Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-09-04

zzzzzzzzzzzznzzz $3.50 =
Barbara made to him Of the state Of her
heart. But, though touched by her tears,
he understood them not, treating them
but as the natural mawkishness of girlish
sentimentality; nor had her assurances,
that she could never love amy one but her
cousin John, power to dissuade him from
the prosecution of his suit. He was void
of all delicacy of feeling, was neither
hurt nor displeased with her confessed
partiaIity for another, but satisfied him
self by quoting, misquoting, and utterly
perverting scripture, and concluded by
assuring her that it was her bounden duty
to obey her father before marriage-her
husband after. He had no doubt she
would be very happy as his wife, for he ,t.
was rich, and steady Presbyterian"
And with this declaration, threatening
return in six months to claim her hand
which he had the audacity to kiss-he
left her for his Glasgow '"arehouses.
In this dilemma the poor assie knew
not what course to pursue. Her aunt,
although kind, indulgent, pitying her, was
oouud IN complete SCI f'1om TO her brother
and Was quite unable to suggest any
means or likelihood Of release; so Bar
bara wrote full account of her prcdica.
ment to her lover. Not long afterwards
so cleyerly disguised by dress as to de
ceive even herself, Percival was again at
| Aberdeen-determined, should all other
methods fail, to carry off mis- kinswomali
On the very eve Of the bridal; and many
Il twilight evening when the minister sal
over his books, or took his after-dinner
nap, did those young creatures meet, un-
otlced and uEsuspccted, GU the ba'ks oi
the Dee. But those meetings must soor
end, for six months have passed, and Nh
Bruce-once more lodged in the house Of
Davy Bain-is cvne TO wed and take
home his reluctant bride.
One evening-it was cloudy and threat
ened foul weather, though the summe'
mir was warm and surcharged with flower
scents-John Percival betook himself as
usual to the customary trysting-place. Ii
was thick copsc of hazel, past whirl
ran-heard but not seen-the river, which
where the shrubbery ended, torined
dark, deep pool, 50 garnished by over
hanging nut-trees that it had acquired th
name of the Nnt-h6le. Beyond this poo
lay the road to the manse; but as ,h
trees here ceased to offer concealment
the Nuttree. hole became the limits /,
Percivals attendance On his cousin in hel
way homewards. The rustic seat in th
centre of the coppice was still unoccupied.
and he began to fear thai something haC
transpired to prevent her from coming
1t was of no use to listen for the sound.
of her light advancing footsteps, for The
Dee made so loud and incessant soug
as it tumbled from the steep bank tina
helped to form the Nut-hole, that ii
drowned all lesser sounds.
He was, however, soon made conscious
that there were sounds which no sough ,f
tumbling waters could drown; for q sud
den, neither remote nor suppressed, :;
fierce, pitiful cry, like that Of one il
some dread life-peril, struck upon his ears.
succeeded by the breaking asunder Of the
boughs of tbe trees, and then plunge il
the water-a plunge that made itse
heard above the monotonous murmur Of
the falling food. Astonished, almos
alarmed, he rose, and was fastening
through the thicket towards the Nut-holc
whence the noise had proceeded, when
us he was about to cross the track tha
led from the manse to the main road Il
Aberdeen, he beheld flying towards hin
dark.mantlcd figure. He knew it at
once. Her hands stretched towards him
her face CHASTITY with the death.white
intense horror, Barbara staggered for
wards, aud with a,sharp, short gasp, as j
she dreaded to give ntterance to deep f'Aa
by louder sound, she tainted at his very
feet.
He thought no more of the Nuthole.
or of what might have happened there
absorbed in his soicitude for his beloved
cousin; but his endeavors to restore hel
to animation were fruitless. The mans
lay not two hundred yards distant-so
at such Il iuncturc, regardless of wha'
the consequences might be to himself, h,
bore her in his arms; and not without
some difficulty, for the track was narrow
and broken up, and the night had darken-
ed with falling rain, he reached the honse.
Fortunately, there YVES no one in the par.
lor but Miss Henry; and the star'i,'
maiden, seeing a stranger bearing the
body Of her niece, would have screamed
had not he at once whispered his owl
name, briefly explained what had happen
ed, and entreated her to befriend them.
"Gae AVA, gae AVA, laddie,'' said she
as she quidkly brought some vinegar
from the sideboard, and bathed her niece'>
GROW with the refreshing liquid. "M.
brther mamma see you; nor, if | cal
help it, shall he know acht O. this. Ga'
AVA, Johnny, dear; he'll be back, believe.
She's beginning to revive. I'll get her to
bed, and tell him she's too i'll to attend
prayers. God bless you, my ain dawtie.
what a this?" added she, kissing the
brow of the girl whose eyes opened to
perceive the retiring form of her cousin
If Barbara Comyn revealed to her
good aunt the cause Of her fright and con.
sequent illness, it is very certain thai
Miss Henny kept the secret. Next NOR.
ming, indeed, though with wan face
Barbara appeared at prayers; and Mr..
Comyn had concluded reading a portion
of the gospel, when paper falling out OF
the Bible, arrested his attention for mo-
ment-only for a moment, however; for