Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-05-27
THROUGH FIRE;
AT HOME AND ABROAD.
BY JASPER CLEVELAND.
CONTINUED.

Alter the burial OF Arthur, Mrs. Maylant
consoled herself by purchasing the most elab
crate mourning for herself and me. Nothing
was omitted; her taste in dress was perfect
and wore whatever she designed for me, bu
refused to leave my room except for d drive
In the fresh air.
When commenced to 60 out after the frs
three months of my mourning had expired
she was more busily engaged than ever witt
her new styles, new bonnets, and new every
thing. She actually asked me one morning
"Are you intending to wear-deep mourning
the full. year,, Half-mourning would not b
out of taste now, and, your complexion is 81
delicate that half.nourning would be very be
coming"
~ am in no hurry to lay aside my mourn
ing" I replied.
aBut," she continued, "those elegant dres
ses belonging 10 your bridal set would soor
follow half.mourning, and would set off youl
beauty to charm. l shall be glad wher
your term of mourning expires. 1t will be so
nice to have beautiful young daughter tc
chaperone and widow, too! So much the
more interesting. Will you put on the-half
mouraing?'
aNo, MOTHER" replied, decidedly 81
will not abate one day of the usual term o.
mourning. l cherish too tenderly the memo
ry of my dear Arthur to care for Dress"
She replied, halfpetulantly:
"I remember him as tenderly as mother
can. have bought the most elegant mourn
ing goods in the city. What more can l do p
Every Wednesday rode to Arthur's grave
/ placed fresh flowers there, and watered
them with my tears. At length my deel
grief grew lighter, and finally, l regained my
former color, and spirits. The year had passed
and l yielded to the persuasions of Mrs. May
land, and laid aside my mourning dress. Tie
dear, frivolous old lady, would order the mos
expensive articles Of fashionable apparel fol
my use. My toilet lacked nothing that could
be procured for money. With my experience
of life and show, was fast loosing the timid
helpless characteristic of the girl Agnes Mer
ton, of two years before. i was widow o
nineteen, handsome. rich, and under the pro
lection Of stylish old lady, who always con
triyed to make her Importance felt, wherever
she might be. After clectrifying the fashion
able Italian world with her daughters grace
and beauty" as she would often boast. she
began to think Of returning to the United
States, that she might display to her wonder
Jag friends the beautiful woman who calle,
her . mother" She seemed to- think that am
attraction OF mine added to her importance
as she was my mother. She had travelled
through nearly every civilized State in the
Union, in company with her invalid son
They had always moved in the best society
and she was all impatience TO start on the
homeward journey, as soon as the idea hac
entered her brain.
aWe will go through all the places of note
on cur hemeward route, that may take leave
of all my friends and i shall expect you tt
do your best to appear the stylish woman
YOU really are," she said to me. as we were
busily engaged packing our trunks at the no
tel where we had been so long time that Il
almost seemed like home.
favorably," answered.
When everything was ready for the start
and we had donned our travelling dresses
and close hats, / proposed that we 60 to taxi
final leave of Arthur's grave. My owr
grief having been softened BY time, to a ten
der memory. i could make allowance TO
the nervous haste with which Mrs. Maylant
concluded our visit; would have fingered
longer time, beside the grave of one of .th
best men the world ever knew, but Mrs. May
land was fearful of being left, by the train
although wehad yet fully two hours in whic
to 60 as many miles.
"Now Agnes, you must hurry poor, dea
Arthur how we shall miss him on the jour
new. He was always such o care, after he bt
came i'll. Nobody knows how much | hav
missed his hollow cough, which used to kee
me awake half the night None but mothe
can know ny grief. Agnes dear, will 20
look at nv curls? I fear the second row
getting loose. Should you know they wer
false 2 Welll we must now take :, hna
leave Of the sacred spot where repose the II
mains of the last ofmy family, althoug
Senior Bartelle told me few days ago that
did not look old enough to be you; mothe
or even mother-inlaw. Poor Arthur, ne VIZ
q good son. There don't spoil your eye
4 for 1 wish people to notice you as we return
Farewell! farewell, beloved spotl drop
sacred tear upon the turf that covers the cde'
remains. We will come again to visit yor
grave, my lost one. Italy will again behol
| thy beautiful bride, and interesting mothe
Farewell" )" and the woman of the world d
tually shed few tears upon the'grave.
1 1 felt cruel at heart, and said to myse
that she only wepe that people might consid'
her not wanting in respect for the dead. n
myself, I reviewed my acquaintance with A
thur Maryland, and his pure life. / dive
tenderly upon his extreme love for me, an
the gratitude and pity that prompted me
4 return his affection, and become his vile.
! remembered his sudden death, and locked
4 the Heavens above us, as his resting plac
instead of The monnd at my feet. Kneelin
I kissed the sod covering his dust, and Loo
| ing upwards silently prayed for strength
do fight, wherever.I might go. We the
proceeded to the station, where we waited
lhour before we could commence our journe
7 Another year hed rolled away, with vario'
| delays, here and there. was now twcn
years of age a fully developed woman.
knew that I was beautiful, yet my motber.i
| law continually reminded me Of it, and
ways informed the listeners, wherever
were, that I was her only sons widow, and
4 died on the very day of his bridal. That
was nearly heart broken at; first, but und
her management, had recovered my health'a
spirits. There was something quite attracti
+ to me in our mode OF life. We travell
from one city to another, always lived at t
best hotels, and took our meals in our ov
room. We visited oil Che places Of note, al
were introduced to ell personages of distir
ton. Mrs. Maryland was capital manag
!. and trusted everything to her care. Fliv
an iudofente sortof life, and was much
tached to it. / had received many Offers
marriage, yet / preferred to remain single.
was con,ented as 1 was now situated. / cot
not be more SO, ifI changed my situation:
might become less SO. After long round
!, travelling, we reached New-York. Here
> remained durinp the winter and becaI