Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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D Ettocratic 3ottrual, Utot to Mottmt 3itigjtu, NeD,$)1te Ecur ntalM u cttc, Ett'attre, jiter~alltj, Et~taie EgttuIttift, $t. "We will cling to the Pillars of the Temple of our Zerties, and if it must fall, we will Perish amidst the Ruins." W. F. DURISOE, Proprietor. EDGEFIELD, S. C., FEBRUARY 19, 1852. - "-- - wRITTEN FOR TIER ADVERTISER. NORE SISNED AGAINST TIAN SINNING, O IL ONE GROON FOR TWO BRIDALS, 4 Often like the evening sun. comes the memory of former times o'er Imly soul, Ossian." * * * * * * * * * q "I cannot tell how the tal- mIay be, ]-ut will give it you. as 'twas given to me." * * * * * * * * * A "When fortune means to men most good. She looks upon them with a threatning eye." SnArEsrEARE. Courteous Reader! When a few weeks ago I maIe TyIV lebut before vi in the somewhat crit ieal light (if a story teller, and when that stor% lay before ie filling a conspieuous place in out district papers in veritable print, the conscious ness of its tameness. stupidity and want (if point in its details, caused me involuntarily to exclaim, " I never will be guilty of the like folly again!" But within the last few days, a narrative which I caine in possession of through the kindness ol an esteened and venerable relative several years .ago, has stolen atoim by atom upon my mind, like the indistinct chimera of an almost forgotten dream, and has propelled my rather meagre imagination toward putting it in sonic sort of form ; not that I consider inyseIr able either to give an amusing, an instructive, or a deeply in tercsting sketch, but that it may possibly serve .ais a beacon light to warn the unwary from the consequences of youthful rashness. Before cominteneing my narrative allow me tv introduce you to my great Aunt, Mrs. Patiy .Tarvis. Mv first recollvetions of her. late from the period when I ias a little child; she was my father's Aunt and held in high estiliation hy him. I remember now how kindly she would coime to us, when in sickness and distress we needed such a friend, how she waited on our mother and letted her little ones. and how deep ly we were all afilieted when she lIt us for a home in the far West. Aunt Jarvis had but too children. Her only laugliter, Elizabeth, married several years be fore her visit to us (of which I will soon speak) an euminent lawyer named Hildreth, who-prae tieed in a ismall town not niny miles from the Mississippi river called L.ingna-ville. Ikr son James, who was but a few years tol at the time of his father's death, was the prile of the ld lady's existence. Ile, like his brother-in-law, was a lawyer-haI been but lately admnitted to the bar and they were practicing in co-partner ship. Aunt Jarvis hail an interest in a landed estate in our part of the country, whieb had been brought in sui, and had come -in with the double purpohse of visiting her 01:1 acquaintances and aoverlooking the proigress Of the law suit. When I heard of her arrival in our neiglborhood, my gratifneation and delight were unbounded; and I sent my carriage for her forthwith. It was near the close of the day when she arrived and I sprang to the gate to meet her-ankd there she was, the same kind smile illuminitig her fadel features-the same sweet, tmusical voice greeting illy ear as in days of old, with "Why dear is this voun! Can this be A neeline-this grown up woman with all these children about her ?" My heart was tot full to speak foir a moment. After the kissing round of self and chiliren, the <-n1qiuiries as to health &c., I escoirted her to the hEouse and ito the chamber which I had been for several ho~urs endeavoring to render comfor table for her accoimmiodaition. " hlow snug you look, dear, and how grateful that glowinig fire, and so many children ! Let me see, one, two, is it possible you have four childlren ! Why I expected to sec you almost as small as wvhen I left here '" " You have fiorgotten, A unt, that time flies as fast on the Atlantic as near your Western wa ters." A fter diseneumbering herself of hood, cloak, and India-rubbers we proceeded to the parlor, where a commnodious rocking chair and foot stool awaited my guest. A nd really, when seated, the counitenance, dress and attittude of Aunt Patty, made up a plicture comfortable to a degree. Her dress, as in days of yore, was a rich black silk, with the samte book muslin kerchief crossed int ample and snowy folds across her bosom, her neat cap anti white ribbons cottrasting beauti ftully with the (as yet) raven blackness