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

rally besmearcd With mud, walked on calmly
with faint, blue line around the mouth
showing how much she knew of the dauge
3 the boy had escaped and tho agony of ths
mothers heart if he had perished. :
When Mr.. Spaulding arrived home, for ht
was absent at the time of the accident, ht
shook Bernices hand in fervent manner
and soon after caught Marah up and kisset
her in pure gratitude to the mother.
A few days after this, Bernce, with 6
basket ON her arm, tIayersed the intervening
way between the orchard and the west field
as it was called, in pursuit OF Strawberries
which ripened very late there, owing to the
rank, llYuriance of the grass. 1t was the
peasantest time in the day, rivalled, perhaps
by the early morning, yet free from the morn
ing's dews. 1t was about two hours before
sunset. The air was alive with insects out
for their evening dance. A scent Of newly
mown hay refreshed the senses. From the
corpuent punches, where it was rolled up for
the morrows's carting, the sentinel sparrows
challenged the passers by with quick, angry
chirp- chirp," if they came too near their
sacred homes. Crickets in their shining ar
NOR ran through the stubble, ashamed to
be caught.practicing those notes which duSpg
August they we're to pour fourth so freely,
making engagements to sing during the sue
ceeding fall months. Grasshoppcrs in pea
green small clothes prapced over the windows
Ike hardf soldiers storming bastion. Now
and then an important feeling frog, badly in
Rated with his own conceit, growled out all
initiatory note of his evening serenade. A
storm of applause carnc from the adjoining,
marslly lnolls, mingled with cries Of "two |!
two swol" which caused leap of joy, and
another growing note from the speckled
prompter Beyond these sounds, coming in
indiscribably soft cadences, were the songs Of
the night birds, ringing through the woods,
and actually melting in the soft, summer dir.
The purple powder of the herds grass rested
upon Berrice's fingers. for some of the taller
stalks quite aspircd to reach her shoulders.
Everything was lovely in the extreme. The
heart was involuntarily filled with prayer and.
praise In an adjoining field, down among
the swale grasses, the remor.eless scythes
swung back and forth, and as the blue.joint
and rep-top fell with heavy sighs, the scythes
repeated "h.u-s-h! h-u s-h" as plainly as
scythes can say it.
Once more up the swale, and then John
Bentley hung up the murdeFops thing that
had cut down the grass all day, and whstling
to keep his courage up, he went across the
fields in the direction which Bernice had gone.
He had made up his mind to speak to her
soon, aud here was good opportunity. Com
ing near, he said,c
"Ab. Bernice," (hc had never called her
Miss Whately, for with the fact of the baty
before him i: seemed purely malicious to re-
mind her in so pointed way of the painful
truth "Ah, Dernice, do you find the berries
plentiful aeresbouts T.
"Yes.n she answered, " as plentiful as we
can expect at this out.oi-season time"
"Do you know" he went on, g. that we are
very apS to expect most, and long more for
out of season Or out of reach things 2"
She looked up surprised at the strange
7wUrur1g U1-rug questron' - :
81 mean," he explained, Hthat we are al.
ways coming to the fg.tree when it is not it's
season of bearing, and therefore find no re-
sponse to our longing hunger"
Earth hardly yields us happiness" she
mildly said.
"And yet you are happy in your way,
Bernice?"
"In my way, am far from being as miscr
able as some might expect
No one would expect you to be happy
who knew you." His manner was earnest.
{" You are TOO god and true to ever be misc-
rable."
"D Do you think SO! Do you know ME and
lhink 500"
"To both questions frankly yanswer-yes."
"Thank you ]" sho calmly but feelingly re-
piled, extending her hand to him, while
deeper tinge of red crept along her check,
and deeper shade came into the clear eyes.
lie held her hand firmly, expecting her to
draw it away when he should say what he
meant to say to her.
aBcrnice, love you deeply, purely and
truly as ever man loved woman on earth.' :
She palcd to her very lips. Even her nos
trils took on the desthly tinse. Never had
Bentley or any other person seen her thus
moved. Had she, without knowing it, cher
ished an affection for this upright, honest,
gentlcmanly young man2 Or had the sim
pie sentence brought hack lresher memory
of her first untimely wooing? BE it as it
may, her hand still lay without a struggle
in his.
"Wll YOU sometime consent 10 love me,
and be my treasured, iioliz:d WIFI lie went
on, as soon as he saw the color returning TO
her face.
81 have never thought Of love or marriage
ainoe-=h
The words choked her.
dNever mind that, Bernico; never refer
to it. Let the past lie dead. ltmattcrs not
to me- Why should it trouble youp Every
good quality, every excellent thing in woman
| have bche!d in you. reverence and love
you. Could man say, do or feel more2"
"You are very good; l have long known
it," she answered, not uninoved,, But you
will forgive me l have no answer to give
you. 1t is TOO entirely unexpected for me to
know my own feelings"
aBut, blind creature, have you not guessed
my secret?" w.
has always been respectful, nay, tender; but
| ascribed it wholly to pity. l blessed you
for redeemins my lost faith in man, and"
sand you thought it pity p
II did"
"Tor what should I pity you? I grieved
for the sorrow of your young life, but pity
died and admiration was born by daily Wit
Messing the grand self reliance and calm,
trusting faith that beautified your life. There
was ~ chance for pity; it was all merged in
lofty admiration. You hold my happiness in
yonr hands. J. am not one 10 be easily moved,
nor lightly turned in my affections"
"I am honored, highly honored, Mr.. Bent
ley, in possessing the love Of such man as
1 have always believed you to be. cannot
express my gratitude at your preference"
aAnd you will let me hope That sometime
YOU will be my wife ? You will promise me"
81 will promise you," and her clear, large
eyes were frankly raised to meet his inquring
lar, ic