Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-10-26
ted and afterward took into. his: EN-

savings, they were enabled to lay b.
something for the future. Earle Good
win was one among ten thousand, no
BILE, talented and unexceptionable il
his character and habits. Nora anc
Mildred had REGARDED him rs a broth
er fromtheir childhood, and the father
approved and encouraged their init
macy, hoping that one day be might
bestoW on ihim'tbe hand of Nora fol
he had. seen that he loved her with
more than brotherly affection, how.
ever we'll he guarded his secret. 81
But Earl Goodwin was too proud
to offer himself in his poverty to the
daughter of his benefactor; and what
ever her feelings might have been,
the wealthy WaylandL Archer at length
became her accepted lover. Her
father was disappointed in her choice,
but he was not one to interfere in
affairs of the heart, and he received
his prospective son-in-lawi with the
the Best grace he could. He was not
more favorably impressed when he
came to know him. better, yet he
still hoped '1or the BEST : until he felt
the fatal power that was slowly and
surely looseriing his hold on life. But
he could not leave his daughter in
the hands of one whose motive she
belieyed to be scarcely deeper than
his love of GAIN. despite lis own
wealth, for he saw too plainly the
selfish, avaricous nature beneath the
semblaace of the devoted lover, and
he determined to make, one effort to
save his Nora. from an uncertain fate,
though it should break the pledge
that. bound her to Wayland, Archer.
The flideral rites were oSsri and
the last will and testament Of the de-
ceased was. read. The, fns estate of
Ashley Manse was without reserve
bequeathedsto Mildred, to be held in
trust for her, except that Nora should
by any incident of fate remain un-
married, in which case she was to-
share said property. equally with her
sister. The birthplace Of Philip Ash
ley, consisting of a ahundred acres of
land, Whereon stood the same old
house that was preserved as a relic of
those early years, when he was only.
a poor farmers boy, this alone was to
be the marriage dover Of Nora Ash.
ley. :. .o.ga <a7lt. .ic!f
Nora was sitting alone, afew days
after the burial, Tkeh a servant
brought her a letter. Glancing at
the superscnption she recognized the
well-known hand. Of her betrothed,
and with strange presentiment of
she knew not what, she broke the
seal and read:
lgMfsg AsH1EY: will not intr1de
ufGa tbe saeredness Of yourI9ereaye-
ment 70 tell you what had better be
said at once, without the, embarrnss-
ment Of an interview that would be
doubly painful at this time. Your
fathers wishes in regard to our con-
marriage are too evident
to admit doubt, and I have no need
20 remind you that the. prospective
heiress Of Ashley Manse and the
owner of Shrubhill Farm are n66ithe
same; and 1'know your pridetoo we'll
to fatter myself that you would for
felt your present position to form an
alliance which would subject. you to
The possible sneers Of the :envious,: or
5hat you would enter a family who,
could have reason to blush for your
oaltry inheritance. I therefore .antici-
pate the delicacy of your feelings,
ind release you from any Obligations
% one who proves his sincere regard
oy advising you toremain the respec-
ed :co3heiress of Ashley Manse.
Yours with regret,
WAYLAND ARCHER"
Nora perused this letter with mill
5led emotions of astonishmcnt and
bitter scorn, but not one shadow Of
regret remained for one who had re-
,ealed in those few words-a phase OF
character ofwhich she did:not dream
when she listened to the glowing
words with which he won her unsus-
oectinge heart: and with the closing
sentence ended all her love for Way
and: Archer and with the following
she returned the letter to
ts author ."
SIR: The message I have the
lonor to receive from you has en-
!ightened me on more than one sub
ect, for which timely information I
ought to thank you: I confess that
did not until now comprehend my
o6dr fathers motive in the conditions
If his bequests, but he doubtless fore
saw the fate to which / was so blind
y fastening, and has thns. saved his
,hild from II soplleess coxcomb whose
fully equals, his conceit.
consider that the greatest ,dishonor
% the owner of Shrubhill would be /
an alliance with such as. YOU, and x
shall eyer bless the memory of my
departed parent for the act that has
won me MY liberty ere the lettering
chain was forged" "
5, Four years had passed since the
Heath of Philip ASHLEY, and Nora
stood upon the baloany Of Ashley
Manse, just where the slanting SUM-
light deepened the rich glow upon
her olive cheek, and shimmered in
and out the dark waves of her purple
black hail. Nearsher stoodsthe form
Of Earle Goodwin, gazing with all q
overs fondness into the eyes he once
had thought, .hes might. never light
#ith,lovets sweet eloquence fora him,
md his tones thrilled her as none had
ever thrilled her heart before.
"1 could not tell You Fia this, Nora,
when you might have scorned my
pfesumPition as aIfortune hunter; and
while I struggled on with the hope
Of one day gaining the right, o.win
you, I lost you, as | thought, forever,