of her hair, whtilst htr' maild, benevolent eye carried gladness to the heart, as the gloiwing sunshine in the bright summer of life. A fter all wecre set tIed quietly round the fire, one of my "respontsi bilities" set up an incessant cough, which ha\-ing~ lasted for several uminiutes Aunt P'atty observed, " why dont you cure that child, dear? Let ime give you Dr. Lartigue's remedy, and I wvarrant you it wvill prove infallible. Tallow her breast and the soles of hcr feet well before putting her to bed and give her a cup of red pepper ten sweetened with htoney." The words had scarce escaped her lips,' when inl rushed my oldest hope with the blood stream. iig in a torrent from his hand. " Dear me," I exclaimed, " what is the mat ter?" " Ahnost cut my hand off, mother-I was peal. ing a potatoe antd the old knife slipped." " Dont be frightened dear," said Aunt P'atty conming forward, 4'just give me a bit of cotton and sonic haudanuin-thiat is Dr. Lartigue'b ad. vice ana I never knew it fail." Through Aunt Patty's efforts the blood wan soon staunched and we were again seated when J raised may hand to niy head. " Have you the headache, dear," enquired my Aunt ? "Only a temporary throb-I suffer with it oc easionally and the fright has brought it about slightly." " Let me prescribe for you, child. Dr Lar tigue's practice is a cup of hot coffee, a warm bath for the feet and a confortable nap." Surely thouglt I to myself this Dr. Lartigue of Aunt Patty's, must have great success in prac tice-at least, I don't think he can kill many, if his prescriptions are all as harmless as those ad vised by her. During supper the old lady took occasion to mention her Doctor's name several times again, tand I came to the conclusion that, sensible as I knew her to be, she certainly hadl a hobby and that hobby was Dr. Lartigue. So after a while I enquired of her, " Aunt, do tell me who this Dr. Lartigue is, of whom you speak so often ?" Aunt Patty almost bounced out of her chair, frightniig old Ponto and two or three eats who darted from the roon. " Dr. Lartigue ! A ngeline.did you never hear of Dr. Lartigue? Why, child, where have you lived all yonr life ? I thought every body had heard of him. But if you don't know, I'll tell you. In the first place, he imnortalized hin self when young by a certain love seape that lie got into, and -inore than that for miles upon miles around Lingua-ville he dues a great deal of the Doctoring-he writes all the Wills, draws up all the L-and Titles-acts as umpire in settling disputes-goes to all the weddings-kisses the girls-prescribes for the old ladies-cracks jokes at the servants-spoils his wife and pets his chil dren. In fact, he is the oetive principle in every thing pertaining to Lingua-ville, and Lingua ville couldl no more exist without Dr. Lartigue than Dr. Lartiguc could without eating and drinking." " Well, Aunt, what about the love serape?" " Why, did you never hear of his coming within an ace of marrying ever so imany girls at one time ?' "Mercy on me, Aunt Patty ! you eertainly must be joking. Lingua-yille is not settled up with Turks, is it?" " Not quite, dear-but sure it is that Dr. Lar tigue created a great senimation there once, by a scrape of some sort that lie got into." SPlease, that's a good Aunt, tell me all about it," said I, imy organ of ideality having become ixeited toits utrioet tensk'n "iBut firsttell me, is lie hanlsome ? He certainly must be a per feet Adonis." " Dr. Lartigue handsomne ! What an idea! Why child, lie is just the roughest looking fel low you ever laid your eyes upon, and not only so in person but in dress and manners." " What then tuade the girls all fall in love wit, Ihim, Aunt 7" "I did'nt say the girls all fell in love with himi -1 said ie was going to marry several at the same time." " Do Aunt tell me about it." " Well, that's what I can't do dear, and to tell the truth I have always thought fliht it must have been exaggeratcd. let it have bevn what it might ; for Dr. L. is not the tman to do a dishonorable thing-lie nmst have been the victim of eireum stances. Thiugi I .never heard the particulars (for you know I have not lived many years in langua-ville' I have it itn my power to satisfy I you on the subject. Just before I left hunc, James came near getting himself ittto a love serape, and as lie happens to he a great favorite with the Doctor, lie related his history to my son as a warning. James was so much interested that he scribbled it off, sonmthiing like a regular story, and gave it to nie to read ;but, as I was busy fur sonie time before