Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-05-27
gu @riginal Sturg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
UNCLE BRAINERD'S WILL;
OR,
The Fortunes Of Alice Lynn
CHAPTER Xxx.
MET AT LAST.

OI1aI LEN Az.
MET AT LAST.
Old Mr.. Chester sat at his breakfast table,
pondering gloomily, with a newspaper before
him. Such looking newspaper! A dingy,
whitey-brown Sheet about ten inches square,
printed in some places so illegibly that even
with his glasses the old gentleman could
scarce decipher its contents. Enough could
be made out, however, to eli him with even
more than usual dependency and gloom.
The crisis seemed near at hand, which was to
scatter to the wind the remaining hopes Of
those who, for four years, had fought and
hoped and prayed, with burning zeal and
dauntless heart, for the triumph of their cause.
Those four years had told heavily on Mr..
Chester, in the depression of his figure, the
feebleness of his gait, and the added lines
about his care-worn face. Domestic and po-
litcal trouble had embittered these closing
days of his life days which all who look for
ward to them fondy trust will be tranquil and
serene. The young and strong can fight
through trouble but it is sad for the aged to
have the cares and burdens of existence press
most weightily upon them when their sun is
nearly set.
Like many another true.hearted Southron,
he had invested nearly the whole Of his large
fortune in Confederate securities, and saw
poverty staring him in the face. This fact,
however, troubled him but little. He had
but short while longer to live, and he had
no near kith or kin to inherit the remains of
his property when he should be gone. His
worthy grandchildren, Mrs. Broderick and
her brother, disgusted at the turn affairs in
general had taken, had left America at the
beginning of the war, to return to their Eu-
ropean birthplace, and, to his great satisfac-
ton, had never been heard of by him since. He
clung fondly to his much-loved though desc
late home, almost the sole tie of the past which
was yet unbroken and his old servants were
about him still. Here he led joyless life,
brooding over the many disappointments he
had endured, and looking forward yearningly
to the time when he should be summoned to
join the loved ones who had gone before.
He had finished his frugal breakfast this
morning, and had again taken up the dingy
little edition of the Columbia Carolinian,
when the door opened and slender, dark
eyed young man walked in. His arm was in
sling, and the pallor of his face and languor
of his steps, denoted an experience of suffering
that could scarcely yet be called past
"What, Maurice, downstairs so early! My
dear boy, I'm trul y glad to see you," said the
old gentleman, extending his hand. Maurice
Fielding-for it was none other than our old
friend-placed his left hand in Mr.. Chester's
cordial grasp, as he replied
81 felt so much better this morning, sir,
that could not play lazy any longer. I'm
thinking of starting to-day or Tomorrow"
uStartinpt For whore 2'
"For home. Unfortunately, I shall not be
able to rejoin my regiment for some time to
come; and thanks to your care and kindness,
am now sufficiently recovered to 60 and be
nursed by my sisters for the remainder of my
furlough."
"Pooh, pooh, Maurice! That is sheer
nonsense. Travelling in your present state
would only throw you back. Take my ad-
vice and remain where you are for the pres
ent"
II would gladly do 50, SIR" replied the
young man, "but don't think I would be
justified in staying longer from home than I
can possibly help. The last accounts l re-
ceived of my mothers health were so unfa-
vorable, that am anxious to be with her
again; 1 think my presence may be Of SER
vice to her,
"Is she really ill ?" asked Mr.. Chester"
"Much broken down, fear, in both health
and spirits. She has never gotten over the
shock of my brother Joe's death; he fell, you
know, at Manassas"
$50 you told me. Alas for the number of
young lives that have been sacrificed in this
war! Yours was most providential escape,
my boy you have reason to be grateful for it. "
"Did I ever tell you," asked Maurice with
some emotion, what saved my life?"
ga book, you said, in your breast pocket. :"
eyes, but I did not tell you iohat book.
value this little volume more than can ex-
press to you," and as he spoke Maurice drew
forth little wel-worn Bible and placed it
before his host on the table. Mr.. Chester
opened it, and read on the fy-leaf, "Alice
Marion Lynn, from her mother, 1851"
"Alices book My poor, lost child's book p'
cried the old gentleman, tremulously. "Why,
remember it well-it was her mothers before
her little Oxford Bible l gave her myself.
Isn't her name in it too?"
EYES," said Maurice, and turning over a
leaf, he showed the name and date, "Aice
Chester, March 18th, 1887"
Mr.. Chester was, for some moments, too
much moved to speak then, as he handed the
book back, he remarked in husky tone
II won't ask you for this relic, for you have
better right to it than have, and 1 know
you prize it. But I can't tell you all that
the sight of it has called up in my mind"
"lt shall be my constant companion all my
life," said he as he reverently replaced it near
his heart. How many bitter regrets had Alice
lavished upon the loss of this treasured pos.
session, overlooked by her in her hurried de,
parture, and left hidden in the corner of a
drawer. How would the regrets have been
changed to deep thankfulness and joy, had
she known the providential part it had played
in saving from death, the gallant cousin who
had treasured it up for her sake. The bullet
which would else have proved fatal, had
struck the cover and glanced aside, striking
in its rebound, his raised right arm, and shat.
tering the bone, thus incapacitating him for
further service for long period of time. A
wearing, wasting fever had ensued, aDd Mr.
Chester, hearing of him at wretched little
temporary hospital, not many miles of, had
had him removed to his own home, where he
had nursed him with paternal care. The two
had become we'll acquainted with each other
in their search for the lost Alice, years before,
and the strong interest they both felt in her
recovery, had created between them bond
of union never afterward broken.
Mr.. Chester would not suffer his guest to
depart that day. But on the next morning,
feeling really much stronger and better than
he had yet done, he took his leave, with many
grateful thanks for the hospitality which had
been extended to him, and many promises Of
n 1 T II -