Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-10-10

hS IJultn grow UP, thOuph IoNcIy,
blooming and high-spirited, she saw that
these quarrels seriously annoyed her uncle,
and so she tried to avoid her aunt rs much
as possible, and when she could not, 10
bear her rebukcs without reply.
Thus matters went on ill Edith had
reached her 21st year. She had been en-
gagged, since she was eighteen, to Charles
Devereux, n young man Of good, though
reduced family, and of fine talents-a per
son every way agreeable to her uncle, and
TO whom she was very much attached
They would have been married before, but
her uncle would not bear to part with her,
and had exacted promise from her not to
leave him before she was twenty ono
This she had readily given; but Dcvercux
himself complained bitterly of the de-
lay. Time, however, effects marvellous
changes, and one of the most wonderful
that he produces is the disappearance of
affection that we fatter ourselves is un-
changeablc.
just three months before Edith's we'd
ding-day, Mr.. Churchill died suddenly in a
fit of apoplexy. Edith's grief was so vio-
lent and distressing that they feared for
her reason; and her eldest brother was
sent for by Mrs. Churchill, who informed
him coldy that it was her desire that
Edith should be taken home by him as soon
after the funeral MS possible, rs her pres
ence had been to her so very undesirable.
Samuel could not imagine why Mrs.
Churchill should take such n tone, as he
had always understood that his uncle had
intended to make Edith his heiress; but
his astonishment turned to Indignation
when he found there was no will but one
made many years before, in which Mrs.
Churchill was left all the property. He
applied TO Edith for IN explanation, and as
soon as she comprehended him, sho said
that her uncle had told her but short
time before his death that he had left her
all his fortune, excepting that during her
life Mrs. Churchill was to have the house,
with an income sufficient to support her in
the style to which she had been accustom-
ed. However, this will was nowhere to
be found.
And so Edith returned to her old home
after seventeen years Of absence, sad and
detected. Her father was the only one
that complained, or aggravated in any way
her distress, and this he did oftener hy
snecring illusions to her "fair-weather low
cr," as he called Devereux, than in any
other way.
Edith had been at home for six weeks,
and had not heard word from him.
She could not help thinking it rather
strange that he did not lay aside his bust
ness. however pressing it might be, and
hasten to console her in her time of ailic-
ton. But he came at last; she caught n
glimpse of him, as, seated in travelling
carriage, he drove quickly past her fathers
house to the inn.
Restless and uneasy, she wandered from
room to room, and at length took refuge
in the little shrubbery in front of the cot
tagc. Her mother came out two or three
times to call her in, but the last time she
saw Edith Fastening to meet Devereux,
who had just entered, and so she drew
back without speaking. 1t seemed to Mrs,
Talbot very long time though, before the
door of the little sitting room opened 0ui.
etly, and Edith entered with face as
marble, but rs calm and unmoved, she
seemed to be so determined to resist all
expression of feeling that she had entirely
overcome them.
"What is the matter, dear?" asked her
mother; "Where is Mr.. Devereux?" Didn't
you ask him to stay for tca?'
"IIo has gone away. mother"
"Gone awayw exclaimed Mrs. Talbot,
"not to New York;"
"Yes," said Edith calmly, "he has re-
turned to New York, He is not coming
hero again.--Don't say anything about
him to me just now, dear mother, and ask
the Others not to- cannot bear it yet
shall be better soon, | hope"
Edi,h's first struggle with her feelings
when she found it was her wealth and not
herself that Devereux had sought, was
more overpowering to her than all her pro
vious sorrows.
Three years passed away, during which
Edith felt that she had derived moro real
advantages from her sorrows, accompanied
as they were by grea: blessings, than from
all the worldly advantages she had pre-
viously enjoyed. She had changed from
spoiled and petted child, to a generous and
selfdenying woman, and had become a.
great favorite in her own family, where
her energy and activity made her very use
ful.
At tho end of that time she married
tho clergyman of the parish-John Cav
man every way worthy of her,
and was not little surprised to find that
she was even happier in the little parson.
nge with her limited income and manifold
duties, than she ever had been MS the rich
Mr.. Churchill's heircss. But it cannot be
denied that she sometimes longed for n
little of her wealth that she had formerly
lavished so foolishly.
She was talking to her husband about
il one evening, when q letter camo from
Mrs. Churchill, requesting her to come
to her rs soon rs possible. Edith expect
cd at once that the will so long desired in
vain, was found at last, and lost no time
in obeying the summons. Mr.. CavendiSh
could not accompany her, but was TO fol
low her in day or two; and she sent her
child, now nearly two years old, to her
mother, as she knew her aunt's temper too
well to think that tho presence of noisy
boy would be anything but source of dis
comfort.
She was therefore alone, when after hav-
ing saluted kindly the domestic who came
forward to welcome their former pet and
little mistress, she entered the large, ele-