Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-06-03
extensive wardrobe at the time my health al
lopsed me to he dressed,

extensive wardrobe at the time my health al
lowed me o-be dressed.
One day. soon after l. had commenced to
situp, Mrs. Seymour proposed that we should
surprise Clifton by my unexpected appearance
at the dinner table.
Mrs. Jackson assisted me to descend the
stairs. The ladies of the family, expressed
7mgch pleasure at my improved appearance,
and.their delight to find me able to join the
family at dinner.
We were all seated at table when Clifton
came in. He looked at me moment, as if
doubling his senses. Then he came round
behind my chair, and bending down, kissed
sme.a welcome before the family.
/ blushed, in spite of an effort to prevent
it, and Abilene said:
Mr.. Clifton is getting quite boyish since
your arrival, Mrs. Maryland. 1 kope you will
-notthink he was always so 'spooneyp"
9 Honest affection is not to be despised,"
replied. 4" He has right to kiss me, and I
a right to be proud of his caress so long as
know it belongs to me. There have been SO
many weary days of separation that we are
very much like two children. Please let US
beshappy in our own way"
Mrs Seymour changed the conversation by
speaking of the fearful devastation of the
6rerand the homeless, helpless state of many
families. She had been out much with Cliff
ton dnripg the past few days, and the memo
rsEof the scenes she had witnessed, was
enough to make her heart sad.- She spoke Of
aa9autiful little girl, of some ten or twelve
ye9rs Of age, who had been bereaved Of both
parents by the FIRE, and who was now living
wAh poor Irish family ut the West End,
but who came every day to the scene of the
fire, and wandering round among the ruins,
wept for the loss of her friends and home.
My heart was touched with pity for the child !;
for remembered one like her left alone, and
Laid:
e must see about this. Will you 60 to the
rlps with me, after dinner, Clifton ?'
f T Nothing would afford me more pleasure,
ifsI were sure you were able to ride so far"
harepled.
81 assured him of my ability to endure the
fatigue of the ride, and Abilene said:
SssssI will go with you; butt entreat you not
to,;bring troublesome child here. I hate
children, nd could not endure the noise and
confusion of o rompiug. child"
i I" Agnes will do as she pleases about this,
aud any other matter in this house." said
Clifton, coIdly. "You will please not dictate
to her, Mrs. Athlene."
s.sAgain that murderous look from Athlene's
eyes, as Clifton continued
% We, Agnes and myself, prefer to go with
.ont other company, this afternoon, unless my
mother wishes to go.'
] 4ISMrs. Seymour declared herself already over
wearied and that she preferred to- remain at
Phone.
d After dinner the carriage was brought to
A Tie door, and Clifton carried me in his arms
4 nom the house to the carriage, aud sprang in
Ebesidc me, and We were driven to the scene
4 of the late disastrous fire.
! 1.-THE confusion of the scene, none can imag-
isc. who have never witnessed similar one.
] fieople hurrying to and fro, in all directions
y. been drawn from. distant towns and
cities, and even from other States to witness
the sad spectacle of fire-eaten city, stood
looking on with sympathetic cir. Workmen,
clearing away the ruins preparatory to erect
ing other buildings. Busy men at work upon
the new buildings already commenced. Sad
faced men, who had lost their all in the hames
wandered about like halfdemehtcd ones A
few, really crazed by their terrible loss, talked
in low, rapid tones of their possessions, or
stalked about in silence Women gazed tear
fully at the spot, wEere once had stood homes
of plenty, graced by love. Children wept or
played amid the ruins Eager, grasping hands
searched amid the ruins of homes for some
trifing prize.
Suddenly there bounded from what had
been the ruins Of the stately home OF one of
the mcst wealthy men of the city, fair
haired child, whose blue eyes were flied with
a wondering sadness, too deep for her years
mThis is the child Of whom mother spoke
to-day" said Clifton.
The child looked into my face and smiled,
sweet, sad smile Of recognition.
",Open the carriage door, Clifton" l said
In a moment it was thrown open, and the
child was IN my arms. -.
Dear, little Mabel, tell me all about il"
said 1. @.ss -. g.
..ssSWLy, you sces-Mrs May land, mamma
died in the fire, our beautiful house with all
onra clothes, and sal my playthings was
burned and my. big dolly too, Betty you
haiSte:seen her =, Then poor papa was sickand
tore out his har in big handfuls, and screamed
and ran straight for the Gre, but some strong
men fore him away, and he fought. them, and
i SO they said he was crazy end the policeman
took lin, and they said he, must 60 TO the
Asylum, and there was no money to take
care of me, and everybody who used to visit
us had SO many to see to that nobody could.
have me, and / was so sorry and hungry, and
Patsy O'Brien, he came along. You know
Patsy, don'syou? Patsy used to chop wood
for papa and put down the carpets, and bring
i'll heavy things, and do lots of work for us,
and mamma used to give Patsy all lily old
clothes for his little girls, and when ! told
Patsy about papa and mamma, ne kept draw.
ing bis big dirty sleeve across his eyes, Patsy
did, Just as if he was crying like, and his
mouth all stufled up, he said, God rest his
soul, and the blessed lady too, they were al
ways good to me. Come. home with me Miss
Mabel, you shall have hoinewith the children,
and share their perates an milk and | took
hold of his hand. 1t was not soft and nice,
like my own papa's, but so hard that it hurt
my hands, when he held them, and he never
spoke till we got long way from the fire:
Then be asked me If | wasn't tired. I said
Yes, awful tired Patsy and then he took
me in his arms and carried me to bis house.
1t was little dirty place, with only, two
rooms, and ever-so-many children in them.
They all shouted, and ran to meet us, but
when they saw me they didn't come. Per
haps they thought ought not to be in their
papa's arms. The woman whom Patsy called
iould woman, looked cross at me. and said,
What ill luck hev ye brought now? Patsy
said l was the child Of MIR. Taylor, who had
done so much for him, and whose wife sent
all the fine clothes for the children, and the
oranges and blankets when johnny and Katie
had the measles. :We have more than we