I left, I put it away amonig sonie land papers that I hadl to bring with me, and so if you will got the children to bed and every thing quiet, l will get it out of miy trunk and read it to you." These iinstructions having been obeyed, Aunt Patty requested a servant to take a candlo and go with her to her room, from whence she soon returned with a simall red trunk in one hand and a bundle of papers in the other. " The tmanni Iscript is in this bundle, I think, arid I shall have to look it over to fid it." So sarying shte seated herself near the lamp, put the trunk on the table anid commnenced untying the broad red tape bound round the papers. She first took off a newspaper wvrapper, then a color ed paper one, arid lastly an envelope of parcht menit, and began to look over the doeuments. "Let ame see if this is it," said shre peering seru tinizingly thirough her glasses, " Deed of con veyanc-oh no' this is old John Smith's deed, drawn in 1809, for that land in suit," and she placed it carefully down. " Grant of lanid from his Britanie Mlajesty, George the-oh, no, this is not it." " Plot of land taken by-11ere, dear. do look for it," and she handed me thre brundle. " I believe miy poor eyes are giving out--but you'll know it wvhen you come to it; I got James to label it for me." Thre first paper I looked at was another Deed, the second a codicil to somebody's Will, and I began to think that Aunt Patty must be some what of a lawyer herself. A t last moy eye light ed on a paper, on the back of which was written in a bold copy plaite hano " Veritable History of Dr. Joseph Lartiguc, as related by himself." " This is it Aunt, I suppose," said I reading the title. "YTes, dear, and as I can't see well to-night, Il get yout to read it out, so we can both enjoy it. If there is anmy one's handwriting that I caa read easily, it is may dear Jaies's. It is almost as plain to nme as the primit of my large Polyglott Bible or my new Watts & Rippon that he sent mc, when ho was at Yale. Hie knew, dear fellow, that nothing would please his old mtotber more than a new hymn book." After, getting throngh with some further in stances of James's kindness, she settled herself and I commenced "TIlE REMARKABLE HISTORY OF DR. JOSEPH LARTIGUE." Anno Domini 183-, or thereabouts, two young ladies were sitting at some fancy work in a porch, in the respectable town of Linigua-ville. A click at the gate caused then to look up, when a sprightly girl of seventeen sprang up the steps, "Good morning Caroline ; how do you do Maria. Have you heard the news 7" "News ! no, what is it ?" "Dr. [artigue and Magdalene Winters are to be married next Wednesday three weeks." I. it possible? Well, well, well! I "Yes-going to be married, and so soon too! would you have believed it !" " Never in the world." " Wihy not believe it," said the third young lady looking up quietly. "For very guod reasons, Miss Carey-Min dalene Winters is very pretty, very rich, and a belle; Dr. Lartigue is neither handsome nor very rich, and not much of a beam, and therefore it surprises ite." " Perhaps if you were as well acquainted with Magdalene as 1 am, liss 'Myers, you would not be so much astonished after all. I acknowledge that she is both pretty, rich and a belle-sine also is in possession of a fund of good sense, which will prompt her to choose for herselif a husband who possesses an honest heart and integrity of purpose, rather than a handsome face, and who will allow strict principles of morality and virtue to preponderate in the scale in which its opposite is only a lengthy purse." I- That sounds very well, and I must neknow. ledge to you, Mnss Carey, that if Dr. Lartigue is all you insinuate, it is not so very surprising after all. Ocodl morning. girls." and away ran the volatile but good hearted Etingenia Myers to callon another friend. who lived at the extreme end1 of the town. " flow dlo you do, Matilda? What! sick as usual ?" said shne to Aliss Brent who was always Pick, without a little bit of gos sip to enliven her. " Have you lneard the news 7" " What news 7" exclaimed the victim of en nui. springing up from the sofa. " Why, nothing less than that Dr. Lartigue is to be married to Alagdalene Winters, next Wedmneday three weeks." " I beg your pardon. it is a mistake," put in a sour looking damne, who had entered by an oppo site door. " Dr. Lartigue is to be marriedl next Wednes ilay three weeks, not to Miss Winters but to Adelaide Garlington." " Why, that can't be so-I got it front Dora Freemont, and she is to be N1i.s Winters' brides maid."1 "A nd I got it