Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-05-15

Letters, SIT =,
The merchant withdrew his eyes from his
ledger, as they were laid upon the desk.
There was large package-some stamped
with foreign post marks--Some bulky with
:! money nclosed"-inscribedine every variety
of business handwriting; and from among
the broad yellow and brown envelopes, peeped
out one much smaller, OF pure white, and dl'
rected in q lady's delicate characters. He
took it up.
at seems familiar, but cannot say that !
know the hand-what namep He turned
the sheet-"Li!y Leigh"
As if the waves of time had reserved their
motion, came rolling in upon him spring
tide of memories; mountains, green to the
gery tops forests full Of sequesterod hooks,
aud purling rills, and untraccablc labyrinths !;
wide-reaching meadows of odoriferous clover;
and white village embosomed in trees,
passed before him, moving to music unheard,
of late, except in dreams-music of glancing
feet and fiute-like laughter, and the hearts
utte RANGES of affection. Lily Leigh" in
those days the pretty ALTERATION @as often
upon his tongue; it had a tripping melody
that made him repeat it again and again,
while she Was yet . stranger; and after his
ear had become accustomed to the sound, he
loved to cunjure up, BY its repetition, the Wis
ions of those arched or earnest eyes, that to
q mere ACQUAINTANCE said SO little-to friend
SO much, or the fascination of the smile that
.ircled her mouth like a golden ripple on wa
ts,s Joyous sprite hioIgh she was, there
- wsre now a;,d then tlashes of poetic gems,
and glimpses of tiloss0ht. mines that betrayed
the Secrets of her inner w6f.:d. They were
kindred mines-therefore friends. 9at this
letter? He read The first line banishea
the color from his cheek concern turned iast
to surprise-to deep, deep grief-to remorse
and more than one large tear blurred the
page before it was concluded.
SThey have told me that must die; may
be to-day-it may not be for weeks-but that
nv time upon earth is very, very short. They
broke it to me carefully, lest dread Of death
should hasten his approach. They did not
know that to me he has been loug in sight;
not as he appears generally TO the young-a
speck on the horizgn, terrorless in bis re-
motenes5 and uncertainty; but, sleeping, or
waking, for three years he has never left my
side. I have not courted his presence; OF
that sin l am guiltless, although sorely
tempted. I did rot recoil from his iron
clutch. lament over my wasted life and
misdirected energies: yet | do not pray TO
live. Heaven is opening above mc-earth
crumbling under my feet; strange that my
halfreleased soul clings TO its earthly loves !!
It will not let them go. L would not be for
gotten-I cannot bear to think that my mem:
ory will decay with my body. 1 would have
it kept fresh as the sods that will close over
nv form-not watered with tears, but with
tho dews of peaceful remembrance, and
Frightened by hopes sunlight. To one. loy
spirit turns with irrepressible longings-l
would once more look upon your face.
ado you remember one summer afternoon
that We spent together in the beechwood?
The spot rs before me noW-the interlacing
boughs, the shaded pool, dark. unless one
stood directly above it, and then, far into its
depths might be. seen shining pebbles aud
snow white sand; the fringe tree bowling W
kiss its image or the CLASSY surface; the moss
grown bench of stone? Have you forgotten
these? The only sound save the ripple oil
the stream, was your voice rs you read a
mournfuI story of temptation, of persecution
for truths sake-tThe Forest Sanctuary. !
leaned against the SCARED stem of the old
beech. Tears now and then stole down my
cheeks, but was happy; ldrsamed as had
no right to dream-that this our sanctuary,
was ours alone. 1 thought how welcome
would suffering and exile be, with love to
console and guide. Passing lovely was The
woven tissue, and like the beaded gossamer
at the morning, single touch destroyed ii
forever. -, c..u
"You put by the book and spoke. Still
Estened nnawakened. You told me of trial:
that visited even your young heart, and fancy
spranp forward to tbeanticipation of the pre-
cious privilege Of comforting that heart, II
every distress the future had in store. Their
came the history of q sister-your twin sister
- young, loving, and beloved; ! who had
faded yi% the spring flowers, and was laid te
! rest amid the anEi 4eF's bloom; above whose
head The magnolia3s petals Yere not more
stainless than her opening heart. I weRt BE-
cause your voice grew unsteady and sank be
naath the burden ofemotion, and you thanked
me for my sympathy. l'had gone faqrthes
into int I'll the holjess recesges of your heart yo'
said, that any one elss haa penetrated, sinc'
Emily died-wonld ! take her place II AZ
sister you loYed me-F mast return broth
1 er,s loye,s I eoala haye shFieked as thh'
| words tore through my bEaia, hit 7 sat quit
,shoeked and paralyzed. Rlackness cpftAtiRleett tAtiiRlet
:. afesy sidej,I saw no more tbs sgp1 no
me on f.brioht fSelda nor the glossy foliag