The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-24
his usual air of familiarity, and pretend
that his conduct toward her had nothing
criminal in II

| tLat Ills cOlluuCl lOWaIu Iltl llaft HoViiAhS
criminal in it.
"Avoid my sight," cried T. "Were
my brave son at home he would not suffer
this, but am old and disabled, and every
way undonc. I reposed my heart upon
! thine honor, and have found it's baseness.
| Go, and possess what fortune has given
thee-beauty, riches, health and pleasure.
Go, and leave me to want, infamy, dis
, ease and sorrow. Yet, humble rs [ am,
though thou hast my forgiveness, thou
shalt ever have my contempt"
"Depend upon it, returned he, "you
shall feel the effects Of this insolence.
Nor did he threaten in vain. The next
morning his steward demanded my on
nual rent. I could not pay; SO my cattle
were sold, and / myself was cast into
prison, whittier was accompanied hy
my disconsolate family. Olivia was sut-
fering from slow fever, and one day in
the depression of her spirits she was
heard uttering these mournful lines:
"Whcn lovely woman atoops to folly,
And finds too late that men bctray
What charm can soothc her melancholy?
What art can wash her guilt away?
'.Thc only art her guilt to cover,
To hide her shame from every eye.
To give repentance to her lover
And wiring his bosom is-to die
We had now nothing between lis and
famine, save what my son Moses could
earn as day laborer Even in this strait
I found friend in fellow prisoner, that
very Ephraim Jenkinson who had got old
Blackberry for worthless draft on neigh
Dor Marlborough. His cunning had not
savetAhim from Jail, but he promised to
see what it could do toward relieving
me.
Meanwhile my poor Olivia grew worse,
became specchless, and then came the
sad tidings-she was dead! 1t was for
her sake I had defied Squire Thornhill,
and now consented to make my sub
mission to him. In vain He would
show no mercy! AS if to complete the
sum of our miseries, our dearest Sophia
was snatched from us, carried off by un-
known ruffians But i'll fortune had yet
another blow. The prison keeper entered
WIFI Ul'tu I'LL Dlooly, "o"huSo e'i,t
fcttered. Horror! 1t was my George!
His regiment had not left England, and
hearing of Thornhill's crime be challeng-
ed the villain. Instead of appearing in
person, Thornhill sent four domestics to
seize him. One he wounded, but the
others captured my poor son; as chal-
lcnger his life was forfeited!
But let us be inhexible, and fortune
will at last change in our favor. The next
event was the return of Sophia, who had
been rescued by our old friend, Mr.. Bur
chell. He receivcd my apologies in the
kindest way, and Sophia explained that
he had heard her cries, and disnrmed the
rutfian who had seized her, but who man.
aged to make his escape.
"NIr. Burchell," cried I, "as you have
delivered my girl, if YOU can stoop to an
alliance with family so poor rs mine,
take her, obtain her consent, and you
have mine"
Without the least reply he ordered din
ner, Il dozen of wine, and some cordlals
for me, asserting that, though in a prison,
he never felt more disposed to be merry.
At my request Mr.. Jenkinson and my
son were row admitted. George re-
gar,lcd Mr.. Burchcll with establishment,
aud stood fixed at respectful distance.
Peraoiving himself known, our guest,
assuming all his native dignity, desired
nv son to come forward. After pro-
nouncng severely on the sin of dueling,
he admitted such palliation OF poor
Georges. fault as induced him to for
give it.
"It there hc injury" said he, there
shall bcrcdrcss and this may say with
ont boastt:ne, that none have taxed the
injustice OF Sir William Thornhill."
We now found that onr harmless,
amusing companion, poor Mr.. Barchell,
was in reality the uncle of our offending
landlord, and man of large fortune and
great interest, to whom senators listened
with applause. My poor wife and
Sophia we're overwhelmed, but Sir VIII
liam smilingly reassured them, and at
his request, Jenkinson, who had fur
nishcl n clcw to the abductor of Sophia,
WIS sent with two men to apprehend the
rascal.
Before we had we'll dincd, a message
was brought from Squire Thornhill, de-
string permission to appear and vindi-
cate his innocence, with which request
the baronet complied. Being intro
duced, he gave SO smooth a version of
his conduct rs quite cleared him, if it
could be believed. But ut the sudden
appearance of Jenkinson, with the rufiian
who had carried off Sophia, he turned
pale, and it presently came out that he
himself had instignted the abduction with
the bascst designs.
"Heavens cried Sir William, "what
a viper"
The unexpected arrival of Miss Ara
bella Wilmot surprised lis next, and it
speedily appeared that the squire, to
win her hand, had persuaded her that
George was married and gone to Ameri-
ca. The revelation of his baseness re-
vived her passion for my son, who was
now released, at Sir Williams request,
andpresentlyappearedin hisregimentals,
whereupon she lost no time in blushing-
ly letting him know that, if she could
not be his, she would never be another's.
The squire now showed himself the
hardy villain, and, laying aside shame,
inslltingly declared that Miss Wilmot's
fortune was safely made over to him,
and he cared not who won the lady her
self. This was too true but neither
George nor Arabella needed it in the
least.
"Let him enjoy our fortune" cried
she, II now can be happy even in in
digence."
"And l." cried the squire, with ma
licious grin, "shall be very happy with
what you despise."
"Hold," criel Jcnkinson "can the
squire have this lady's fortune if he be
married to anothcr?"
"Undoubtedly he cannot, replied the
baronct.
"Wcl," said Jenkinson, "he is mar
ried already; and, if the company re-
strain their curiosity few minutes, they
shall see his wife"
So saying, he darted off, and presently
returned with-Olivia !!
esquire" he cried, "this is your law
full wife, and here is the license! You
commissioned me to get false license
and a false priest, to deceive this young
lady, but I got & true license and true
priest"
A burst of pleasure now seemed to
fill the whole apartment Mr.. Thorn
hills assurance forsook him, he fell on
his knees before his uncle, and implored
compassion. Sir William promised him
q bare competence to support the wants