fron Julia Whitlesbay, who is to be Miss Garlington's bridesmaid,' retorted the ither lady. " Well, we won't quarrel about it." Myers, who saw the color rising to the cross Jame's brow. Ile surely can't be going to mnrry both," al most screamed Matilda Brent quite receuvered Irom her inndmipNaitnim. ; Mercy onl me perheaps he is !" said Eu ;etnia. and away she darted for home. " Char-,le wviat do you think," said sine as sine entered the house, " Dr. Lartigne is to be married next Wedneslay three weeks to Magdalene Winters id Adelaide Garlington." " llurrah! by the Sultan, that will do," said Charles lyers. " Going to marry two girls at one time T Well I by the beard of the l'riphet andi all the thnree tailcd Bashnas between thne Gtulf uf Vennice and the Bosphorus, thne fellow shnould be tied up in a sack anid thrown to tine fishnes." " Rathner have a bowstring roumnd hnis neek," grumbled theo fathner of Eugenia-" I hope you will hnave nothinng to say to hnim Jenny.' " No indeed, pa-heeau't catch mne. I tink he will finnd his hnands full withn two wvives to uanage-I guess he would bo put to it, with three." Thne nnews flew like wild-fire annd in a few dlays it wvas reported all over tine country that D~r. Lartigue was to be mnarried to two, some sanid to five or six girls tine samen nighnt. "Aunnt," said I stopping shnort, " it hnas just oc curred to mc whiy your town is called Lingua ville. I guess front what I hnave read that it must hnave been formecrly a great place for gossip."~ "Fornerly ! yes dear, not ontly formnerly, bitt to thnis day-and I ann afraid that a tmore approp ite name for it will never be found, for James tells me " Lingua'' stands for tongune. It is nothing but tittle-tattie front Monday-yes, from Sun day morning till Saturday nighnt. 'The Lingua villians have so mnuch business to attend to for other people, thnat thney don't find much tie to attend to their owtn concerns, and if it was not for Dr. Lartigue-but do, dear, go on ; I want to know if he really was going to nmarry two girls at onee ?" Now, patient reader, that I have given you tine quintescnce of tine gossip upon tine subject, I will ptroceed, withn cousin James, to enlightenn you as to tho truth of the muatter, as given by tine slanndered Doctor to him, but reported in cousin James's. own language, as nearly as I now remember it. " Dr. Lartigune, after comibating manfully with the obstack' s whnich orphnan boys frequently meet with ,had acquired a tespectable education. and commenced thne study of medicine with a high ly respectable physician. He was a young stu dent anjl susceptible, and his preceptor was rich in tine pouseasion of a very lovely daughnter, his only child, tine pride and glory of his old age. Day after day, as young Lartigueo met tho sweet wining beanns of Magdalene's violet eyes, he felt tine fascination of their guileless'influence, and bowed to its thraldom, anid before he left hner nrescence, for the regions of a Northcrn winter, and for- the mental struggles which were to enable hiufe. pass creditably through the first Medical tIniversity in thu United States, lie had deteinined, if the coveted goal was attained, and thi acme of his hopes sub stantiated, to lay hieart and diploma together at her feet ; but ifWe was rejected he would throw the parchliet in the Mississippi, and himself fly to the mln, if he could-anywhere, so he never heard of-ler again. The race was run-4-the victory achieved, and after having stood 'favulnerable the battering forces of scores of yankee damsels, he returned to his home and hisfirst love. They met-he trusted she loved hiin for the crimson tide of life sufl'used her face -*ith innumerable blushes, which his captive healt interpreted most favora bly, and he determined that he would soon know his fatg. A w days after their first mecting a pie-nie was to come off in Lingua ville. The young 'Doctor, after spending full live minutes at the glass (a thing which he had never been known to be guilty of before in his life,) hununing all the while from Burn's spirited " Bruce's address at Bannockburn," ' Now's the day and, now's the hour,' started full tilt down stairs, vas soon out of the door, and on the street with a white silk glove on one hand, a black woollen fine on the other-his pocket handkerchief, a flaming bandanna) on his neck, his cravat in his hand-one boot fairly glistning in its doat of " Day & Martin's best." tie other looking a if it had never felt a brush. Ilis landlady saved him from exposing iin self, fur just having returned from market, she net lim a