The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-02-28
LANCASTER @. H., S. c., FEB. %, 1866

York. Investing hi. property with care,
he next turned his whole attention to
Kitty.
I'VE will go TO Earope, my darling.
You shall have all the compensation
wealth can offer for your three years Of
retirement With your beauty and talent
you will make a sensation in society,
Kitty"
"But, father, Edward'- Co.,
"Phu ! Phol Edward, indeed. Now.
you cannot suppose, with such brilliant
future before you,I an going to le, You
throw yourself away upon a country
lawyer"
"Bu,, father, love him! |"
"fpa think so, my dear. You h ave
never seen anything Cf society, and have
had no attention from gentlemen of
standing. Wait till you see he world,
my DEAF"
"Bur, father, L, after I have seen the
world"-
III III. Wei, NV dear, We will make
an agreement Promise me to cease to
thInk Of him, 10 neither write nor allow
hm to write for two years, to Judge of
other mea, aid then, when We return
from Europe, you fnd him still constant,
"nd you are not entirely cured Of vour
SILLY paruAIr'y, will not oppose his pro,
posa."
u cannot Pro'noc to forge, him; but,
"a you forbade ne to write, as soon as |
arrived here, have obeyed you. We
SAL to morrow; to day is ST. Va!eutns's
day. Let me send hun one f,rewsiI 10,
ter. Stay" and she seated herself q,
her fathers desk, and rapidly wrote poor
Edwards Valentine. '"Read this - aud
she banded him the open note.
III m IN Well. that will do! Ifbi,
love can live on that amount Of encour
agemeni, why-whyl don't know but he
will be worthy even of INV Kitty"
"kt'e, new, ifyou please. Miss Lee
declares KITTY 10 be entirely too childish
Tor What shs is pleased TO call nv pres
eut position so SIN Miss Kate CIermo ont,
at your service" aud she dropped him a
sweeping courtesy. Nov, father, our
agreement shall be fair ore. You
nave given your promise after two Years
probation ; on my part, | promise never
to speak o: Edward, to join you in pleas.
ure'seek'ng to your fall content; to test
my love fairly by Intercourse with tie
world, and for two years to belong only
TO society and my father"
Could Edward have heard the com
pact, his hopes would have sunk still
lower. As 1t was. tho world looked dark
in the eyes Of the lover. The o.d aspira,
tlons and hopes would not come back
without the crushed hopes Of distinction
for her sake in,rudiGg into tho visions,
and for months after the modest Office
was opened in New York, its occupan,
moped aud pned for the past Then
came his first brief, his first cause, his frs,
success. The flame Of ambition was fired,
and professional distinction lay before
him, to seek and win. Throwing all lis
youIhiu! energy iuto the struggle, he
began h's career as lawyer, with the
pIsud'ts OF his colleagues ringing in his
ears. le had opened the bali well, and
il mus, not be his own inertnes, that lost
the prize.
Months passed away, year, bu. no
word from Kiuy. Every cause he plead
ed was adding new honor 10 his name;
society opened her doors to the rising
young lawyer: his time WAS rapidly fn.
ing with professional duties, and more
than one belle wa, ready to smile upon
him. Steadily resisting many tempta,
tons to id'eness, many worse sIluremen,s
Of city life. be made his profession his
goddess, and strained every nerve to win
a high place 10 her court Days Of active
work, long evenings Of close study, nights
Of exhaustion were placing his name high
on the rolls, while youth and periec,
health kept the balance OF physical and