Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1863-02-25
A Tale of the. Times.
By CLARA Y. DaRcAN.

"Mlrriea on the I6M inst, Lient. Hurry
Hukoa 10 Carrie, o"lg daughter IF tile late
Larrence Ie-aon, Esq"
How wildly this short paragraph re"ailed
10 me a scene 7 had witnessed scarcely one
short month before. But let me begin at the
beginning and tel. the whole, and $50 grow
to n point as our friend Bottom says.
Perhaps some of you remember the day
the Danrqi'e Dragons went away TO do duty
on the coast. II was a fine company. people
said, made up of stalwart men. huntsmcn
from the cradle, Injured to hardships, coo,
and steady in the hour of peril, and reckless
of death and danger. The captain was a man
Of noted strength and courage, u ine horse
man and a good officer. But the young lieu
tenant, Harry Walton, was the idol Of the
corps. A graceful and fearless equestrian, a
skillfnl markunan-brave, handsome, sener.
ons and unpret-nding-
iSsss 6a@:a: him sHa but But t. t. 3 f9Ess
! had known his sisters, two pleasant,
kindly girls, for many years: indeed Mary
aud | had been old classmates and intimate
friends; so, shortly after the departure of the
Danville Dragons, l received the following
iron her:
DEAR ACHts: Do come 10 us! You will
fully appreciate our condition when l tell YOU
Harry left with his company last Monday.
You have no idea how very lonely we are.
The dear boy. We could not bear 10 see him
60, for the camp is Il dreadful place for ole
reared rs t~enlerly as he has been. But then.
you know, Aggie, we are willing to give HIM
10 our country aud Mamma says God will
What a dear, kind boy he is. So affection
he left we stood on the front steps and watch
ed him gallop away-isn't he a.splcndid ri
der, Aggie ?--and he waved his handkerchief,
and kissed his hand till he was quite out Of
sight. Then VIC all went into the house and
cried. l think Mamma bears it remarkably
well, for you know he is her darling, being
the only son she always says ats Cor the
best But Harry is changed; he is not near
so lively as he used TO be. Don't you re-
member what q mischief he was, always
teazing some one, and laughing and singing?
We'll: it's all gone now. About q week ago
he went one night to see Carrie Vernon. |
don't know what happened while he was there,
but he came home early. As went down.
stairs about ten o'clock t0 see if Mamma WAS
comfortable, l observed the door Of her room
STAR and heard Hsrry's voice speaking excl
teddy.
Il shall never believe in woman again
I thought she was honestand true or | should
never have allowed myself to dream this ia
tai dream. When / said | hoped she would
not forget me, and every tone and look told
as plainly as words how | loved her, she rails.
quite calmly, As a sollisr you have my best
wishes for you: safety and success Safety
and success! Would one tear stain her cheek
if l fell pierced with a thousand wounds?
No, cruel creature, it would not rufle one
feature of her beautiful face. But she shall
repent it YET. 1 will 90 to the war; and when
l ain shot down, call her 10 look at my dead
body, and
lie sttp ,ed suddenly, and | knew Mamma
had caught him i'll her arms | hard her say
fain,ly-
My sonl My son u
Forgive me, Mamma Forgive me, dear
est mother and he clasped the frail figure to
his breast. l did not hear any more but
vert up stairs softly. You may know, Agnes,
how rery sorry ! was; for | loved Carrie YER
non; We thougbr her naughty atschool, but it
was only her way, and she is really Kind and
loves I'll when she does lore. | surmised
long ago that Harry had lost his heart, for
tho he treats all girls pretty much alike he
never appears to think it woith while to talk
Of serious or sensible things-houks, and pic
lures. &c, you know except toCarIie. And
her brilliant eyes would grow brighter rs she
talked, and her Sweet smile swte'er As she
listened. And:rp think she was flirting! 1t
is shameful, and | know | shall never forgive
Ter, though, Of course, I will he obliged 10
treat her as before. | can never like her
again.
don't know if 7 ought to be telling al
this on poor, dear Harry. but it is uppermost
IN M mind, aui I can't help telling you,
Aggie. But to 90 back where began, we
are 50 lonely; and Mamma and Lula unite
wit. me in earnest entreaties that you take
pity and spcnd June with US. I wall Come
for YOU next Wednesday in the carriage. M
excuses to be taken.
Yours truly, MAMIE"