blort distanot from the door, and in her horror and astonishtment let fall her basket, his eilbrts to collect the scattered contents of which brought them both to their senses. " in the nane of grieiols, Dr. Lartigue, you re not going to the dpic-nic in that trim are The mesmerized son of Esculapius looked first t his hands, then at hiis feet, and rushed back to the house at the rate of ten knots an hour. Ile $oon adjusted his toile4te to his full satisfaction, nd made another move toward the Eeene of restivity. Before gaining the gMve he met with a friend )f his, a ward of Dr. W'mters, and consequent lyve. ntimate T~family. After the usual salntations were gnotrough wit~1If Wayne, with a knowing wink began to banter he Doctor as to his. afaire de rur. " Have ou popped the question yet, Lartigue ?" "No, Wayne, but to be candid with you I nust know my fate to-day " " Too lite, Lartigic; what do you think of his ?" and lie drew fron his vest pocket a deli ately perfumed paper. from which he took a iny boquet, a simiple bay leaf and sprig of rose Ieranmmi. The poor Doctor staggered hack as if strick :a by an invisible hand, but after making a pow rful effort at compsureli he replied quickly, Very good, Wayne-I wish you all happiness. imi turned away, calling (-very feeling of pride lad resentment to his bosom to enable him to eet the day-star of his existence, without etraying how dleeply lie felt himself injured. But two days before, lie had seen those same ramiatic leaves conlined together by the deli mte azure ribbon, (the emublem of constaney) ia heard fron her own sweet lips, how that lie bay signified " Preference"-the geranium I- change but in dlying." and oh ! how lie had oreted those simple emblems of God's love to liis dciendent and erring children, that lie might ind them to his heart as a talisman to guard in fronm every evil-and they. giren to anotha r! atnd that at the very time when his heart ounded at the prospeet of hearing from her >wn sweet voice the confirmation of his boyish ireas-his moore matured hopes ! Alas ! mour Dr. Lartigue ! Alas! unfortunate upid ! htow often hast thou sprung thy bow in v~ery thoughtlessness, verifying the sentiment eedlessly engraven on thy 'quiver.-" Full nny a heart is caught in the rebouind." The Doctor, in common with all the rest of he sons atid daughters of our frail mother, had s weaknesses-very trivial indeed, but still hey were weaknesses. He was rather inmpul uive and somnetimtes acted unguardedly. On gaining the grove, ehanc first led him to he group in which was Magdalento Witers, hlatting familiarly with Wayne wvho had pre ,eded him. With an icy bow, which sent the Aood fromt the fair cheek of the poor girl in a )rning torrent to her heart, he passed on to mother in wvhich a very sprightly, intelligent roung lady was the centre of attraction. In a rery fewv imomntts Dr. Lartigue wais in their iidst, carryinigon an interesting conversation vith Miss Garlington. Pleased with her attrae ive manners and charmed by her vivacity, hte iegan to feel indeed that Ite mightt find another wto would compensate him for the loss of his rarly love, and as the conviction would fore tself upon him,,thiat. she had indirectly at least lightd herself to anmothter, he determined thtat t would forget her--that she~should be shut out rom his heart forever. The day passed on, the Doctor showing un remitting attentionts to Miss Garlington, whilst Wayne paid his devoirs to Miss Winter. 'Tis rue that once or twice the Doctor caught a rather reproachful glance frori the latter, which e construed into looks of contempt or disgust. Th more assiduous Wayne was to Magdalene, the more did his rival endeavor to..forget her, nd transmit his afl'eetions to Adeaide.--Every lthing iust have an cnd and so had the pie-nie. rh weather being beautiful and the streets in Inc order for walking, a great many returned some on foot. The Doctor, gave Miss Garling :on his arm and they proceeded to the residence Garlington had a sort of a liking for the young Doctor and kept at a respectful distance behind. Every thing seemed propitious and the Doctor commenced-" Do you believe in love at first sight. Miss Garlington ?" "I do sir-there is iothing to me half so ro mantic! " Do you thing that one could love as ardent ly the man whomu she had just become acquaint ed with, as if she had known him for years ?" "Certainly; I should think that one could love more devotedly when unaware of the weaknesses and failings of which every one must be more or less the victim whilst young." " Miss Garlington, I