Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-05-20
THROUGH FIRE;
AT HOME AND ABROAD.
BY JASPER CLEVELAND.
CONTINUED. -


ing for the United States He inquired fol-
! Abilene Monilli., She had gone, none knew
whittier. He chanced to meet one who hao
been at the hotel where Agnes had found
| friends. From him, he learned, that young
girl, answering to the description of Agnes
had, nearly year previous, come to the no
tel. and soon after departed for the United
States in company with friends. He obtained
from the of6ce-books the route they had TAX
en-, and filed with new hope, he fastened at
ter them. He paused at various places along
the route, but could obtain no further tidings
of her. BE even paused the night at thevery
hotel where she was, and embarked in the
morning for his native land, hoping to find
traces of her there.
Arthur Maryland seemed to revive under
the influence of the beautiful Italian sea
breeze. He was still very weak, but his voice
grew stronger, and his eye brighter, and be
entertained hopes ofa speedy recovery. All
consumption is mysterious disease. 1t holds
out hope until the last. The cheek of the
victim assumes glow more brilliant than II
health the eyes glisten with q bewidcrine
light; the skin becomes transparent ano
clear but. after all, it is but life coquetting
with death!
Little as knew of the fatal malady, fell
that Arthur would never be we'll again. The
more understood of the beauty of holiness
in his soul 80 much the more did / long tc
become like him. He was fit for HeaFer
long before the angels came for him. Pure
noble lifel How few like thine! DGily III.
tercourse with this most noble of men, Eac
learned me much Of my own nature W hlct
must ever have remained as sealed book tc
me. He never wearied of talking to me o
the sacrifice made for US, by the Holy One
whose life and example, he endeavored to im
itate, whose purity of heart, was his constant
gnidc. And l never wearied of listening tc
him. None could know Arthur Maryland In
timately and not imbibe something OF his
pure spirit. My constant aim was to pro-
mote his happiness, while prayed for his
life to be spared.
Mrs. MaylaAd was. delighted with the i'm,
proved appearance of her son, and thought
that oil danger was over.
Arthur will soon be himself again" she
would say to me; and then she would turn
again to her dress, and gossips, and maps
with renewed energy.
Arthur aid rot seem to miss his mother
much, so long as was with him. One love
" evening, as we sat together by the window
overlooking the bay, he reclining ON the vel
vet. covered lounge, and I sitting beside him
on the ottoman, while the low, deep window
afforded a magnificent view of the bay, he
was unusually silent. Hc had been silent
and preoccupied al day. Seeing his abstrac
ton, and wishing to divert his mind from
what might be a painful subject, said :.
"Shall not sing to you, brother ArthurF
"Not now. Agnes" be answered. have
been thinking all day, of something l wish te
say to you"
say it 2' 49,,
should be very sorry to make you unhappy
or angry" be said, siu"iy.
Rest assured that l shall never be angr.
with you, my best FRIEND" said l.
He took my hand, and raising it to hi
lips, said; ,
than any brother ever loved sister. loV
YOU, as would love my wife, Aggie, darling
lie pduSeu, huu duoMS1CO'
"Well, Arthur p"
"Aggie," be asked. nconld you not so fa
forget the first love Of yo1r life, as to bccom
nv wife Your first love is dead. Yo'
must 90 through life alone, unless you marry
Who would guard you SO tenderly, who Low
YOU so faithfully as myself: who knowing al
your goodness and purity, would be perfect.
contented and happy if You could share m
+ life?"
was weeping softly, and he drew my fac
close to his, as he continued:
al do not ask the wild freshness of fir;
love. Do not expect it, bat l am GROWN
; stronger. now, and lie would look very beat
tifu to nae, darling, you were to be my wifi
Will you love me, and promise to be my Wit
when your year Of mourning expires| p
s How could promise that. with the lov
, for nv unknown lover yet filing my hear
How could 1 promise to love another, whe
nv soul declared its determination to renal
true to my first love? hesitated to spea
!, lest should not speak gently enough.
: Then came the thought, Arthur is dying
It 1t is little that you can do 10 make his Ia
DAYS happy He loves me, even as | love
nv prcseryer. BE befriended me when W
alone, and has cared for me since. Do n
j. owe him the little JOY my presence. can afford
y flushing the cry Of my soul, said;
"Would You be very happy, dear Aythr
if were to be your wife p
.Perceclly, love-" he answered.
|, 81 cannot forget the first l0ve of my heal
Arthur, yet, if you earnestly desire it, l "
set that love aside, not as ilithad never bee
but as if it had been taken from my heart
loving hands, and placed in the grave wi
nv lover, until the resurrection morn. N
/ forgetting that love, I will lay it away wit
It ont regret, and calling duty to my side, "
; trv 10 be good and true wife to you. 7
le know how / love you, my best friend. lfy
can be content with what | have 10 give,
exchange for the strong, first love OF NAL
heart, which is all too good to take we
girl like myself for its mate, will be 20
wife,"
= Tenderly he drew my head to his brea'
st tenderly he kissed ny lips, the first time
l. had ever done so, although since the night
nv arrival, he mad always kissed my chez
when he had exchanged the, customs
). "good night" Aud he answered;
81 am perfectly content. bow iastl sn
= gain my strength, now that | have yc
promise to become my wife You will I
repent Of this hour, when | have gro'
strong and well, and no longer need your c'
and pity ?" -
All! thought Of the swift. coming no
when he would be safe in Heaven, and
very pity kissed his pale lips, and answere
aNo. my loved one L shall never reg
- the hour that has given to me love as p
as Heaven"
"God help me to be faithful to the sac
:, trust," he said, reverently; and tnen he
W W silent f,r long time.
III knew he was happy, forI well understt
rs the deep love which brings such JOY to
Fl. human heart, that love, beside which, all o
or loves are as zephyr to the hurricane.