The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-03-27

Beneath this crust Of ,upheayed earth
A well-bred baker lies,
And like the rolls he used to mould.
We hope ataaasfshsl ii rise.
--..- &
THE HEIRLOOM
The pearl cross was an heirloom. Eta
wore it the first time I eve saw her,
and I noticed it's beauty as it rested up
on a knot Of deep blue ribbons at her
throat. Ribbons and pearls both suited
her fair complexion, deep golden
hair, and brown eyes, large and soft as
a fawn's. ~ Z IL. =
think T loved Henrietta Raymond
the first hour in which I met her at a
small party my Aunt Hilda gave in honor
OF nv return from a long business trip
in western}ci cities. When the party was
over Aunt Hilda told me Miss Raymond
was the niece of a newcomer in our
midst, a retired clergyman, who had
taken a house very near our own.
Had she been q great heiress or q
very fine lady, I might never have drawn
her into my heart OF hearts, as 1 Did
verv soon. But she was a loving girl,
possessing no worldly wealth, and we
met on terms Of perfect social equality.
I was an orphan, who owed education,
care, everything to Aunt Hilda, who had
an income sosvery narrow that it must
have cos. her many acts of self.denial to
support me. But at the time 7 met
Eta Raymond T. had obtained a good
situation in a commercial house in New
York, and was putting all my spare
funds into Aunt Hilda's keeping for her
own comfort. - .G...
1 had been absent more than a year
on business for the firm, and was enjoy
ing a vacation, of aimonth's duration,
when l met, wooed and won Henrietta
RAYMOND. I courted her with all my
heart; and when she acknowledged she
loved me, NY cup of happiness was
full.
Her uncle, Mr.. Raymond, when 1
placed my worldly prospects before him,
was averse to an immediate marriage,
but gave his hearty; consent to n en-
sagement. How the time speeded away,
and how much of it we spent side by side
in that happy summer.
A year passed, during which Twas re-
tanned closely at 10y post in the count.
ing-house, having responsibilities and
duties that Eept me far into the night.
As summersdrew near, ] was troubled
by frequent attacks of vertigo, and I
looked forward to my months vacation
as a much needed rest as well as plea
sure. To my great Disappointment it
was postponed until September, and I
was really III when at last packed my
trunk and took the train for home. Beg
fore I saw Eta Twas prostrated by an
attack o. sfeyer that threatened my life,
depriving me Of Consciousness for weeks.
When I recovered there fell upon me a
blow that caused a dangerous relapse. /
was blind. Our only doctor said hope
lessly, incurably blind. ~ g.
It was impossible for many bitter
months for. me- to teel resigned or
patient. 7 prayed to die, rather than to
live in my youth, and strength a, burden
upon a weak and aged woman. My
gifts to Aunt Hilda7 were melting away
fast under medical expenses, and there
was only her own small income for our
support. =
But for Eta, / believe I should have
taken my own life in these dark,
despairing days. Yet she was a very
angel of comfort. She refused to accept
my offered release from her engagement,
and actually proposed an immediate
marriage and inlmigrationto to. New York,
where she was sure she could find work.
Oh, my darling how my heart wrapped
You close in these dark days, when all
other hope or Joy seemed stricken from
nv life. Every day as I sat in our tiny
parlor, helpless and idle, Eta came to
me, pressing her soft lips upon my blind
eyes, and whispering words Of comfort.
She read to me, talked to me, sang
aud played upon Aunt Hlda's old
fashioned piano all my f~avorite airs. If
the weather was fine we walked out, Eta
leading me to retired spots Z
But I mourned for my future What
was life to be to me? I must learn.some
new pursuit to win bread, or depend up
on charity. Twas well again and strong,
and every drop of my young blood was
in revolt at my enforced idleness.
At Christmas time, MI. Raymond's
only son came from Chicago for a visit.
I had heard OF Albert Raymond from
Aunt Hilda. From his mother no had
inherited a fortune, and he had loved
his cousin Eta. Because of her refusal
to be his wife he had gone to Chicago,
where he wa adding to his heritage by
successful land speculations.
I was prepared to be Jealous of AL
bert Raymond, for Eta always spoke
kindly of him, giving him warm sisterly
affection. But after he came, though he
was cordially pleasant with me, I hated
him. Before be. had been home a week
I knew that he and Eta had some secret
between them. I could grope my way
by that time to several of the ueighbor-
ing houses, and was often Etta's visitor,
az she had been mine when I was get
ting we'll.
More than once coming across the
garden, I could hear Eta and Albert
conversing in an animated, eager tone,
to stop abruptly the moment 1 appeared
or awkwardly to introduce general sub
jects I was sure were not the subjects OF
the original conversation. A visitor
came from New York to Mr.. Raymond's,
a friend of Albert's =; and Eta insisted
upon my inviting him to my aunt's
house.
Ee was a gruf-spoken man, and talke5
necessarily of my affection. Knowing
how I shrank from any conversation,
from any sympathy upon his subject,
Eta had always delicately led all such
talk away from it. But, to my surprise.
she encouraged this stranger, and fairly
wrung from me every symptom, both
pending and during my Illness
When he went away, she accompanied
him home, though I offered to escort
her over a little later.
It was a week after this, and Albert had
been away, when he returned suddenly.
Coming into the room, he said "Etta,
it will be all right"
Then seeing me, ] am sure, he made
some awkward explanation about money
investments. But Eta grew very silent
and soon after I heard a pencil oyel
paper. Albert was writing ! A few
minutes later he left the room, and very
soon Eta asked me to excuse her for