never had the pleasure of an acquaintance with you before to-day, need I declare to you that the inpression you have made on my heart can never be efihced ? Could you return the love of one so utterly unworthy ? The young lady, flattered perhaps by the conquest of the newly dubbed M. D., gave a favorable answer, and ere they gained the house they had plighted their vows of love. For several days Mrs. Garlington's servant was kept busy opening the door for the newly affianced worshiper of ]lippocrates, or rubbing his finger marks from oI the bright brass knocker. A but a week after the pie-nic, on his home ward-way the Doctor miiet hiis friend Wayne, by whom lie was accosted thus-" I say Lartigue why do you go so often to Mrs. Garlington's ?" "I did not know, Mr. Wayne, that I was ac countable to you for my actions." " I know that, Lartigue, but.[ am anxious to know why you go there ?" "I do not acknowledge your right to act as father confessor to me, sir," said the Doctor haughtily. " Lartigue I know that you are angry. I he seech you to be cool. I at afraid that I have wronged you. mv friend. Magdalene Winters did not give moe those leaves I showed you-I took them from her when I almost knew she in tended them for you. I acted the rascal toward you-e-an you forgive me ?" abmost screammed the repentant Wayne, as lie sprang forward to catch the horror stricken victim oif his fun. " I heard you speaking to Magdalene about the boquct heard her interpret the language, and when you left) I saw her place them in a book which you g ,Cve ik fi"INIE possession of my brain. I took them before her -she entreated with tears in her eyes that I should give them back, but I, too intent on wor rying you, would not do it." " You have made ic a villain by that Satanic trick. I have promised to wed another whom, before my God, I thought I loved. In my indig nation at what I believed the most heartless coquettry, I determined to forget Magdalene, but now that I know that I was deceived, my love for the idol of my youth has returned in full power." And the strong man wept. Woman may weep, for her nature is gentle, and her sympa thies easily excited., but when man weeps, then (god help him ! Then there is oceasio in for tears -thei surely a deemon would conlassionate. Lartigue, by all diat is holy I only intended| to worry you-say, can you forgive me? I feel that I can never forgive myself." "Your indiscretion is nothing to mine, Wayne. I have involuntarily deceived one whom I believe to be a paragon among her sex. To marry her would be to perjure myself in the sight of God -would mamke me unutterably wretched. What shall I do ? " "Iartigue, it may be presumption in mc to advise after acting the part that I have-but, let me entreat you, go to Miss Garlington. ex plain things to her as they really are, and if she is the woman I take her to be, she will release you unhesitatingly and without a single devia tion frmu self respect." Without a word Dr. Lartigue turned back and in ten minutes was with Miss Garlington, Without any preface and with all humility, lhe gave a strict explanation and begged her not to despise him. With the dignity which would have become a princeess, she answered him. "Dr. Lartigue, so far from despising you, I honor and admire the mnagnanimity with which you have explained away your conduct. You have a full and unconditional release, and miay Ileaveun smile on you and her, who is tho chosen of your heart! My vanity was excited at the idea of being loved at first sight. I feel now that we have both acted precipitately." Thc Doctor with a fervent out-pouring of thanks and a load of adamant removed fronm Ihis bosonm, left her. hMiss Garlington Auid beeni rather precipitate, for the day before she had in a spirit of pleasanstry asked a friend to act as bridesmadi. The friend, from recnt circum stances, guessed who was to be the groom hence the report. The Doctor proceeded from Mrs. Garlington's directly to Dr. Winters'. He met Magdalene in the flower garden, invited her to a scat in an arbour, and there with the beamus of Heaven shining benignly upon theam, poured into her not unwilling ear, vows of love honorable as ever glowed in the breast of man. They were en gaged. Gossip with her Argus eys her ten thousand tongues and ten times ten thousand envenomed stings was abroad. Things were magnified and misconstrued, until Lingna-ville was in a perfect fever of excitem'ent. But of this the doomed Doctor was ignorant. A t last one morning about a week before the intended mar ringe, a tiote. wvas brought in