Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-12-14
From the Louisville Courier.
CUPID IN THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ATE
STRATEGY.

| Ii
small but handsome church, where the yeo.
manry of the neigborhood are won't to
gather with their families, on stated Sab
baths, to hear the gospel preached. Near
this church dwells an old farmer named
Beckett, who, among other desirable pos
sessions, has-or had, for she is now an
others-a beautiful, intelligent and mo,e
than passing aniable daughter. Beckett
| IS the descendant of "a fine old Virginia
gentleman" who has been gathered to
his fathers these many years, but not be-
fore he had succeeded in instilling into the
mind of his son, both by precept and ex-
ample, the blessings and virtues of OPEN
handed hospitality.
Blest be that spot where cheerful guests re-
tire,
To pause fom toll, and trim their evening
FIRE;
Blest be that abode, where want and pain
repair
And every stranger finds reaiy chair;
Dlest be those fensts with simple plenty
crown'd,
! Where all the ruddy family around
! Laughs at the jest or pranl,s, that never fail
or sigh with pity ut some mournful tale,
Or press the bashful stranger to his food,
And learn the luxury of doing good.
Such is the home Of the hospitabe
Beckett and on meeting days acquaintance
and stranger are always pressed, with
generous warmth, to share the bounties of
his groaning board: 1t chanccd that he
had sided from the beginning, and held
to his faith TO the end, with the Federal
cause. In all things else he was most
genial and best tempered of men. In his
politics he was imflacatle. If he knew it,
no Confederate was ever invited to his ia.
ble.
1t CHANGED that one Sabbath mornino.
IN the early summer, a young gentleman
named Wilson, who lived in a distant
noighborhood, visited the little church
alluded to. Being stranger to all pres
ent, Beckett, con hospitable thoughts in
tent" insisted in carrying him of to dine
beneath his welcoming roof. Had the
young man at first felt inclined to decline
the fathers invitation, the earnest pleading
of the beautiful and simple,hearted Martha
overturned the barriers Of prideful opposi.
ton. lie accompanied them, and such
was the home-like reception he received
each member of the family vieing to
make him feel that he was indeed "a man
and brotbcr'-and although accident had
first brought him into the influence of that,
to him, charmed circle" long before he left
for his home, he determined not to let this
be the last meeting with the sweet girl he
had so unexpectedly discovered. Let them
rail out against love at first sight who will,
his, as the sequel proved, turned out to be
a palpable and indisputable case. His
thoughts were filed with her image byday,
and her lovely face and form haunted his
dreams by night, whilst she, ignorant and
innocent of the why y,otten detected herself
thinking Of the handsome young stranger,
and wondering whence he had come,
whittier be had gone, and wishing that he
might come again. and such thoughts
always ended i9 sishs. Although she knew
thot;
Her heart gave birth to many thought
Of tenderest love, and yet would she,
Had she but known the truth, have fed,
fs deer before the huuter flee.
The next meeting day, and the next
and the next again, found our young
friend an attendant at the church, and q
guest at Becket's. The young couple dis
covered that they we're necessary to each
other, the old peoples consent was asked,
and, after Beckett had made inquiries as to
the young mans standing and character,
all of which proved satisfactory, was OBJ
tanned. "All went merry as a marriage
belr to the young couple, until one fatal
day the old man discovered that young
Wilson had served in the Confederate ar
my. Then, indeed, was their dream Of
love rudely shattered. The intended SON.
in>low was ordered from the house, Will,
the command never to show his face there
again, and the daughter assured by her
father that he would rather see her clothed
in her shroud than the wife rebel / The
! young man departed sorrowing, but deter
mined that be would'yet possess the loving
I being whoss last words were to him tina,
she would bacome the bride Of death than
wed aught other than he. SO he haunted
the ueighborhood, taking care to keep bis
presence secret from the man he intend
i ed TO make his father.in-law in spite ,o
himself. "Fortnue favors sss brove," and
$50 II does ths y.gilan,. One Iecky revs