Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-10-09
THE DEATH LEAP.

In the State of New York, ten years ago.
aud on the banks Of the Hudson, not many
miles above its mouth, lived Graham Stiles,
retired money broker; rich, proud and un.
scrupulous. He was past his sixtieth year.
Ct spare but sinewy frame, aud with cold,
stcel-gray eyes that gi;tercd with restless
uneasy glance from beneath close drawn aud
shaggy brows.
HIS house was large, though occupied only
bv himself and an invalid widow lady, with
her daughter, besides few servants.
None, save himself, knew why Graham
Stiles had given shelter for so many years to
he Widow Lee AID her daughter Emily. As
Emily grew from lovely girlhood into still
more lovely wo,nanhuod, becoming the exact
counterpart Of her mother, Graham Stiles
ound the hard faced demon Of Avarice yield
ing ample room in his bosom for the softer
passion Of love. Tlis prompted him to Sc
clude her as much as possible from society,
hat he nigh, SO educate her that she should
look upon him more as friend than as
guardian, and that step attained, to become
both friend and lover.
In tie summer Of 1850, Graham Stiles was
slrolling, at sunsc,, upou the grassy lawn that
bordered the lofty banks Of the Hudson, chiI'
ing bitterly With the consciousness that Eui-
lily rather shunn,d than esteemed him whea,
hearing voices as If from tue face of the
rocky bauk, lie drew near and locked ca'l'
tiously down.
Not ter feet below him, seated upon a
ledge of rock coated with soft and tLickly-
growing moss, sat Emily Lee aud handsome
young man Of twcn;y-iour or five years Of
age, named William Lewis, conversing in Q
tone gentle and thrilling. yet distinctly audi
ble to the keen ears so Jealous ahoEe.
Graham Stiles set his teeth hard, and his
cheek grew ashy white, while his knotted
brows grew crimson red, as he saw that the
beautiful girl rested her lead upon the mar
ly shoulder Of her companion, whose arm
encircled her waist with sn accepted lover !
freedom. The listener soon learned that the
love of the youthful pair had teen plightcd
Some of the remarks of William were so ui-
com plimentary to Stiles, that he made bis
presence known by an angry exclamation.
The lovers were upon their feet in an in
slant, and Willie found all his muscular nerve
necessary to'sustain the form of Emily, as
they climbed the rugged path leading to the
lawn above. J
"IIad you not listened you would have
oeen all the merrier," said Willie, as hestood
near Graham Stiles. 81 love this young lady
have lorcd her for months. Shc1oves ME,
Face him, Emily! He is man, ard so am
[. You seem to have some guardianship
over her, real or assumed, and so | ask you tc
CONSENT 70 our marriage. Task nothing bu
aersclf for have enough"
Graham Stiles had listened to this speech
with his usually restless eye fixed upon TIE
frank and handsome visagc Of the slooP ewn
sr, as if be longed to turn him to stone, tt
lust, TO anything that he might set his foo
aron, and as Willie concluded, he pressed hi:
sharp tee;L hard upon the neither lip, until {
irop Of deep red blool trirkled down upor
his chin. Yet he answered nothing to Viii
lie, but turning to Emily, hesaid, wiha burs
If wrath that expanded into shril scream
Of rage
TO your mother, ungratefu grill and j
yer again you. dare to exchange word
I, glance with this presumptucus, insoent
rascally-"
"eteady, as you arep said Willie, "or
mag forget the color of your hair, and thinl
am striking bully Of misty morning.
$50, Willie" pleaded Emily. 81 may
seem urgrateful in his eves-pcrbaps 1 an
but have no serf drop in my veins to bt
;hus addressed, and tell you that love yor
lcre before him, ard will ever love you, Willie
Lewis. We shall meet again" She gave
cr hand to her lover as they parted, she 60
ny rapidly towards the house, he towards tho
oath that led to tie river road but first he
exchal ged defiant glance with his enemy
md said
"Neither you, nor hundred like you, can
take Ter love from me, Graham Stiles"
{. There'll be blood from your heart OF
mine when we meet again, William Lewis, II
muttered the other, as he turned upon his
heel and paced slowly towards ihe house,