Year: 1872

stand the kind mean. Now you are Won
dering what have to tell, but T rarely make
"long story short" in letter, which, like
familiar conversation, often receives its great
est charm from little desultory things dropped
in here and there, as fancy suggests. My
wife's nephew is a Captain Clinton, Of Au.
burn, N. Y. Do you recognize the name
He is a noble fellow. You would like him
much if you could become intimately ac-
ouainted with him. He thinks highly of you,
but 1 tell him it is more because he thinks
such daughter as your Grace must have a
fine father than because he could judge Of
you in the short time he saw you on that
eventful night, when you were saved by your
daughters intrepidity. [ know you give her
a warmer corner in your heart than all the
others, not excepting your little pet, Alice. l
am proud of her for you. My daughters
never tire of hearing Clinton eulogize her
beauty, sweetness and bravery. His wife
he was married last year-says she should be
Jealous if he looked on Miss Grace as a COM
mon mortal; but as he holds her enshrined in
his soul a fair saint, to be approached only
with reverence and pure offerings of honor,
she can't find it in her heart to be displeased
at his devotion.


"While on the subject it is we'll to do JUS
tice even to an enemy. Col. Ford, who was
so angry with you and really did intend you
harm, was quite shocked at himself after he
became cool, to learn your son, Claude, was
dead; and when Clinton thought it would
soften him still more to hear of how you
escaped him that morning, he was so touched
by the recital as to wish he could see you and
| L -1ol h., opo1i in co.
He says Miss Grace little knew how much
danger she really ran, for there was fora
ging party out that very hour, coming in
from a regular hummer expedition, and
strange negroes were coming and going at all
hours. COL Ford's Regiment was transferred
to the West about the time you lost your son,
and he supposed him still leading his men in
Virginia. Hehas married into good family,
the height of his ambition, so Clinton thinks
his temper will improve"


Then followed various family matters and
warm invitation for Mr.. Elliott to bring on
his family to spend the summer.


MI. Elliottanswered the letter at once; but
could not give the glowing account OF his
prosperity he had anticipated when his visions
of peace and good fortune were so bright,
more than two years before.


Georgia's announcement of her safe arrival
at home was also received before Easter.
Among other things was this Item


"Do you not recollect Mr.. Van Vechten, a
fine looking man, who spent the evening at
uncle Willis Eliott's, the day we we're there =?
Well, he was our travelling companion all the
way here, and is going to spend some time in
the city. Eugene likes him extremely we'll,
and I am much pleased, too; but Conway
seems to almost hate him. I could see he was
very much interested in her from. the first,
and he paid her every attention possible.
Sometimes she received his notice politely,
and sometimes so ungraciously had to re-
monstrate with her. The most singular thing
| is his saying he has known of Conway some
two years and desired her acquaintance; yet
he was never in South Carolina until this
spring"


Conway wrote


"We had for company from Charleston,
Mr.. Van Vechten, who would have been
very tolerable acquaintance if 1 could have
forgotten he was Northerner. The name,
you see, is foreign ; but he says the family has
been in America so long they never think OF
looking upon themselves as anything but New
Workers.


"He was quite serviceable on occasions when
Eugene had his hands full with Georgia and
the children. 1t is hardly worth while to
mention the man, but for his exciting us
little by saying he had heard a great deal
about me some two years ago, and L could
probably recall the important occasion which
had given him desire to form my acquant,
ance, as I then occupied the "seat of honor"
I can't make it out"


A month later Georgia wrote


awe have found out the wonderful allusion
which puzzled us so much. It is Grace and not
Conway of whom Mr. Van Vechten had
heard. Captain Clinton is his cousin, and
had told him of that memorable ride which
made Grace such heroine. 1t is strange
when she so much dislikes for any one to
know anything about it, that it should have
gone so far, and in such way as to 60 back
to her again think Mr.. Van Vechten was
greatly disappointed to think Conway is not
the one he thought he was giving so much
honor; but she says she is glad the man has
found his mistake and won't be admiring her
through the halo of another's glory. see
she is going to be great belle; she has al
ready created quite a sensation"


Here, from a letter written in the summer,
we take


81 wrote to Grace yesterday, telling her
how pleased we all are at her engagement.
I send ten thousand good wishes to Jack
bashful boy-who might have known years
ago that Grace was made for him, if grand
mother-heaven rest her soul-had not made
that engagement between him and Conway
when they were such children as not to know
their own hearts. Tell him not to be impa-
tient for the important day, as it would mar
my plans for Grace to marry before her elder
sister; but whether they marry soon or not,
Conway shall never stay single to 'lead apes
in the regions below" I don't know but she
is somewhat disappointed that we gave up our
Northern tour, though she says she is not
We have great deal of society around our
summer place, and Conway is queen Of all
the beauties and bellies She is more ad-
mired than I had expected, aud you know
that is a great deal to say. | am glad she is
no coquette; but it seems very hard for her
to decide whom she shall like best among so
many, and some so desirable"


Early in the fall Georgia's letters had dis
appointed tone


"Conway says she must 60 home to be at
Grace's wedding, and I cannot say nay to
that; but to think she has refused so many
good offers this year-ones that would have
given her home by me with everything she
could wish-is disappointment too great to
bear patiently. She says she cannot marry
| ;nst 70 suit me- and I know that hut she