Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-02-26

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Summer had come aad gone. The wheat
sheaves had, been gathered in; tie yellow
corn cleaned through its. rustling ihusks; the
apples were growing ripe and luscious on the
orchard .boughs, and the wild autumnal winds
now, and then piped shrilly over the Canter-
bury hills - - l
- The Shaker settlement wos busy as bee
hiye,with the harvest work. And where all
this while was Margaret Percival2 Soon af:
ter joining the Society she and her child were
removed to the North Family where novices
are, usually sent.
One bright, serene day, she was standing
in an upper room Of the Trustees Office,
whittier she had been summoned on triAing
errand. AS she CHANGED to turn towards the
window which commanded view of the
main road, she saw light pheton, drawn by
fine bay horse, and'with single occupant
"a man. who was gazing with much appar.
ent,interest On the scene before him. Marga-
ret bent eagerly forward, pressing her hand
hard against her heart as if to still its tenn
pestuous throbbing; the color came and went
upon her face, and her eyes burned with a
strange fire.
"Richardl !" she at length gasped. and fell
senseless TO the floor.
Two of the sisters sprang to her siGc, and
,one hurried to the window. The pbeton had
just stopped at the office, and "a gentleman
was alighting. He had scarcely. reached the
prime OF life, f5r there were very few lines of
care on his sngularly handsome face, and not
a thread Of silver in his curling chestnut hair.
H;sfgure was tall and well moulded, and
there was an easy grace in every movement.
Even the demure Shakeress who stood watch
ing him so intently, could not help admiring
the courtly bow with which he greeted the
brother who advanced to meet him, and the
smile that flashed over bis countenance seemed
full Of. fascination. lie was dressed with
laultless elegance, and as he moved towards
The door, Sister Anna caught the rainbow
glitter of brooch, which, though she did not
know its value, nigh; have bought snug
little New Hampshire farm.
The music of his voice, as he sat convers.
ing below, rose to the chamber where Marga-
ret Pcrcival was, and was the first sound she
heard on coming back to consciousness. How
it thrilled along her shrinking nerves What
host of memories it recalled!
linen 1t is no dream, she murmureu (;
.'he, Rlchard Lincoln is here. He has dis
covered my hiding place. Hewill take Bessie
from me !"
"Nay, nay, 1 guess not," said Sister Anne !;
"pcrhaps he is only chance visitor"
Still Margaret trembled with apprehension,
and one Of The women was dispatched to keep
guard over Bessie, and another went down to
learn if possible the object Of Liucon's visit.
An hour IF terrible suspense passed-an hour
during which Margaret Percival suffered the
EXTREMIST torture.
Then Lincoln drove on, and she ascertained
that he bad said nothing about missing wife
or child. With yearnng gaze she watched
him as he rode up the hill beyond the village,
for in that hour Gaze the thought that she
was taking her last look of the lover of her
youth, the husband she had vowed to honor
and obey at the altar, the father of her child !;
and the agony Of her soul went out in wild.
waillng cry
Orchard Richard Richardl"