The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-03-30

uldFTleu. but 10 all tneSe f-eatS
opposed an unruf1ied sweetness of de-
meanor and lavished great show of
affection upon him in the presence OF
my aunt. to whom lie was unwillingly
obliged to respond.
Our wedding day drew near, and Ed.
gar, finding me unmovcd by threats,
now had recourse to entreaties. and
even secretly brought Augusta to add
her prayers to his; but to their pitiful
means l only responded that nothing
would induce me to disappoint my dear
aunt, even if l had to sacrifice my
life's happiness in the cause.
1t may readily be supposed that !
had not really the slightest intention
Of allowing Edgar to marry me. I in
tended to drive him into rejecting me.
a course which would. knew, deeply
offend my aunt and would probably
oust Edgar altogether from her favor,
i'll which 1 then hoped to rise still
higher by the representation that Ed
gar's cruelty had broken my heart
However, as the day approached and
Edgar showed no signs of open rebel
lion, I began to be little alarmed.
What if. Gftcr all. had to reject Ed
gar? That would be fatal! My aunt
would never speak to me again.
The morning before the appointed
wedding day Edgar came to me, pale
and fierce.
"Are you determined to keep up this
farce to the end?" he inquired.
Farce" said 1. raising my brows.
Il intend to obey my beloved aunt. if
that is what you mean"
Then take the consequences" he
retorted. as he departed arGrily and
banged the door.
That evening note was discovered
in Edgar's room informing his mother
that when she read it all would be
over. that he could not obey her wishes
in marrying me. and, rather than run
counter to them. he had resolved to de-
stroy himself.
The distracted mother was beside
herself with grief. She rushed here
and there, giving contradictory orders;
she ran up and down stairs as RI
searching for some sign of his pres
ence; she dispatched search parties in
the hope that he might yet be discov-
cred alive; but nothing could be found
except his coat and hat on the bank
Of river.
The conclusion come to was that the
unfortunate young man had drowned
himself. though no trace Of the body
could be discovered.
You are my only hope and COM
fortw cried my aunt. weeping on my
neck. You must never leave me,
darling
With some misgivings, 1 promised
would not.
The next morning. at an early hour,
Mr.. Denaby appeared in state OF dis
traction. Augusta, it seemed. unable
to bear the idea of resigning Edward
to any other bride. had also drowned
herself. Her cloak and hat had been
discovered on the bank Of the river.
which was being dragged for the body,
but so far without success.
The bereaved parents wept together.
and so touching was their grief that
l cried. too. although | had not the
slightest apprehension that Augusta
and Edgar had really drowned them
selves.
However. as months passed OIL and
nothing was heard of/either of them,
1 began to feel rather anxious ard TO
wonder what had befallen them.
Meanwhile a common sorrow had
drawn the two unhappy households
together. and. about year after these
startling events, my aunt astounded
me one morning by the information
that she and Mr.. Denaby had resolved
to unite their broken hearts and seek
consolation in wedlock.
Here was a nice prospect for me.
My aunt had already become very
favorably disposed toward her future
stepchildren, and would be certain to
provide handsomely for them in her
will. and. instead of being her sole
heiresS, was suddenly confronted
with seven rivals-the number of Au-
gusta's brothers and sisters-and might
think myself fortunate if l got off with
an eighth part of what had c0nSid-
cred my due.
The marriage took place. and the
Denabys migrated from their small
house to my aunt's handsome mansion,
in which l now felt myself an inter
loper. returned to my former home,
where my eldest sister was struggling
% make both ends meet. and where
was not received with much enthu'
Siasm.
In these circumstances, l accepted
an offer OF marriage from a wealthy
gentleman who rei! victim to those
charms which 10 ore but Cyril had
yet been able to perceive.
On the very day that | wrote to my
aunt informing her Of my engagement.
recc:Ted q letter from her, writter
IN great excitement. and incoherently
announcing that Edgar was not in
heaven, as she had hoped" but in Can
ada. where he and his wife, Augusta,
were happily settled and doing ex.
tremely well. Having heardA of the
marriage of their respective parents,
they had taken courage to write and
inform them that they. loo, were mar,
ried, and not dead, as was Supposed