupied in looking through
II book oi choice engravIHgs, Frank Or
sc'iIom's gift in the early. happy hours
OF their acquaintance. Finally she came
to On" entitled The Hopeless Love. aul
as size gazcd upon The Young girl depict
ed there, who Was Watching rcircau
ing form growing Shadowy in the Dis
tance, no, tears flowed thick and fast
over her pale checks
Suddenly the door opposite opened
and Frank OrsciIon stood before her
She arose III confusion with the book clas
ped IN her arms.
'WhaI. Miss Minnie SAID he, extending
ms hand, weeping low, when yen have
just be,rothcd yourself to the object of
your affections"
There was much bitterness in his tone
as lie uttered this, aud Minnie's face ex
pressed her establishment ere she rer
Piled
Mr.. OTsciIIon, YOU surprise me! am
not engaged! How have you been so
deceived 4
no, engaged, Miss Minnie Only the
day before yesterday Roderick Nanwcr
ter showed me the miniature we had all
admired IN the morning, aud said it was
your gift that you had betrolhed your
self to him
is it possible she exclaimed, that one
whom | have ever TeGaTac! as the soul
Of honor, could have stopped TO such du.
pIicily Mr.. OrsciIion, never viewed
Mr.. Nnnwerter otherwise than as friend
in whom could put implicit trust : and
she tod how she had missed the NINA
ture, aud Of her own and Flore;ta's uu.
successful search
This revelation revived he old hope in
Frank OrsciiIon's heart. He saw that he
bad been the too easy dupe Of that in
triguing man, and looking searchinglv at
Minnie, he exclaimed
You are free, then, free, Miss Minnie
and can now bonorgbIy venture to eX
press the love, which, from the first mo-
ment Of our meeting, has enlhraIled my
whole being
The young girl blushed, and he read
her soul in that timed, uptuIned glance,
as he continued to pour forth his hitherto
pent up feelings in words that thrilled
her hear, with JOY.
Then taking her hand, he seated him
self beside her, while in gentle accents
she uttered words which drove the last,