Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-05-06
brain. Iwonder2p affer,which sage remark,

brain, ,Lwonder2n after,which sage remark
he fell asleep. The man became caifaer TO
ward midnight, and as the heavy convent. bel
near BY tolled the hour Of twelve, he awok1e
and fixing his eyes upon the beautiful face o e,
the italian woman; murmured, water !
tlAfter he had drank from the silver goblet
held toshis lips by Abilene, he pressed hi
white hand; upon his brow, and ssaid,>..: ''hA
As"I can scarcely remember. How came
here, with .you, and:this.terrible' weakness
All the, 6re-the ;broken.Sleg-Agne aswal
She saved. {" ec.iiesq .s.,, sy.Es .-rl =
You must be quiet now, and sleep; TO-
morrow ] will tell you all aboutit," answered
The woman, softly. 49,.
seq Only one thing. Does my Agnes live 'si 2
he e-cried.
*The4fair italian slowly shook her head.
"Thank God that she knew how much
loved her, ese cath took her: from mt
forAver.ntf - =ss 90 - ssi-e1
- ,eautiful lips of Abilene grew white
with some suppressed emotion, but her voice
was as silvery sweet as before, when she re
piled, ...5...,, i..,,
"You must rest now. I will sit beside you.
sob, Agnes lost AgnesI Would might
come to you," he moaned, and spoke no more
buntil:the daylight. Sc =, s'''
After partaking of the delicate breakfast
served in rare old china, with silver accom-
paniments, brought.to his room 'byaAthPne
he asked her to fulfil her promise-to tell, him
about the result Of the fire. 3. B.ssy
Sitting beside him, she told him that as she
was returning from festival in distant par
of the city, when nearly opposite the burning
building, her horses became restive, and il
the delay, she saw his we'll known form ap
pear in the very midst of the flames, bearing
what appeared to be young girl in his arms
She saw him leap.toward the ground, and de
scending from her carriage, had mingled with
the crowd, and threaded her way to the spot
where he had fallen. She Said that she had
found him insensible from the shock, and the
girl was dead. Some one had appeared and
claimed the body of the girl, and she had OBJ.
tained the assistance Of some of the crowd
to convey him to her carriage, and bringing
him to her home, had at once summoned the
skilful Lorraine, who always lived at the
chateau, to his aid. He had set the broken
limb, and left the patient calm, but before
morning fever had set in, and he was deliri-
Gus. He had constantly raved of the fire, and
called upon Agnes, sweet Agnes Merton. She
had inferred that Agnes Merton was the name
of the girl he had so nearly lost his life to
save, but who was lost to him after all. When
she had finished speaking, Clifton Seymour
wiped the cold sweat from his pale brow, and
asked to be alone. She first raised the blind
a t:.ihe, to allow the sweet air Of morning to
enter, then placing silver bell near him, she
badc him ring if he required anything, and
left the room.
An hour aftcrward, she returned, and found
her patient calm, yet very sad. Sue conversed
awhile with him, and left to bring him a
lunch. lie lacked no attention after that.
The most costly viands were brought by the
fair hands Of Abilene, to tempt his appetite,
books and flowers were strown about the
room in the plenty. Yet it seemed to him
that the broken limb healed very slowly.
One day Abilene asked him.
."WilI You remain ia L,-iyr-N-77zs7 - -------
" think not" he answered. After few
moments of silence, he continued, 4" | have
been away from home nearly four years. l
intended to have returned home q year ago,
but becoming acquainted with Rossetti, ca
tered his studio to complete the artistic stud
les, which l had commenced long before, but
neglected. Agnes came to the studio day
after day, until it seemed as if there was no
sunshine until her sweet face brought light to
the place. learned to love her, as few men
love, while watching her dear face as Rossetti
transferred its lovelness Of feature and ex-
preston to canvass. While listening to her
low, sweet voice as she pratlled with childish
grace to her mother, who always accompanied
her. After awhile, saw to my great JOY,
that she always glanced first toward my easel,
when she entered the studio. Quick to inter,
pret every sign of the answering of lovers
passion, [ noticed the flush upon her cheek
whenever l exchanged the customary morn
ing salutatons with Der. felt that our hearts
understood each oLAnE, and had fully resolved
to see her parents, AID obtain permission te
win her affections, when the terrible occur
renee that has SO blightcdny life, interviewed
Only that the sweet suspense seemed mex
pressibly enchanting, [ should have spoker
before. But loved to watch loves coming
and delayed When learned that the hote
where the Mnrtons were stopping, was on fire
| flew to the spot. No trace of either OF the
family could l obtain. Hoping to find then
safe, I glancad toward the only remaining
part OF the immense building, where l knew
the apartments OF the Mertons 10 be. | saw
oh, horror my. idol appear at window,
shouted to her to wait, and would save her
! Hastily procuring ladder, placed it agains
the balcony underneath her window, ant
mounting it, hastencd to her room, to lind
empty"
4 loud shrek from an inner room, led mt
to rush thither, and.I found her bending owe
the dead bodies of her parents. They hat
probably been sufocated by the dense smoke
I had barely time to snatch her away from
the spot, ere thereon was enyelopcd in llanes
Rushing to the open window, found the lad
der to be encircled by flames. My only chanc
to save her and myself, seemed to be by LEAP
ing through the mass Of smoke and fire
Gathering all ny strength, ! made the at
tempt. struck somewhere, and that was al
I remembered, until / found myself here
with you beside me. Had Agnes lived,
would have been content. Your noble gene
rosity has entitled you to this confidence o
nv part, thank you for your kindness; io
your friendship. shall carry with me,
my American home, dear reucmbrances {
your kindness and attention"
1t takes but little to arouse the pass'onat
love of an Italian heart.
!. Abilene listened to his words with strange
ly beating heart, and answered.
"Your confidence deserves mine in return
1 am q wealthy. Italian, Of noble birth. NJ
I parents are dead, and live here alone, wit
the exception of the servants. | have Ion
been betrothed to an Italian nobleman, an
looked forward to my wedding day with cor
tentment, if not Joy; until I saw you in 10
settis studio, when went to sit for my poi
trait. i then learned the meaning of Low
NV betrothed husband became distasteful
me, after saw you. Do you remember m
couutenance
81. sec SO many there, thatreally, you ma
but booufif,1 Cour 70 iS.