by. a servant rca questing his immediate attendance at Dr. Win ters'. -With a slcknin'g presentinment of evil, he hastened to obey tho' summons. A servant ushered him into the parlour in which ho found Margdalene nane3 her faeale as.. deat. ch. bowed very coldly and requested him to be seated. Scarcely knowing what he did, he placed his lint on the piana and seated himself on the sofa at her side-" Magdalene," he said en deavouring to take her hand, " tell ie what is the matter ?" She moved farther off and with as much severi ty as her sweet nature could assume, answered, "Dr. Lartigue,-a few moments ago, I heard front undoubted authority that but a few days before you addressed me, you engaged yourself to liss Carlington. Your engagement with me from this moment ceases. I both pity and for give you." " So spoke the cherrub and the grave rebuke Severe in youthful beamy ad led Invieible.' She rose to leave the room. Pride, that bane of man's happiness, took possession of our hero's bosom-he made no explanation, but rose to and offered his hand. '' Let us at least part as friends, Miss Winters, for we part forever. May you find one who will prove to you far more than I could ever hope to be. God bless you!" and lie rushed fron the room. Antid now did the hydra, scandal, spit forth her inot virulent poison. Soic said that Dr. Lartigue had promised to marry every girl in Lingua-ville. Others said lie was engaged to t vo or three dozen at the- North who were anx iously awaiting him. The young ladies frowned and tossed teir heads at him as he passed. The old ones avoided him as they would have done the plague. The streets of Lingua-ville were thronged from morning until night. Groups collected in the stores, at the Post Oflice, near the doors of the Churches. The ladies had con rerzationes and tea parties--revived their sew ing society--tie temperance so:iety had a meetiig -all to disi ass Dr Lartigue. The odd-fellows: No! Heaven bless the odd-fellows! they had nothing to do with it. Their motto is " Truth, Love, Charity,"-they. could not so far forget them. They could never condescend to slander a man to death. But such another stew as Liti gua-ville worked itself into, never was, and never will be known again through all time. Two old ladies died, actually diel of goss'p. One talked herself into an inflamatory fever, her organ of wonder being astonishingly well developed-the'other from inaction after the gosrip. Dr. Lartigue s friends soon become like angels visits, "few and far between." A few tried and true stood by him nobly. As for the Doctor's patients, the very few that were willing to trust their lives in the hands of such a monopolizing monster, come near paying dearly for their recklessness. Now the Doctor was more of a loineopathist than any thing else, and bread pills, starch powders, and lavenler flavored water imade up the suni total of the contents of his nedicine chest. It is true, for the name of the thing, lie had lail in a sniall quantity of calomel and tartar emntie. but the above mentionel harmless arerient<, absorbets, or what ever else lie ints n.led them- t, be were his favorite nedicins-always excepting qunine fror chills.and opium for aches and pains. Such was the state of mind of the poor fellow, that on being called in to see an old lady who was troubled with the heart burn, and for which he intended giving a table spoon full of powder of starch, lie mistook the paper and gave her calomel instead. As good luck would have it, he found out his mistake time enough to save her by an cmetic. To t, other he gave an over dose of opiutm for assa fetida, which caused the patient to sleep for sevcral days, andl it was a wonder the poor crea ture ever got over it; she looked sleepy for weeks and months after. Time with hmis never-tiring wing moved on wvard, anid things finally became more quiet. The Doctor got so that he could look up once mtore. The ladies began to smile on hinm again. but lhe proved to be as the air invulnerable, lie tmet his old loves with great comiposure of nian nur and with his hand on his heart conld truth fully exclamimt: " The conflict is over, the struggle is past, I have looked, I have loved, I have worshiped my last, Now back to the world and let fate do her worst On the heart, that for thee such devotion hiath niursed." In due course of time, one of the young ladies married a man of high standing, and the other, who wvas reported to be in a decline, wvent with her friends to Europe. Friends again began to gather, from sheer admiration at the mannecr with which