Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-07-08

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wealthy as man. Why Mr.. Rhodes
had never got married, the ladies
could not ascertain. though they talked
the matter over and over very often,
but almost all snid there must have
been some cause in his youth. (Mr.
Rhodes was thirty.fve, at least), which
was known only to himself, and per.
haps one other.
''Some disappointment" said Miss
Anna, young lady who thought II
wrong that gentlemen should be dis
appointed; ''some fatal disappoint.
ment." -
.sNot OF all," said her maiden aunt,
'snot at all, nobody ever thought that
Mr.. Rhodes had courage enough to
offer himself to lady. He is SO
modest that ! should like to see him
make proposal"
ssNo doubt of it, aunt, no doubt OF
it and to hear him, too," said Anna.
"Your father and l." said Annals
mother, "once thought that Mr..
Rhodes would certainly marry Miss
Susan Morgan, who then lived in the
neiehborhood."
"Was he accepted By Miss Morgana''
asked Anna.
81 don't believe she ever had an
offer" said Aunt Arabella. IS
Perhaps not" said Mrs. Wilton
"but she certainly deserved one from
Mr.. Rhodes; anu / have frequently
thought that, during servicesin church,
he was about to make proposals before
the congregation. as ho kept his eyes
continually on her."
"Do you think, asked Anna. "shat
Miss Morgan was as fond OF him as he
appeared to be of her."
sShe certainly did not take the
same means of showing her feelings"
said Mrs. Wilton, "for she never
looked at him in church, and seemed
to blush when, by any means, she dis
covered that others had noticed his
gazing upon her."
SCI should think" said Anna, partly
aside, ''that man like Mr.. Rhodes
would not lack confidence to address
lady, especially if she was conscious
of her own feelings, and of his infirm-
ity."
Mrs. W. smiled, and Aunt Arabeila
was about TO say that no lady should
ever evince her feelings under such
circumstances. when Mrs. Wilton re-
marked, that once, when che had
joked Miss Morgan upon her conquest,
she rather pettishly replied, "that.she
may have subdued him, but he had
never acknowledged her power"
Conquest and possession did not
gotogether, then, said Anna.
"Well, is this attachment the cause
Of Mr.. Rhodes's single condition? Was
there no one else at whom he could
look in church, who would be likely to
look at him also?" said Anna, nodding
toward her aunt"
sNo," said Aunt A, with hearty
smile; "none in the pew to which you
allude. I at least was too strongly
impressed with the force of the tenth
commandment, thou shalt not covet
thy neighbor's OK, nor his ass, ever
to be looking over Miss Morgan at Mr..
Rhodes"
One morning MIR. Rhodes was SIT
ting in his Office, when one Of the the
deputies read off alist OF executions
and attachments, which he had in
hand to serve, and among them was
one against a lady at short distance.
The amount was not great, but enough
to bring distress upon family.
"Ltst me take that, !" said the Sheriff,
with some feeling; est is out OF your
walk, and I will drive TO the residence
of the person tomorrow morning"
The modest vehicle of the officer
stopped at the door OF . neat dwelling
house in retired, delightful situa-
tion, where all things told of taste and
economy. The Sheriff opened the
gate, assembled the steps of the house,
and asked if Miss Morgan was at
home.
The servant answered in the affirm
alive.
AS Mr.. Rhodes passed along the
hall, he thought over the part he had
to perform-how he should introduce
the subjeot-how, if the debt should
prove to be onerous. he shonld con-
trive to lighted the burden by his own
abilities; and when he reached the
door, he had conned his salutation to
the lady, and his opening speech on
the srsbject Of his official call.
The servant opened the door-Mr.
Rhodes entered with o bow. He
blushed. hesitated and at length took
a seat, to which Miss Morgan directed
him by graceful turn of her hand.
After few moments hesitancy,
Mr. Ehodes felt that it was his busi-
ness tc open q conversation that
would explain the subject of his visit
so he offered, by way of preface, few
remarks upon the coldness of spring.
"Yes," said Miss Morgan; s'but yet,
cold IS the weather has been and even
Notwithstanding few frosts, you see
the trees have their richest foliage,
and the flowers are luxurlant.
"True," said Mr.. Rhodes; ''it seems
that though tlere may be a great
deal of coldness, that Nature will have
her own way, and, in time, assert her
perrogative, late, perhaps, Miss Nor
gan, hut still the same"
Mr.. Rhodes felt rather startled at
his OWE speech, ana looking up, was
infinitely as.onishcd to see that Miss
Morgan was blushing like one OF che
roses that was hanging against the
window.
"We are always pleased, f" said Miss
Morgan. Ito see what we admire
breaking through the chilling inau'
snces by which they have been re.
strained, and satisfying ouf hopes oi
their ultimate disclosure.
Miss Morgan was looking directly
toward the bush on which three roses
were clustering in most gorgeous rich
ness.