The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-02-23

tim they went away 20 the Northern
springs and lakes, or quaffed deep
! draughts of happiness on the sea shore.
Ah, days never to he forgotten days
heavily freighted with love, hope and
happiness! How swiftly they fled, and
were buried in the irrevocabIe past.
Six years of "wedded bliss" were given
to Austin and Edna Rutledge. thank
God for this. For l come now to that
which tears my heart with anguish even
yet when l remember it.
Austin, my loved and noble friend,
was stretched upon bed of suffering
from which he never rose. For many
weary months he bore pain and anguish
unspeakable, with a patience and gen
ticness unsurpassed. His darling wife
watched and tended him faithfully and
untiringly. 1t was beautiful to behold.
And even when ber heart was bursting
with grief, at sight of her darling grad
ually slipping away from her devoted
arms, and with sympathy in his suffer
ing, half of which she would cheerfully
have borne could she have been permit
ted, even then she would sing for him
his favorte hymns, if he family breathed
wish to hear them.
Our Heavenly Father, in infinite wis
dom, saw fit to take this His child into a
glorious rest; and when at last his pure
spirit took its flight into realms un-
known, his bonnie wife's heart was we'll
nigh broken.
will draw veil of silence over that
time. Her grief was too deep, too sacred
to be spoken of. l cannot do the sub
Ject justice, either, for Jennie, dear, you
know not how we all loved him.
Time, the great healer, in mercy binds
our wounded hearts, and We come to
know that "there is balm in Gilead."
Years have passed since the sad day
which made my friend a widow. She
has not forgotten-shc never will-the
dear husband who made her life all sun.
shine. She may love again; it is natu-
raj that she should, though not with the
freshness and fervor and purity of first
love.
She is quite young, and Is altogether
the most charming of widows. She has
the same love Of fun and mischief that
characterized her as girl, and the warm
est, tenderest, most generous heart, that
ever beat in woman's bosom. She is rich
and independent, travels great deal,
moves in the best society, and is courted
and caressed by women rs vel, US men.
To the other sex she is fascinating and
bewildering, for she cannot help being
attractive. Consequently, she is sought
in marriage by rich and poor, high and
low. Clergymen and AZ. DIS, lawyers
and merchants, strive for the prize, but
not yet has she said the magic word to
any.
Loving her own sweet will as she does,
in my opinion she will be e wise woman
If she remains free. Besides, it will be a
rare thing if ever she finds second hus-
band as true, noble and devoted as was
her frst-her truly lamented Austin
Rutledgo.
As l ceased speaking, Jennie ox-
claimed: ooh Aunt Sue, l want to see
this beautiful friend of yours. know 1
shall love her. Where is she now ?"
"Lets see; she is away up North
somewhere. She has influential and
wealthy friends there, also; and, indeed,
is 30 much pleased with the people, and
mode of living there, that / sometimes
fear one OF those shrewd and clever
Yankees will capture my dear friend and
take her completely away from US. Her
last letter informs me that she will be at
home before Christmas. So I hope,
Jennie, you may see and know her."
"Well, Aunt Sue, if l were Edna Rut-
ledge, think I could never marry agais.
I think it would be SIM"
I smiled at this decision, for knew
that this child, in her innocent and ten.
der heart, with the romance of girlhood
investing the subject, did indeed think it
almost crime for any one to have the
appearance Of being untrue, by contract
ing q second marriage. used to feel
so myself.
"No, mol not sin, Jennie. Some
persons think it rather compliment to
the departed companion to wish to enter
the married state again. They argue
that il man or woman is happily mar.
ried they will wish TO continue SO. Now
Edna has no one particularly to love and
protect her. l know that she will never
forget him who has passed 'over the
river and she will never love another
as we'll as she did him. But it will be
natural and right for her to feel pref.
erence for one, and she will be blessing
to that one.
"Now, I will tell you what Edna Rut.
ledge is like. 1t is contained in one OF
Wordsworth's exquisite poems:
"A perfect woman, nobIy planned
And yet spirit still and bright
!, With something of an angel light.
"'A creature not too bright or good
For human natures daily food;
For transient sorrows, simple wiles-
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears and
smiles"
IT 1T
- Edgefield is indulging in the small
pox excitement, just as all sensible town!
in the country are doing. The Advertise,
gets off the following parody on Mary
and her little lamb as pertinent to the