Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-01-02

cut and carved. But the time few
swiftly and pleasantly after dinner,
and when the great round sun was
sinking behind the trees that burned
and glowed in the rich, warm light.
she came to where I was sitting, and
without a word laid portrait in my
lap. 1t was that of a noble looking
man, with most expressive and fault
less features.
Is this your husbands I asked.
"My husband as he was, she an
swered, with sigh. "You have
seen him ?"
I replied in the negative.
You will stay with me this even,
ingI'
to form his acquaintance, and again
looked at his portrait.
"He doesn't look like that now, :"
she answered, wiping away a tear !;
"yet he says" he shall ever have
cause to bless the fire by which he
lost his good looks, but which won
him what he esteemed a thousand
times more valuable. "
"What was it?" asked with
unaccountable dullness Of apprehen-
sioe.
She pointed archTy and with a
smile, to her wedding ring,
"Do tell me the story; l should
be delighted to hear it. )"
Again she smiled, saying.
II do not know that you will con-
slider it very interesting; however,
several reasons conspire to make me
wish that you should know all, and
since you have never heard, perhaps
may as well tell you"
Certainly, certainly"
"You, see, when Mr.. Winslow first
began his attentions to me, I wa7n' t
at all pleased. He was handsome, I
knew but I had set my mind, very
foolishly, l suppose, ON having rich
husband, and one that could keep
me above the necessities of work.
So l sighted and repulsed him on all
occasions, treating him not merely
with indifference, but with actual
loathing and scorn. Such treatment
one might have supposed would have
quickly obliterated his passion; on
the contrary, however, it seemed only
to increase it.
About this time l formed the ac-
quaintance Of a city gentleman, whom
,umor reported immensely rich, and
whose intense selfshness was yelled
beneath a manner of the utmost
suavity. His attentions to me were
marked, and not be mis;aken-and
though he had not spoken Of love,
he acted and looked it, and | be-
ieved him.
"It was in October, l think, the
atmosphere dry and cool, with night,
winds, when, as we were returning
from party, late at night, l was
surprised and shocked BY the appear
ance, in the distance, of a deep red
light, that seemed to climb the sky
and quench the very stars. A wild
and awful presentiment of approach
ing evil at the same instant crossed
my mind.
"If that should be our house" l
almost shrieked.
"Nonsense-it is much farther oft,
exclaimed Barton.
"But was not satisfied, and hur-
ried OH eagerly, dragging him with
me.
"We came nearer, nearer. My
fears were all too true. 1t WAS in
deed our beautiful home, wrapped in
one broad sheet Of smoke and fame,
or with forked tongues tapping the
pillars, and shooting from the win
dows, while up at one of the sky
lights stood my mother in her night
dress.
with one wild shrek I called the
attention of the crowd to her situa-
ton. Hundreds Of people by this
time had collected, though chiefly, as
it seemed, for the qualification Of Gu
riosity. Some were running with
ropes and ladders, others shouting
and giving orders, which no one
..emed inclined to obey.
my mother; my mother, I cried.
Will no one go to the assistance Of
my mothe? ?"
Every moment the flames in
creased With astonishing rapidity,
surging and roaring like sea of
storm. Still my mother stood there
surveying the scene with the resig-
nation OF a martyr.
Barton! Barton I shrieked,
81 for Gods sake help my mother"
He stood still. Iimplored and urged
him. At length he turned toward
me with frcwn, saying:
81 cannot risk my own life to save
even your mother"
"Great heavens! and I have loved
this man" The thoughtrushed seeth.
ing and heavy through my brain.
"There was shout, an exclama-
ton, an utterance Of brave strong
words. Some nervous arm had plac-
ell a ladder, and a man was rapidly
mounting-on-through the dense
smoke wreaths--t.rough singing
flames, scorched by The intense sps-
pense; the crowd swayed and mnr-
INJURED like wind swept wave. He
appeared again; I saw my mother in
his arms; know that she was saved.
There was a crash of the roof, ming.
led with wild exclamations; great
mist swan before my eyes; noise
not unlike that of the roaring flames
was in my ears, and I lost the con-
sciousness Of surrounding objects.
els it necessary to tell who it was
that thus rescued my mother? what
emotions / experienced upon hearing
how deeply T was indebted to the
man / had despised? tits necessary,