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

the FIRST she. had received since she, left the
great world. which had grown SO dim on the
horizon Of memory. TWAS genial as sunshine
4 to o pale flower, which has opened its petals
in the shade. It's tone was earnest, manly,
nav, more beneath its calm surface flowed
I. the deep under-cnrrent of a strong, true heart
ut concluded thus Isfej 81 fsai snisal'Es9
-" For the present L must subscribe myself
! as. L an, knowu'herc, JohnHudson.e 8utthis
lis mot my. real name that you5 shall know
by-and-b,, and God grant that at NO very
|, distan. day. may be able to lay aside all dis
! guises, and Show you The depths of heart
1 Which is drawn towards you by an irresisti-
I Bic impulse If you sylnpathize with my
feeling in any degree, tell nc so, in note
be il le9er0so brief, it will be thousand times
welcome; and confess that shall look for
,ono;very anxiously under the friendly door,
s.one.h e,a 4. q. Il r-,t' .s,o:s s-;-,i,.-- r.,
~ Hudson did rot look in vain. Ere long he
fouad u reply from Bessie, which: though it
con aiusd b,t . few lines, written by stealth,
bleatlcd sufficient encouragement to arouse
man; n bright hope CT success.
Suca vas lie corrtshipof Bessie Percivai
and her lovcr-a LOOK, a blush, smile; a
| chhncc-,neetins; note traced with an un-
steady hand, and read by moonlight when
ali was still bat before the autumn had
walled her last drge !or the dying. flowers,
each held the other dearer than all the world
haside. .s7fsr ty.z.s. ss1f
At length Bessie received long and soul
thrilling letter from Join Hudson. In it he
poured, folth the romautic fervoc of his love
fer her, and asked her to be his ,wife-to fly
with HIM from the Shaker settlement and be
the preSilng genius of the home which he
had left il a busy city.
IT, WAS in thc morning twilight that Bessie
read this precious missive. and during the
whole day her thoughts dwelt upon its con-
tents. That night she gained permission TO
spend with her mother, who had been quite
i'll with low nervous fever for more than
month. Very fondly she bahed the poor wo-
mans hollow temples. and smoothed her
| white pillows then she put out the candle
and crcpt into her mothers bed. Folding
her plump arms over tic slender form of the
invalid, sic laid her head upon her breast as
she bad been wont to do in childhood. But
she could not sleep, and she whispered, gently
Mother, lhaye something to tell you. Do
YOU thin; il will hurt you to lear it Z"
NAY, Oh. nay!" answered the woman
IL always like to listen 10 you" ~
"Wcli, thcn," resumed Bessie, and with q
slight hesitsucy she began the story of her
acquaintance with John Hudson. Mother"
she ululmurej after she lad told her Of their
sio!cn n:ertiags and secret correspondents
she I0vcs i,e! He wiSI.rs me TO be his wife ~
Marsara, Pcrcival started up, and drew
aside the ortain 50 hat Lie moonlight mi ght
fall upon toe young >hakeress. 81 want 10
look NJ YOU. Bessie" size said, family.
How radiant was the lace on WHICH she
Lgaz.d Wat delicious cao,ions flushed the
fair cheek TO crimson, si.onc in the soft, starry
cycs. and dimplet tic ewcct mouth with
s:niles!
Ny chi:.i: you lovc him." said the woman I;
and s.i. grew pale With the mcmoly of a
long a.o,' VI hen OckiL. into the mirror she
il d seen he. own cornterrncc thus luminous.
''Yca, mot err whispered Be2s'e, . do
I .tov;c ! Nh 'fiUason. y -
And wi..t then 2n 1roried Margaret Per
"iya!; marriage is not ..iowed here
JOHN has asked me 10 leave this place and
"a out into tie world with him. resumed
Bessie. "AIot!Ier, ain :2ing.'
Going 2 cried tie Invalid, q sharp pang
convulsng her slight franc; " Bessie, will
YOU leave me a'Cae %
"Na,, nay" said the gi!, nesting closer to
her mo:Lc.'s side, will take you TOO. John
is very generous, as you shall see. have
iust received letter from him, and have
learned its contents already, but cannot re-
peat il all to you, mother, dear as you are.
You will pndersiand why, because you once
Lowell papa but there was paragraph, which
vii! lei, yuu worii ior word" know, Bes
sic, there is one strong tic TO bind you to the
Shakors-ynur mother. Is she quite content
here? Can we not persuade her to 60 with
us Z? As Coz secs me now while | write this,
promise 80 care for her most tenderly, if shc
will Only trust herself to my protection ;"
The wuTans wan face Lighted up as 3 asic
had not seer it for weary years,
lie is kind, very kind" she whispered
81 beli,ye We can both trust him."
"And you will GU? You will not let me
leave ycu? 2" urged Bessie.
There was {. long pause, and then NJ rga-
ret Percival answered, in tie sweet and touch
ing largnasc Of the Scriptures, which she
l.li not reaG much stree She was Il child; -
"'W here thou Eoest will go. Whert
thou d.ost will die and there will ! bt
burie;!.'
Bessie S heart was 100 full for speech; sht
lay dow. again, caspfd in her mothers arms
but neither slept. HaIt-hopeiulIy, half tremb
!inglv ;hcy we're locking cut into the world
wh;ch Ike Shaker faith had taught them t.
tis,.ust. Vague questionings with regard Il
he. uldcn lone AMI the husband from whom
she lied, haunted Margaret. Phantoms froE
tue dead past rose grim and ghGstly before
Eer; hopes witch had long lain hushed ant
dormant. shook cif their trancc-iike slumber
and again wrote their bright Eieroglyphics OF
the stycwn pages Of memory.
The next morning, as Bessie was making
her toilet, she turned TO her mother, and said
soiily:-
awe have decided to flee with John;
must let him know IL
. How will you do tha; p quetied the in
valid.
lie tol,i me in bisleitcr," resumed Bessie
".hat If we came to this decision, nigh
wear white handkerchief to-day"
Margaret smiled as the girl drew snow
kerchef from her pocket, and folded it owe
her shoulders.
Hours afterwards John Hudson smiled, toe
&C he ckanccd 10 meet Bessie; look whc
spoke volumes passed between them, and thu
the matLcr was settled.
From the memorable night when sue ha
heard her daughters plans for the future
Margaret Percival had rapidly gained bot
health and spirits III less than two week