Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-05-02

ry, who held her hand so firmly as to insur
many 2 fall for himself in company with tn
unsteady, baby girl.
Mr.. Spaulding, now nearly recovered frol
his lamcncss, went over his farm suggestin
improvements for Bentley to execute.
Up to this time Bernice had steadily re
fused any wages in return for her labors. Sh
had had few dollars left when she entere
upon service, amply sufficient for the few ar
ticles OF clothing that herself and infan
needed. Entering upon the second year, sh
no longer refused a fair compensation.
Calm, resolute and self-relying, Bernie
had ripened into perfect womanhood. Sh
seemed wholly free from many of the veal
failings of humanity. Feeling that she ha'
faced the most terrible experience that coult
befall her, it seemed as if she had nothing a
stake, neither hope, love nor fortune. Wba
then,'of ordinary circumstances, could bese
her, of which she should stand in awe r? Full
ly appreciated by her kind friends, the Spauld
ings, she had found old Dinah's prophec.
coming true. Her shame and sin had go
down from her bosom and walked away like
her babe from her arms. She had no fear!
for the future. She had beea mercifullv car
ried through the greatest of human. straits
Frendless and nearly pennilcss she had suf
fercd the penalty of her sin. She had livec
to gee the salvation of God, in her case
physically and spiritually. 1t was enough fol
one of her calm, unwavering faith and trust
l said that the Spauldings appreciated her
Did say that there was another who more
than appreciated her? No. Well | must
tell you now. The sturdy, young farmer
Bentley, inspired by the admirable traits o
her character, had fallen into a wild sort oi
worship of her, the moro intense because
hidden deeply within his breast
Mrs. Spaulding ere long discovered how
matters stood, as far as the young man was
concerned, and, in justice 10 the inestimsble
qualities of the fair GIRL she frankly narrated
her entire history. Strange to say it only in.
creased his admiration of her. He showed
himself superior to the mean prejudices Of
the world that would have seen only weak,
SHINING creature. He swept grandly by all
such preludices, and adored the attributes Of
calm, brave and patient fortitude Which she
had exhibited; rightly judging that one who
dared face the world alone as she had done,
defending and protecting her child-.he GER
tifcate of her sin-would. make the best and
truest wife man could possess.
But Bernice was happily ignorant of his
feelings. She put oil thoughts of lovers or
marriage aCar from her, as hings beyond her
reach or covetipg,
Thus matters stood, and might have re.
mained thus till doons day under common
circumstances for all John Bentley would
have dared to say. But little circumstance
broke the icy reserve that lie had imposed
upon his lips. 1t. was during the second sum-
mer of her residence with Emily, that the it,
tie incident occurred. The men were in the
fields swinging the glistenins scythes. The
black birds went whistling overhead, while
the amorous breezes wooed the senses to the
full enjoyment of the outdoor air. Little
Harry had asked many times to 60 to the old
@ eas ds9sS eERE SSH ai
to crafty him, and finish once and for all his
So Bernice took Marah along with
them.
As they went pass the mowers, sweating
in the hazy warmth, John Bentley lifted his
hat to them, and tossing bunch of red
clover blossoms in Marah's laughing face, he
stopped to his work again. But his eye
turned from the swath he was cutting to the
small, delicate figure of Berpicc, bearing the
amazingly little baby on her shoulder. His
heart was full of love for tho brave, young
mother and her beautiful child; but his
scythe swung back md forth, keeping time
with the slnartest of the mowers.
Meantime the women and children had as.
cended the little cminence between them and
the river and the old mill, and lad gone down
the other side out Of sight. Harry was wild
with delight al the ruined machinery of the
mill, and his mother, holding his hand or
cautioning him every moment, went over the
whole building, which had some time dore
an extensive business; but Of late years the
bed of the stream had change, !, running off
on its other branch, and so this mill had been
allowed to tumble to decay.
They were looking below at the water
wheel, when Harry, by mis-step, fell through
o hole into the muddy bed Of the stream. A
cry of horror escaped them, knowing as they
did that there was sufficient depth Of muddy
water to drown much older child. Emily,
divining the danger in moment, ran scream
ing from the mill towards the mon in the field.
Bernice as quickly took in the imminent
peril Of the child, the more so as he bad not
once cried out, either being stunned in tho
fall or buried in the mud. Standing Marah
upon the sound part of the floor, she tore the
sash from her own waist, passed it around
the child, sEi lad hpr to q post 10 prevent
like iate Of tho babe. Then telling her to
to abe quiet while mother goes down after
Harry" she, too, passed through tue same
hole where the child had fallen. She did not
lump down into the cayernous depth as some
buneers would hayo dono, thus standing q
chance to crush it to death, but holding by
the cross timbcrs, catching here and there,
she came to the bottom.
A hoarse bubbling in the Shiny water di-
rected her where the child had fallen On its
face in the miro. Holding by small wooden
peg, she reached down, seized the little fellow
by the skirt of his dress, and pulled him up,
The mrd giving g loud smack as it released
him from its sticky embrace.
"Mother's coming, darling" said Bernice,
as be began to struggle, ondangering them
and threatening an immersion for both.
But The poor child, hall-smotherins, strug-
sed dercely, demanding the utmost strength
5f the muscular young arm to hold him safe
". A sound of quick and heary running
reached her ear. John Bentley and another
nan CRASHED into the mill overhead, followed
by the terrified mother. !.
{" Bernicc, for Gods sake, whore are you 2"
cried Emily, distracted, fearing she knew not
what.
"Herc, herer' Bernice answered, nearly
exhausted with the struggles of the strong
boy. "Come down through the hole, John,
Mr.. Bentley, as quickly as possible. l cannot
bold Harry much longer"
John Bentley was coming down with the
agility of wildcat. lie seized the oliild
md PASSED him to the other man, who, like