Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-06-24
The Romance of a Hidden Heart.

The Romance of a Hidden Heart.
Ir was near sunset the sunset of a rare
day in June, and the amber drapery OF
the west threw golden reflection over
the dark front of Ireton Hall, the residence
of Richard Steele.
ON, the WIDE. vine, ,wreathed piazza OF
the mansion sas3the master, the proprie
tor of untold wealth, the uncontrolled
possessor of million, in lands, bank
stocks, and railway shares.
Mr.. Steele had never been married !;
he enjoyed his riches without companion
ship: he had not a. relative in. the wide
world. a hard, selfish, grasping man,
beloved by none, and respected only be.
cause of his great wealth. But spite OF
his power to do good, the world was none
the better for Richard Steeles existence
No prayerfnl lips spoke his name with
blessing; no lonely child of poverty and
want was made happy through his ooun
ty: no desolate Orphans heart sung to-: JOY
because of his ministrations. And he
fhis man who so misused his life, went tn
his couch of down at night, without pray
er; he ignored God, and his Bible lay o.
the mahogany shelves of his library, with
mould on its velvet cover. emf
No one in Milford remembered Nh
Steele as other than the miser he-was to
day; for fifteen years he had been cit,
zenof the:town, and no; change salhel
Tor better or for worse, had come ove'
him, in asmoral point;of view.
Spectators avoided Him; they made
no thriving bargains out ct the keen
sighted finaneier and men :ofs sbaslness.
when forced to deal-with. him, cut their
interviews short. No .ufIe~ thought OF
ofering-him subscription paper,ior any
charitable purpose; he denounced all be
eneyolent,soeieties as -humhugs, and thos'
who canyassedsfor them he called swnd-
lers. .... v--
The gardens of Treton Hall were the
finest for scores of miles; the yellow
pears and luscious nectarines mellowed
on its walls, the ungathered grapes pur
pledo trehises, and no schoclboy'>
Daring handssdistlrbed the ripe treasures.
Mr.. Steele's great dog, Pluto, was as. sci,
fish as his master, and his savage teeti
were always ready to infict summary
punishment on each and all depredator>
This quiet afternoon, as Mr.. Steele sa
on on the piazza gazing ont on the broad
acres of Ireton, his eye fell on two LITTLE
children WHO were coming down the road
hand in hand. They arrived in. front I'll
the gardens, and cast wistful looks at th'
rich damask roses which hung over tn
quantity carved gate. For a moment
they. .conyer ,ed together in subdued voices
and then t'ey turned in at the lion gnard
ed gateway, and came slowly up the
avenue. .tsFa lsg- -
An angry seewl contracted the brow
of Mr.. Steele al this .unwarranted intru
sion, and he half rose from his seat as if
to drive out the welcome guests. The.
were the first children who had ever dared
to trespass on the estate OF lreton Hall
They came fearlessly up to the piazza.
still holding each others hands. The el
.dest was boy of perhaps twelve years:
y brave, noble little fellow, with brown
eyes, and dar,, glossy brown hair. Thu
other was girl; she could not have beer
more than nine summers old, and beauty
like hers is seldom seen save in some rare
old picture. The sight of her face struck
a strange thrill to the heart of Richard.
Steele, and involuntarily he bent down.
to.look at her. She was fair as water,
alilyasave the crimson which tinged her
lips, and leaped at intervals to the snow
of her cheek. Her eyes were deeply
blue, and her hair like riprles Of molten
gold touched by heavenly sunbeams
Both.,the children wore mourning gar
rnents; cheap and coarse, but neat as hu.
man Hands could make them. The little
girl spoke first.
"Please, sir, will you give brother and
me some; ;roses?'
The tone was musical and sweetsas
harp notes, 7but.the rich mans counte-
nance grew hard and cold. He pointed
TO the highway.
"Begone!'' he exclaimed, 81 do not
raise Aewers for beggars''
Oh, how the dark eyes of the boy
flashed, and he was about to make some
sharp answer, but the pressure of the
pirl's fingers on his arm checked him.
1--WE are not beggars," she said, calmly,
s but our mother is dead, and we are or
phans. She loved-the roses, and we love
them. too. Please give US one apiece.
1t will seem so good to smell flowers
once more" ~
The hard face did not relax, the long,
thin finger still pointed to.the gate, but
the blue-eyed petitioner did not move.
She was regarding him with an expression