Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-03-27

lined hood ind cloak.
s'I will go and take walk" said
she. sI shall certainly become q
hypochondriac if sit all the time by
the fire and nurse my morbid fancies
like this"
|. She took long, brisk walk down by
the ruins of the old mill, through the
cedar woods, across the frozen swamp,
and then she paused.
''I will come back by the Black
Pool" she thought. ''Itis wild and
picturesque spot in winter, with
icicles hanging to the tree boughs,
and weird lce-effects over the fase of
the old gray rock" "
It was dark and gloomy place,
funereally shaded by the .hemlocks,
which grew there to giant size; and
when Mrs. Mildmay got beneath their
boughs, she started back.
Was it the Elusive glimmering OF
the darkening twilight? or was it
really man who stood close to the
edge of the Black Pool?
"Rufus oh, Rufus, my son!"
She was barely in time to catch him
in her arms and drag him back from
the awful death to which he was hurl-
ing himself.
When they reached the cedar wains-
coated parlor, where the blazing logs
cast q rudy reflection on the red
Moreen curtains, Mrs. Mildmay looked
into her stepson's face with loving
eyes. :.
"And now, Rufus" said she, "tell
me oil about it. The Lord hos been
very good to You in saving you from q
terrible crime"
"Mother. why did you stop me9"
he said, recklessly. ''I am ruined
man. T shall be dishonored in the
sighs of the world! Death would be
preferable, thousand times, to dis.
grace!"
"Rufus, said the old lady, tender.
ly, edo you remember when you used
to get into boyish scrapes at schoolP
Do you remember how you used to
confde your troubles to me? Let us
forget all the years that have passed.
Let us be child and mother once
again.
So he told her all--of the reckless
expenditure on Rosamond's part--his
own, also, he confessed-which had
woven itself like fatal web about his
feet-of the unpaid bills, the clamor.
ing tradesfolk, the threats oftpublic
exposure, which Ind driven him at
last to the forgery of his employers
signature, in order to free himself
from one or two Of the nest pressing
Of these demands.
"And if my investment in Erie
bonds had proved o success" he said,
eagerly, ri could have taken up every
one of the notes before they came due.
But there was change in the market,
and now-now the bills will be pre-.
sented next week, and my villainy will
be patent to all the worldl Oh,
mother, motherl why did you not let
me fling myself into the Black Pool2"
"Rufus," said his stepmother, "what
is the amount of these--these forged
bills?"
"Ten thousand dollarsl" he an.
swered, staring gloomily into the fire.
Exactly the amountof the Govern
ment bonds which your father left
me-" said Mrs. Mildmay. "They
would have been yours at my death.
They are yours now, Rufusl"
"Mother, you don't mean :"
"Take them. said Mrs. Mildmay,
tenderly pressing her lips to his fore.
head. $50 to New York the first
thing tomorrow morning and wipe
this stain from your life as you would
wipe few blurred figures from slate.
And then begin the record of existence
anew"
And up in the little room which he
had occupied as child. Rufus Mild
may slep tho first peaceful slumbers
which had descended upon his weary
eyelids for many and many night.
In the midnight train from New
York came Rosamond Mildmay to The
Hemlocks, with pale, terrified face
and haggard eyes.
ooh, mother, mother !" she sobbed;
"where is he---my husband2 He has
left me, and the letter on the dressing
table declared that he would never re-
turn oliyel Oh, mother, it is my fault
1 have ruined him Help me, COM
fort me, tell me what I shall do!''
Mrs. Mildmay took her daughter-in-
laws hand, and led her softly to the
little room where her husband lay
sweetly sleeping.
Rosamond drew q long, sobbing
sigh of relief, and clasped her hands
together as if in mute prayer at the
sight.
"aush! |" said the old lady; edo not
wake him. he is worn out, both in
mind and body. Only be thankful
that God has given him back to you,
almost from the grave"
And as the two women sat together
by the blazzlng logs IN the crimson
parlor, Mrs. Mildmay told Rosamond
the whole story of the meeting at the
Black Pool.
"Mother," said Rosamond, with a
quiveriug lip, "it is my doing. You
warned me of tLis long ago. Oh, why
did T give nc heed to ycur words?
deserve it all !"
"You will CO better for the future.
my DEAR" said the old lady, kindly.
"Only be brave and steadfast."
So the young people went back to
New York and commenced the world
anew, Withdrawing from the mael-
strom of 'ssociety," and living within
themselves. Mrs. Mildmay, senior,
came with them, and Rosamond is
learning the art Of housekeeping un-
der her direction.
"Mamma is IN angell" says the
young wife, enthusiastically. "And
if could only be just like her, l
L L.