Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-03-04

- Bessie read' lnlS-' Qutchiyf auo lue" i
into the stove. She was ro@empleyed aoon,
the Trustees office, as her school idnties'haaa
closed; but in, the course. of an hour shefhad
told her mother the secret which madessh ed sshee; E
heart throb with such; wild alternatlopst oi
hope and fear. They agreed TO leaye, YET TIE
'Eouse separately, and meet in the shadow pl
b group Of dwarf hemlocks growing in y p5Es, z;
tnre that bordercd the road, which Hrds99n
had named. sa'aa's 20 asa~sa' ~. -
In the keenest anxiety they watched, for an q
opportunity to steal from the offices, tyspr
three timesathey started, and were Obliged 70
turn back. But about noon. when ,m9sE pl
the sisters. were busy in entertaining and PTe
pairing dinner for a party of styl ylsh ylSltors,
they glided away. Margaret PerciYal reaehed CHG
the trysting- place first, and stood there r.
most breathless till Bessie, flushed and gsSt-
ing, bounded to her side. at that Fmomensa
wagon, drawn by asfeet'horse, dashed rapiai,
Iy down the road a.oppoSitethe,two. iugitiEes
it stopped; man in the garb usually worn
by the Shaker brethren, leaped to the grogsn;
and hurried toward them. y ai g-.3es2s ss;:
my child, my child" ,gasped AZ Margaret leg:ss
Pcrcival: we arc discovered !" -, II
"Nay," whispered Bessie; John ID DIS
guised, butI should know him anywbere.
'Elizabeth,! dearest Elizabeth" were.Ae
only words John Hudson could murmuf5a
be lifted her inehis strong arms, and spripsi9g
override wall, pacedsher in the ,wsgonnsIhsn
he bore her, mother almost ,faintngz toiitfFe a
vehicle, sprang, in. himself, and drove away:
Is not my .metamorphosis complies f.
1.o asked, after they had driven some distance. az
Who would fake me for one Of the world y
pcople?'' @+a''.' y - .. -
Bessie; F." but where did you getthe efothes 2"
"Oh! have made the acquaintance OF q
man in the neighborhood, who left the Shakers
some time ago.; said Hudsep 50 he lsntsae
this suit. hired bis, horse and wagons teo,
and he is to meet US at the station and i. take
them back. - Il
1t was about two o'clock when theyreached
little brown depot i'll the heart OF Cantor.
bury forest-a nook so dark and dismal1n
my childhood that used to quicken my pace
and look timidly behind me when ! passed
through it alone. Now, however, the sbrjll
shrek and heavy tramp of the locomotive
have broken up its solitude. and tits no snn-
sual thing for the "head Shakers,M as'they
are termed in common parlance, to- come
there aud take the. cars for distant cities,
where they often have business. It caused
no surprise, therefore, when John Hudson
bought tickets for himself and his compan-
ions, aud left in the next train.
When the young moon driftcd up into the
sky and began to plunge through masses tof
threatening clouds tie fugitves had left tar
behind them the Shaker settlement on the
hill, the dim Canterbury wQo9sfsthe e-s!lser
flow of:the Msrrimack, whose windings they
had watched from the car windows, andithe
blue summit of old kearsarge. Before them,
through the shadows Of the cleaning, they
saw tie Boston lights shining like glowwotms (;
the tapering masts Of the vessels in the har-
bor; The green waters Of tho. Bay; the spires,
and towels, and long rows Of brick walls, and
one grand dcmc supcrbly GROWING the wkelc.
HihIs seemed to Bessie PercivaTlke a
half forgotten dream, and she talked about it
very earnestly with John, but it was evident
that her mother was busy with painful r,col.
lcc,ions, for she sat there pale and sad. aud
silent
Margaret percival was glad when She
reached the place Ct their destination in
ouict street. John lad taken his companions
to the house of friend, and as sooa as tea
was over, the weary woman was ushered into
a neat chamber, aud left to her own thoughts.
Either BY design or chance, Bessie found
herself at last the only occupant of the little
back parlor, and leaning against the cushions
of her casy.phair, she closed her eyes, and
tried to review tie events Of the day. By
and by hand was gently laid upon her head,
and glancing up she saw young man, dressed
with extreme elegance, standing beside her.
"Why, John!' shc cried, "you look row
Just as you did that first Sunday saw you at
church, llcr lover laughed musically.
mo longer John lludson," be SAID.
told you in my first note, hoped soop to lay
aside all d'ssui,es. That time has come
And yet before l begin my revelation, | have
a few questions to ak. You said to-day On
our journey that when you iyed in your old
home, those who loved you best called you
Bessie. 1t is sweet name-a name have
always liked; your parents callcd you by
tha, pet name. end who clSc9 Say, dearest
"Walace, Wallace" replied the girl SHE
used to visit Us Often"
"Aul who was this Wallace ?" qucried
her companion i doh't know but ought
to be jealous of him."
Bessie smiled.
{ lie was brother of papa's most intimate
FRIEND" she said, thouchtIulIy he was sew
cral years older than /, but was very font
of him, and would sit OH his knee for hour:
together. After Ne went to the Shakers
cried myself to sleep many night because
mother told me should never see him again.
TIE young man seemed greatly moved.
Bessie, oh {! Bessie he murmurel, "dt
you not yet suspect the truth? Here | am
Wallace I.yslc Derwent--am I so changed
that You can trace no resemblance to the ia
vorite of your Childhood r.
Bessie sprang to her feet; she pushed bacl
his curling hair, she gazed intcutly into hi
dark eyes.
"Wallacc, dear, dear Wallacc!' she cried
81 see it all now? Why did not know yo'
before ?a
sob r. resumed Derwent, winding his arm
about her waist :" l must have changed
great deal during six years ofstudy and travel
don't think it strange that you could not re
cognize me. Yet knew you were Bessi
Lincoln the moment l caught sig bit OF vol
that Sabbath, notwithstanding you had grow
into such denure Shakeress."
Bessc's soft eyes were full Of wonder.
"And you never even hinted that you wer
Wallace" she murmured, with slight re
proach in her tone.
NO. said Derwent; it was pleasante
to win you without any memories OF old time
to bias you in my favor. When went I
Europe didn't forget YOU. During my co:
lege life at Gottinsen, thoughts Of you bright
cred my lonely hours, and alterward, when
ever gazed on anything beautiful in natur
or art, wished Bessie were with me. If
saw curious relic, or a pretty trife, whlc
/ knew would please You, transferred it
my portmanteau for Bessie. On reaehn
home my first inquiry was for you. Whn