Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-06-04
TEE sgEasssgss gz ssElE.EHsa BRIDE.

:
Ruth McIlwain could easily forget her.
When Iffst met her, shewas sixten.3
The mother of Ruth tMcIlwain died
while she was an infant, and her father
remsined awidower for ten years, and
then married lady who had q daughter
By her former husband The second Mrs.
McIlWain was awonian of plausible man
hets, but Of selfish and artful disposition
and her daughter Ellen resembled her
exactly.
Jonas McIlwain was one of those every
day persons who have nothing marked in
their character if we except only a great
portion Of obstinacy. i
One day when Ruth had just entered
her seventeenth year, q agentieman whom
she had never seen before, came to tea
with the family. He was widower,
about forty years ofage, ofgood figure
and fine manners, but plain even to ugli-
ness. He was silent and reserved. Ruth
paid little attention to him. and would
have thought no more about him had not
her father said to her when he was
gone, Well, Ruth, what do think of Mr.
Walker2"
81 think he is extremely ugly" replied
his daughter.
"Humphl" responded her father ''that
is unlucky, for he is to be your husband ,
"My husband, father?" said Ruth,
raising her blue eyes and gazing at her
parent with look of establishment. ooh!
YOU are jesting; that is impossible"
"Not at ALL" answered Mr.. McIlwain.
"You will find it very true. assure YOU
I am serious"
II will never marry him. replied Ruth
sand | scarcely think he will desire an
unwilling BRIDE"
"But you will not be an unwilling
bride, = prssiststl her iatiler.
Don't mistate me father continued
Ruth firmly, but kindly. "In This matter
I must consult my feelings. cannot COM
NIT SO great sim" "
well, we shal! see" cody responded
Mfr. McIlwain, and the conversation
dropped.
Caleb Walker was q man of immense
wealth. In early life he had emigrated to
Louisiana, When the city of New Or
leans was scarcely more than village,
and by judiciously investing tho means
he possessed, he amassed greath wealth.
No man had a kinder or more sympathiz-
ing nature than Called Walker. He was
very charitable, but as he shrunk from
observation,l and vas SO unobtrusive, the
knowledge of his benevolence was almost
invariably confined to himself and the
recipients of his bounty. 1h9
Mr.. Walker continued his visits to the
McIlwains, and Ruth made it point to
keep out of his way as much as possible.
She had little difficulty in doing this, as
he paid no particular attention to her.
She perceived, however, that her step
mother and sister were frequently closet
ed together, and that their minds seemed
always occupied with something that she
could not diacover. They sometimes
looked at her in peculiar manner.
One day, when she was alone with
Ellen, she said:
"What is it that occupies you and
mother so much 2" "
Her step-sister answered with great
deliberation. "The preparation for your
marriage, my dear"
"My marriage, sister with whom2"
"Your father certainly has informed
you that you are to marry Mr.. Walker"
replied Ellen, looking fixedly into Ruth's
face.
"Oh, yes, he said So" replied Ruth,
"but cannot believe he means it."
"Why not?" asked Ellen, elevating
her eyebrows.
Because" replied Ruth, "it's very
summary way of dispesing of my affec.
tions, and I think am entitled to say
in the matter"
Ellen laid her hand on Ruth's shoul-
der. ".My dear she said, don't be silly.
You certainly will marry Mr.. Caleb
YNoll,o,