The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-03-23

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water over the moss-grown mill-wheel tc
cataract's roar? and the sunlight fall
Fing ON the green moss beneath the spray
we fondly fancied could equal in glitter
ing beauty the sparkle of emeralds
From these reveries of our childhood
passed on to the time when Carolina and
our whole beautiful South land, relying
upon truth and justice, led on by the
heavenly light of hope, sprang forth, as
it seemed, a second Palias to do battle
for the rightI Alas, alas! I awake! A
deep, dark gloom covers that bright
bright land as with a pail, and beneath
its black folds are cofined the joys of the
past-childhood's gay, glad memories
and The high and noble aspirations of
once proud, but now conquered peoplep'
"Dear Marie, sweet friend of my boy.
hood, do not speak so sadly. 1t is true
we cannot if we would forget the happy
past, the gloomy present, our noble and
heroic dead. But our Father, even in
anger, does not restrain mercy; we may
still count our blessings o'er.' There is
yet work to do, and friends, dear friends
for mutual cherishing love. Promise to
be mine, gentle Marion, my wife, and ]
will make it the joy of my life to brigh-
ten yours. / leave for Louisville next
week, there to complete my medical
course; OIL let me carry with me the
sweet assurance that you will be mine.
You do not speak. Do you reject me
OIL Marion, such fervent love as mine
cannot merit rejection and scorn."
ooh! no, not scorn, Arthur I love
you as q most dear and valued friend ;
but such love as you ask is not mine to
give. And, Arthur, forgive me, but in
deed I think you have mistaken the emo
tions of your heart. The ties of child
hood, the still stronger bonds of warm
friendship, our reciprocal esteem and
admiration you have mistaken for love.
Marion Maham could not fill Arthur
Ferguson's ideal of wife. But" she
added, holding out her hand and smiling
playfully, ''be my brother, Arthur, still"
He took her hand, held it hard and
spoke hurriedly: "There, I have rival,
Marion; you say you have not such love
as I ask to give. If my rival be noble
and worthy, I could endure to see you
another's; but, OIL beware of Dick
Egan!. He is unprincipled, selfish and
utterly unworthy any good woman's love.
I know he entertains for you passion
which he terms love. But gold and the
bright and beautiful Marion Maham
only share the alteration he offers at the
altar dedicated to-Richard Egan. Oh!
Marion, beware of him, shun him |"
i'Thanks for your kind warning, Ar
thur. But fear not, never have been
one of Mr.. Egan's admirers, and you
forget that now 1 am likely to be heirass
of a barren heritage, I run no risk of
winning favor in Mr.. Egan's eyes. do
not think I ever will marry. I hope
mamma will need me by her side long
time yet; and then, too, it will be so
nice to be the dearest of old maids in
the homes Of my brothers, Harry and
Arthur, their bonnie wives, the dearly
loved friends of my girlhood. Jessie
has already made our Harry happy by
saying the little word, eyes," so small in
its proportions, so large in its import.
And, oh Arthur, you surely have not
forgotten the sweetest of roses, dear Rose
Gordon, who won from you such encomi-
ums five years ago. Rose is the musician
who has touched, though unperceived by
you, the deepest chords of your heart"
Arthur Ferguson answered indignant
ly: "You are strange girl, Marionl A
man pleads with you to. be his wife, and
in the most dispassionate manner you
beg him to, marry some one else-eyen
select wife for him-as IL love can be
taken off and put on like mans coat.
It is true I admired Miss Gordon very
much; for she was really charming and
lovely. But no girl or woman can ever
fill your place in my heart, Marion"
"It would be great grief to me to
lose your friendship, and I had no
thought of vexing you, Arthur. You
know the old adage, Extremes meet"
Now, you and I are too much alike in
everything to hope for completeness in
union. In alluding to what was five
years ago, your evident preference for
Rose Gordon, did not mean to offer
you my friend, or even to lead you to
suppose you could marry her ad Gbitum.
I have no power over her affections; I
cannot direct her fancy, and believe me,
Arthur, Rose must be wooed before she
is won. And the man who is fortunate
enough to win and wear her, will have
found jewel of rare value. In wishing
Arthur Ferguson to win Rose Gordon, I
desired for him the treasure of true
and noble woman's heart"
II will not give you up, Marion. You
have never thought of me as lover, and
if I am like you, as you say, I must pos
sess the gift of charming; and will
WOO you SO gently, so tenderly, you will
be compelled to say: Yes, Arthur"
mo, Arthur, no, never can"
"Why, Marion, why such premptory
Nor Am too unworthy, even to enter
the lists for your gracious favor?"
The words were bantering, but the
oaza he Gynd upon her f.oo u,oc Loon