Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-07-22

that he shonld accompany me to my Office,
where he might rest quietly until his pres
ent excitement had subsidized.
My proposition was gladly accepted, and
we wended our way accordingly, where,
after applying a few simple restoratiyes.
he became sufficiently composed to give
me an outline of his history. His name,
he said, was Edgar Nolan. He Was the
only son Of an English gentleman of great
| wealth, aud, having ample means at his
disposal. determined to eptn Il few years
in travel. He had taken passage on board
tho good ship Dundee, bound from Liver
pool 10 Wilmington, and only arrived the
evening previous. having been sixty Il VS.
at sea, (which fact" he observed with a
smile, ''must be my apology for tho appa-
rent greediness which 50 noarly proved
| fatal to me-"
lie was evidently quite young; not more
than three and twenty; well dressed, and
wore upon the little finger of his left hand
a jawelel ring OF great value. l was struck
with the hriliancy of the jewel, and ro-
| queStcd permission to examine 1t. Color
ing very much, he made some remark
about the difficulty of getting it from his
| finger, and, as the request was evidently
distaste ful to him, dld not renew it.
He appeared to be in rather delicate
| health, and wore no beard bnt his hair
vas auburn. and apparently would curl i'll
| Fpitt Oh HiI tl1DTlS 10 prevent II. LIS eyes
| were deep blue, bright almost as the jewel
that glittcred on his ,inger, but their
| brightness would become dim in O mo-
| ment, and be succeeded by an expression
of sadness aud OF grief that was inexpres-
sibly touching, and his voice was as soft
as q woman's. l telt instinctiVely drawn
| towards him, for he evidently had heavy
sorrow at his heart; bnt our acquaintance
was of too recent date to warrant any
| O,i[ rio
routes Of travel he intended TO take, and
how long he expected to remain in the
country, he lCplied that he had not de-
termined, but would most likely take ad-
vantage Of circumstances as they present
ed themselves. Frequently during our
consultation that melancholy expression CT
which have spoken would steal over his
face, and he would sit for minutes utterly
| unconscious of what was passing around.
Rousing himself suddenly from one of
those dreamy states, he seized my hand, ,
and, shaking it heartily, remarked:
doctor, [ am glad that [ have met you,
and will be much pleased to cultivate your
acquaintance"
The pleasure" I replied, lis, 1 assure
you, mutual. and | shall be most happy to
sec You at all times; and if in any way l
can be of service to you, command me
unhesitatingly."
And SO we parted.
We saw each other daily, and acquaint-
ance ripened into sincere friendship.
Weeks had passed since our first meeting,
and Edgar still fingered in Wilmington !;
III fact, he had said nothing about his
travels since our first meeting. He had
ample means to crafty his taste for travel,
if so disposed ; but he expressed no wish
to do SO, and seemed to prefer the dull
mOnotOry of our little town to the excite
ment Of travel. He seemed to take great
interest in the ship which had brought
him here. visiting her daily, and watching
with eagcrness the shipment of the return
cargo.
AS the time approached for her depar-
ture, he became restless and excited to a
degree that was unaccOuntabie. L could
not understand it ; but while brooding over
| the matter one evenipg-the evening be-
| fore the ship was to sail-he burst into my
office, and, dashing his hat upon the floor,
exclaimed doctor, [ am going home !;
[ go back tomorrow on the Dundee" and
| then commenced pacing the floor with
rapid strides. Though surprised at his
announcement, I could see no reason for
his great excitement, and SO intimated, TO.
marking ut the same time that, a9 he was
master OF his own movements, he could
| doubtless do as he pleased. He turned
| suddenly toward me and remarked
| "You remember our first conversation
| in this room ?' Perfectly" replied !;
| "yOu informed me who you were, and
your object in visiting this country. What
has caused this sudden change"
81 did not tell you my entire story when
we first met" said he ; "nOw listen -:
| 4 am, as I first stated, the only son of
q very wealthy and very proud English
gentlcman, the only child, for I have
neither brother nor sist-r. My mother
3o1 T oIoz
| her, though, even now, as most gentle,
kind and loving. | saw but little of my
father, as | was sent away to school at al
early age. He seemed to me, even then,
| to be a proud, despotic, oVerbaaring man,
and I wondered how nv gentle mother
ever came to love him. From school, at
the proper time, l was transferred to Col
| lege, and graduated with distinction
| Though my father exhibited but little af-
fection for me, [ could perceive that he
was proud OF my attainmeuts nevertheless.
| Some months after had obtained my ma
| jority [ was summoned into his presence.
and Informed in business-like manner
that arrangements for my settlement IN
life had just been perfected that was TO
marry Lady 3. that the arrangement
was d very satisfactory one to him, ard
that he had sent for mo simply to announce
| the fact.
''The idea OF my objecting to such a
proceedings OF having an opinion opposite
to his OWL, never for a moment entered
his brain. Judge, then, of his astOnish-
mont and wrath, when 1 calmly but firmly
| told him that could not be party to ar y
such transaction that had already given
my heart and pledged my hand TO one
overy way worthy. and that to comply with
his wishes would be simply an act of dis
honor of which l was incapable. High
words passed betaeen us, and was order
cd from his presence. Some weeks after
this occurrence, while sitting in my room
at twilight, was suddenly seized by two
men, who had entered unseen by me a
handkerchief, OF piece of cloth, was bound
tightly over my mouth u prevent any out
cry taken out to a coach IN waiting at the
door, and driven off rapidly to Liverpool,
where I was placed on board of vessel
then underway.
Upon demanding the cause of this out
rage, the Captain handed Inc a letter from