The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1877-12-18
MISS MELTON'S CODIClL

Miss Rebecca Melton, Eaietuuiua-
rian of sixty, lay dying at her house in
town. She had held so tenacious grip
upon life ,ha, it was difficult for the
two young people to realize the end was
80 near. These two young people were
Gerald Melton. her nephew, aud Miss
Amy Williams, her companion aud
nurse.
Gerald had seen the young woman
every day for the three years she had
lived with his aunt, but rever until that
moment had bestowed serious thought
upon her. lie did not even know the
color cf her eyes, till his aunt gasred
ont a sentence that caused him to ioos
at her attentivcly. Then he found them
shining lumncusly in the sombre gloom
Of The SICK CHAMBER.
"If you expect to ray for that horse
for Emily Thorpe to ride with the mo-
ney you get n,y death, said the dying
woman, .'you' re mistaken"
You don't understand-' began
Gerald.
1T was an infamous transaction" a"
said the I'D lady. II found cut euoueh
about it to put codicil to my will.
I've left every penny to Amy Vii
liams
1t was then that Gerald looked at
ANY; but his aunt suddenly stretched
out her hands to him pleadingly; and
finding a gray pallor spreading over her
face. he knelt down BY hcr bedside, and
,onk her cold wilher,d hand in his
own.
"If the horse had been for any one
but ,ha. Emily Thorpe:' taltered the
Old lady.
oh, aunt" said Gerald, "1f you'd
let mc explain"
IL would if had time ,.she said,
"but must die now"
In ten minutes it was al over, and
Gerald went out # the house with a
great ache in his heart. He was very
sorry for his aunt; she had been kind
to him-too kind, for she had resred
him for the useless life Of drone, when
now it appeared that he must work for
his living like all the rest of the bees
1t had hitherto been something Of o
bore to him merely to spend money, and
tn. fact began to dawn uppleasan'ly upon
his mind to earn it must be infinitely
more wearisome.
Walking aimles>ly on, his feet took
mechanically familiar direction, and
he found himself pausing before a fine
! house in a fashionable part Of the city,
from whence shapblcd somewhat
bent aud awkward figure, that presently
disappeared in u Lrougham before the
door.
Gerald recognized the man as Mr.
Badger, the millionaire, and invnlunta-
rily contrasted his own condition with
that Of the Fortunate shop-deacr. lie
was however, 50 ahsoi bed with the dire.
full news he hal 10 tell Emily, that be-
fore she came iuto the parlor he Lad
forgotten Badgers existence.
1t was singular that her remarkable
| beauty and brilliant toilet did not APP
pail Gerald at that mom"nt-that the
fact Of his no longer being able to grace
that lavely hand with teiiltins gems
did not prevent him from selzing 1t III
both his own and kissing it rap,urously
For that enchanting moment lie was nj
lowed to forget the gloomy chamber
where his aunt lay dead. and the wo'
man that waited there Tor the money
that he lad been ,au.h: to consider III,
own.
: 1T SC III, to me that you are very
beautiful this morning, WAS all that he
could say.
! Emily drew her land gently away
FROM his carcss.
Gerald" she said, 81 have something
to tell YOU
IIci accent was cold. There wa!
something iu hcr manucr that causco
him to step hack and look at her viii
a dim premoniiion of what was to come
You know" she continued, "h"v
bitterly opposed your aunt is t. YOU
ail elton ior me. She has i'd me- hcr
self that she will never consent To gu
happiness. Gerald. ! am too Ioud o
you to wrc'k your whole lite. Their
wa, but one way to end it ALL
She paused. He leaned forward
aud still KEEP, his eyes, now wan att
haggard, upon her face. Then sh
sank, pale aud trcn bling into chair
ard covered her eyes with her hand
She was moved with pity, perhaps, or
vague regret. At last shc spoke:
Il have just accepted an offer OF mar
riaga."