Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-09-30

left my old home without one line to
Horace or to any one else as to my in
tentions. My fathers; present on the
morning Of his death; | took with me,
leaving everything else for the heir-at-
law. I had been here but few days,
lodging with IL woman to whom Mrs
Martyn sent letter by me, when your
advertisement attracted me, and | ven->
tured here. Need l tell you of my
gratitude for all your kindness, my deep
appreciation of your goodness I can
never tell you. You must feel it, no
words Of mine can give it utterance.
Suppose, l said, watching her keen
ly, you go to this proud aunt, and tell
your story she may not be SO cruel as
represented.
No" she replied; ~ promised to
give Horace up, and cannot in honor
try to win a consent opposed to that of
his mother
"NWho is this aunt?" l inquired.
II do not know" she replied, "Hor-
ace often spoke Of dear aunt Elizabeth;
but he never mentioned himself as her
heir, or indeed mentioned her money at
ALL He seemed to love her very dear.
ly; but she may not be the one his moth
er referred to. 1 do not know her sur
name. y
"Alice," 1 said gently, do you know
who sends affliction, and why He sends
it?'
The pure face lighted with a holy
fervor as she said softly: Those whom
the Lord loveth He chasteneth. His
will be done"
was satisfied. Ihad never been at
tracted by the religion worn upon the
sleeve, the can't springing up on trivial
occasions to the bps, the Scripture phra-
ses hackneyed till they revolted against
ones reverence; but here was d quiet,
holy form of life, patient resignation,
a deep, silent Christianity, that more
truly betokened the pure, holy fervor
Of tried religion; and these Alice held
surely, clasping the Comforter to her
heart, letting not her right hand see her
left move, praying secretly and living
her piety, instead of proclaiming it from
the house-tops.
think she felt happier after her con.
fession to me. There were words Of
sympathy which I could give now, that
seemed to comfort her, and it was eyi-
IDENTIFY relief to speak freely of her
adopted father. Every day s intercourse
brought our hearts nearer together till
like. that father, Ishuddered over the
thought of losing her, even for her own
happiness. Z
Alice was sitting in her own place at
my feet, one morning, her hand clasped
in mine, reading passionate love poem.
AS the last word fell from her lips she
looked into my face with,a sad, earnest
gaze, that touched me deeply.
You have 1oved?" I said gently,
"I have so loved, so lest my love,
she said Can we ever forget? With
duty, resignation and submission all
pointing to oblivion, can we ever for
get ?"
She often expressed her thoughts in
this metrical form; but it was, | think,
the result of close study, intercourse
with manly intellect and reading, more
than any afectation.
"Why should you forget?" said.
Z" 1t is unnatural to cramip and starvc
your young heat to fill the caprice OF
avarice. Horaceis true. Horace knew
Of your obscure birth before he asked
you to be his wife; he knew it from Dr..
Greyson's lips"
She was listening with suspended
breath and dilated eyes.
His aunt is ready to give her con.
sent, I said. "Do you not guess?
Alice, my dear child, Horace Martyr is
my nephew and heir, and"
Did she guess, or was the movement
forward too eager? I only know she
sprang to her feet, turned, and was
clasped fast in her lovers arms, her true,
nob1e-hcarted lover, who had sought her
with a breaking heart, and come post
haste in answer to my summons.
My large house is none too large for
the little restless feet that pattcr up and
down the broad passaa$g the little
voices that waken its echoes while my
heart is freshened, my youth renewed,
my whole life encircled by the love of
my nephew, Of Alice and of their three
dear children.