The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1864-08-02

TO beat me for having met Augustus against
his orders. Fam certain that ifhe had attack
I'd Augustus himself he would not have
resisted but the poor fellow could not bear
10 see The sntfrS, he attacked my father, and
they fought desperately. My father caught
up stoneand split open Augustus head, he
on the other hand, dealt the old man such
a blow that he fell senseless."
"Oh, run, run, 'Augustus.' said "if the
police should catch you, you are lost -
he obeyed nae and fled, and have never
seen him since Ny father sou came TO
and gave me dreadful beating. He deter
mined to marry me off, and easily found
man 10 take me without any affection, in
consideration of n good dover. When ]
was tired of being beaten every morning
and night, ! became Madame Pichard
never loved my husband he knew that my
father used to beat me, and he followed his
example. We wandered over the whole Of
France, in great want and misery for the
most part, TIL your lsrdship's kindness gave
us support That is my story"
"And what became Of handsome Gus
sy?"
"He thought he had Killed my father, and
left the v!lIsge. He was n lad of courage;
no doubt he enlisted; perhaps he is now II
colonel, gentleman, or count, who knows
unless he was killed in battle. But cannst
believe he is dead; | have been looking for
him these forty years; expect every mo-
ment 10 hear him knock at the d oor, and
see him come in, with his graceful figure,
his mild blue eyes and waving locks"
$50, then, you suppose, my good lady,
that your Gussy is just the same now that
he was then 2"
$50 fancy, please your worship"
"Why, that is folly; your Augustus has
grown old, like other men ; by this time his
taco must be wrink;cd, his head bald, and
his figure bent double. iryou were TO see
him now, you would not know him."
"Oh, that's impossible can't believe
that he's. so changed but, at any rate,
should know him among thousand Put
him in the middle of an army, and I'll lay
my life Id recognize him NJ the Very first"
"lou are mistaken, madam you dwell in
fancy on the youth of twenty, not .on the
old man of sixty five; and Augustus, him
self, II hs was to see you, would not know
you. To prove this, you have 10th Of you
lived SIX months in my house without eth
er's ever suspectiug that the other was"
"What, what does your lordship mean p
asked the old wcrnan anXibusly.
"To undeceive you, Msrgaret--I am your
Augustus.
Madame Pichard sprung up from ber
chair, end held up 10th hands she could
not believe him.
"oh, dear is your lordsldp handsome
Gussy 2"
"Certainy."
The handsomest young fellow in the
village 2"
"Yes. Margaret, forty five years ago"
"W"s it you that used 10 meet down
in our garden?"
ALAS yes, Margaret"
"Was IL you, your lordship-I mean Au.
gustus-l mean your loadship, that my IA
ther bit with sione"
The dignitary took 6tr his sculLcap, and
showed distinct soar Oh his shayen
crown.
81 can tell you all in very few words.
When thought had killed your father,
| fled across the frontier. took refuge in
Il convent; the good fathers gave me an ed.
ucation wanted to go back to Fiarce
and claim .your hand. When | heard Of
your marriage determined to take orders
abandoned the Idle pursuits OF nv youth
and devoted myself 10 study and prayer.
returned to France: preached thirty wears,
when | was nominated TO the seat now oc.
,upy. You must stay with me, Margaret
we are both of us so old and so changed
now that there is no danger in the remen,-
brance of the past. You see now that your
fancy was fed by mere illusion, the object
'f your first love was before your eyes, We,
you did not know him, nor he you Moth.
ng is lasting in this world, my child; all is
vanity and vexation Of spirits"
Madame Pichard continued to be the very
model OF careful honsekeeper. The SER
'"nts stood in awe of her, and beler ed !
hat she was crazy, for they often heard !
Ter mutter 10 herself when she thought she |
vas alone
"Oh dear his lordship my handsome |
iussy-oh dear oh dear :"
The Mississippi Country.