The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-04-21
STOi:T OF A RI>Gi,GSG.

SECiSt OE 3 Rt-IiII ~.
In one of the mountainous counties
of Wales there lived for many years q
hermit. OF whom no one had any knowl-
edge.
His abode WAS cave. in I wild re-
gion; tnG he never appeared among his
feilow-bein@S except TO obtain sUct! ne
ccSsaries rs his hermit life required.
He would never, while living. reveal
his name. nor place OF birth, nor the
c;;uSc which had led him 10 >eclude HIM
sell from the world.
One day 4 couple of travellers, passing
through that region, visited the cave.
and found the hermit not only dead. but
in state of decomposition.
The bo,I;. after IN inquest, was
buried. an" some garments and 4 few
trilleS. which belonged to the deceased,
were deposited at the nearest magis-
tratc'S office, with 4 full statement OF
the facts.
In / pocket Of one of these garments
was found manuscript. supposed to
have been written BY the deceased, and
which. IS it tells lis own story. we here
4ranscribe without I word Of comment:
was born in ycarl shall not re-
cord, in place Shall not reveal. and
under Il name shall not disclose.
For many long years | have been
dead to the world. and my desire now
is that the waves of oblivion shall roll
over ne and leave ne rs if had never
been.
And vet there are some facts in my
life which wish to set forth.
Why?
Wei, l doubt if I could tell anyone
why.
i ONLY know that the impulse is on
me to write them down, perhaps to de-
stroy The record when done.
My youth passed pleasantly.
| had kind. indulgent, and pious par
eats, who sought to make my life Z hap
py one.
was sent 10 school at an early age,
and kept there till l had acquired 3
good. English education.
Then, at MY own request. | became
al underclerk in the large dry-goods es-
tablishmcnt Of 4 prosperous merchant
By strict integrity and diligence l
gradually rose TO a first position.
At two-and-twcaty had the conf
dence OF my employer, and was often
invited to his dwelling.
At first this made me very happy.
and as | looked forward then, the frl-
turc seemed very bright. But, alas,
and alas. this was the beginning Of 4
sorrow which viii never end while | re-
main on earth.
Ny employer had . daughtcr--;l kind,
gentle. lovely being-who. to my en-
raptured vision, seemed m angel just
come down from Paradise.
From the moment l first beheld her
my whole soul went out to her, and
from that time forth could conceive Of
no enjoyment in which she had no part.
As am confessing this to myself, or
to 4 world that will never know me, I
will say that loved her to q degree OF
worship which made her 4 something
above and beyond my reach; and
though naturally easy and fluent in con-
versat;on, I could not speak to her with
out changing color and choking, and
appearing more like an idiot than a
man of sense.
This made me avoid meeting her
when alone, or pressing forward to take
my chance with those who were seeking
her ct every opportunity, perhaps be-
cause Of liking for herself. perhaps be-
cause Of liking for the money she
would inherit.
90 not think she ever suspected me
OF having any regard for her beyond
that Of her being the daughter of my
employer, whom was in duty bound
to treat with respectful Difference, and
certain l am that she had no conception
Of the holy love and worship l secretly
gave her.
As have said. avoided as much as
possible coming in contact with her
would have gone mile out of my way
rather than speak to her, and yet her
presence, in my company of which |
formed part, was glowing JOY, and
her absence depressing void.
Among her numerous suitors was a
iel!ow-clerk, who held q position Of con-
fidrnce under our employer similar to
my own, and who, when we were alone
together, was always praising her sweet
ness and beauty, and proclainling his
own undying love.
''Oh, fancy the golden moment when
shall be able to clasp her dear little
hand in mine, and call her by the en-
daring name Of wifc." he would some
times eyclaim. or use words of similar
import; and when would as often turn
aside, to conceal the feelings that would
almost overpower me, he would mis-
take my action for :; dislike on the sub
ject.
..Ah," he one day said to me, i per-
eeive my darling finds no favor in your
sight: and she knows You do not like
her: but for my sake, l trust you will
not let her see that you absolutely hate
the sight of her person, and the mention
of her name.
This to me, whose excess of love for
the object in question was consuming