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

had never dreamed Of its wealth and
power until I heard it in song. The
perfection of cultivation which had evi-
IDENTIFY been lavished upon it had no
power to crush out it's natural purity
and sweetness; the elaborate trills and
wonderful scales fell with such easy
grace that they seemed more like the
heartfelt 'warbling of cottage girl than
the marvellous finish OF the artist. For
nearly two hours she sang uninterrupt-
.edly, her dark, eyes looking forward,
filled with 'rapt ecstacy, her form en-,
tirelv motionless, the light striking upon
her lovely face and mourning robes,
framing a model for st. Cecilia and |
had never before read the music in her
brow, eyes and lips.
At last the food of melody sank
slowly, gradually, in faintiny sweetness
into silence. She sat still, utterly mo-
tionless for few moments, the high III
spiration dying out from her face, the
Whole depth of grief creeping slowly
into her eyes. till suddenly, with bit
ter cry OF "How can l bear it!" she
broke into passionate sobbing. / had
never seen her violently agitated before.
She was always SO calm, so self-possess-
ed, that this sudden burst of despainng
sorrow alarmed NE. For some moments
my voice was unheedel; but 1 leaned
forward and placed my hand on the
bent head, saying, Alice, my child,
let me share your grief or comfort it. "
She heard me then, and it was pitiful
to see how she struggled for composure.
Her little white fingers, laced together
as her arms were raised over her head
now moved restlessly, nervously seeking
their place; her slight figure, convulsed
by bitter sobbing, trembled as. she strove
to check the sounds of woe; and when
at last her sweet face was raised to mine,
its pale lips, swollen eyelids, and yearn-
ing questioning gaze touched me to the
very heart.
Surely you can trust me- said, in
answerto that look. Tell me yonr
trouble. Perhaps 1 can tighten the
harden. am rich YOU know"
Money cannot help me, !" she replied;
IF it could, I should not tell you, y
and her head was raised with proud
greatness which it had never borne in
my presence before Soon, however, it
dropped back to its old place on the
arm OF my chair, and she said, You
cannot help me; but you have been so
kind that it seems wrong to keep Sc
cret from you From my earliest child
hood have lived in such house as
this, surrounded by every luxury, the
petted darling Of the owner. DR.. Grey
son, my dear father, made my happiness
the object of his life; he cultivated
every talent he thought he found in me,
making study delicious by his own adj
vice and companionship. I had masters
for English, French, German, and
above all music, and every days study
was rewarded by his praise and encour-
agernent in the long delightful evenings
We spent together. He was wealthy,
and | had not caprice ungratifed,
while his steady Judgment kept my
wavward fancies in control; my whims
were analysed, till they melted into
thin air, or became solid foundations for
virtue or Improvement Two, years ago,
my father took a pupil, a gentleman
four or five years older than myself, the
sonof widowwho resided in Plymouth.
1t will scarcely interest you to hear
my love-story, for soonlearned to love
this new member Of OUR home circle.
Evening after evening, when his study
for the day was over, he would linger
in our sitting-roon, talking, reading, or
joining his voice to mine in thousand
vagaries of sound that spring spontane-
ously to the lips of music-lovers.
She was looking intently forward as
the narrative fell from her lips; her
voice sunk to a monotone, her words
seemed studied as if she were reading
the tale from some book, instead Of
probing her own heart; while the rigid
erectness OF her frame. the steady clasp
OF her hands, one within the other, told
Of the strain for composure, the forced
calmncss
Horace and 1 became very dear to
each other" she continued lovers
from similarity of taste, his noble, true
nature absorbing mine, till would have
been content to be his servant, to live
near him and to feel the sunlight of his
presence. At last he asked Inc to be
his wife, and earth held no greater hap
pincss for my future life. He had won
my fathers consent before he asked
mine, and we were betrothed, with eve
rv prospect of speedy, happy marriage.
Yet, though he had given free, willing
consent to our engagement, my father
seemed reluctant to hasten the wedding.
We had been so long dependent upon
each other for society, that though even
his house was still to be our home, he
seemed to dread the change my mar
riage might make. Horace and l had
been engaged for nearly year, when
some business called my lover from
home for a month, and MY father prom
iscd that upon his return the wedding
preparation should begin
"The day after Horace left, I was
sitting in my own room when my dear
father came up stairs, and after. a long,
loving conversation, placed in my hand
some bank notes, to buy, he said, the
wedding inery, and then, with some
thing like tear in his eyes he kissed
me for the last time! The last time !!
He was thrown from his carriage an
l.hnnr LATER and BROUGHT home dead /"