lie bore his vieissitude. Hie bought a farm in the environs of Lingua-ville, hiad a cottage built and removed thither. The girls hoped that his heart was not quite shattered to pieces; but though he showed respect to all, waited on them when it canmo in his power, lhe never ventured-to pay particular attention to any. About three years after these memorable events, whilst visiting some friends twenty or thirty- miles fromi home, ho stumbled across the path of an 4 uneo -wee thittg, just frae from her manmmie," as wild and almost as unlettered as a Pattawatomy Princess. True, she had been a fesw yoars at a boarding school-spent a few win ters in a city-but what of that ? She knewv about as much as many others who enjoy the like advantages, conmparatively nothing. The Doctor was pleased with her, gave her a history of his fornier loves, and courted her. She was ardent, imipulsive, and in "maiden meditation fancy free;" and in sheer gratitude that one shoda love such a fijil, faulty mortal as herself retitt-ned to him the full measure of his love, and Dr-. Lartiguo andinmma Meclenry werec hiar ried.- - Here the manuscript closed-and In a short time every eye was closed about the house; .for thm 1hour ofr est 1h1 filly arrived, Aunt Patty continued with us for several weeks. Her law-suit was at length gained, and she returned to Lingua-ville, her " dear James" and scarcely less dear Dr. Lartigue. By aletter received from her shortly thereafter, we learned that said Doctor and his lady were very patterns of married life-that the once scandalized man had made one of the best and noblest of hus bands-that his little wife was as entirely devoted to him ashe was to her-and that, in short, they were enjoying the very essence of connubial bliss. And, we doubt not, they are enjoying the same on this very 6th of February, 1852. From the Charleston Mercury, Gth inst. The South Carolina Bail-Road and the Augusta Bridge. Attention is called to the advertisement of the Agent of the South Carolina Rail-Road Company in this day's paper, in reference to the delivery of goods at Augusta. It will be perceived that there is no change of rates in consequence of recent events. The circumstances which called forth this announcement ought to be explained. In the year 1850 the Legislature of South Car olina conferred on Henry Shultz of Ham burg, the right to levy tolls on the passage neross the Savannah. river-the charter be fore granted under which the city of Augus. ta claimed that right, having expired. No attempt was ever made to enforce this right till recently, when Gen. Jones and J. J. Ken nedy, the assignees and administrators of Mr. Slhultz, revived the right and have erected a toll gate near the bridge and establi.,hed a tariff of tolls, with the consent of the Town Council of Hamhurg. This proceeding has produced much excitement in Augusta, and at a called Meeting of Council the following proceedings took place: Frnt-ARy 3d, 1852.-Mr. Harper intro duced the following Preamble and Resolu. tion-., which were passed. The City Council of Augusta have been infornied, on credible authority, that certain individuals have, with the consent of the Town Council of Hamburg, erected a Toll house and put up a gate in one of the streets of that town, near the Augusta Bridge, for I lie purpose of enforcing, under the provision of a charter granted by the State of -South Carolina to Henry Shultz, the collection (if what is called Toll, for passing said Bridge, which is not the property or the parties about to attempt to collect said contributioi, .b' : belouirt1 the ei ZvotAuga. here other authoritv than that of the City Council of Augustat, who own said Bridge, such full toll be charvred by the Bridge Keeper for passing said Bridge, as the charter allows. Resolved, That as soon as reliable infor mation shall be received by his Honor the Mayor, that said attempt to eolleet such con tribution. improperly called Toll. is abandon ed, the rates of toll at said Bridge, shall thenceforth be the same as they are at pre sent. A true extract from the minutes of Coun cil, February 3d, 1852. (Signed) L. L. ANTONY, Clerk of Council. "TiE FATr.L ExFCUTION OF TiE LAW.' -The Fhiiladelphia PennsvIavian makes the following comments an *the eonelusion of the long farce of the Chiristiana trials. The " finalit y of the compromise" i beauti fully illustrated by these proeeedings. "We learn from the Lancaster Intelli geneer, that the Christira murderers and rioters have been finally discharged, and the grave charges preferred against them entirely abandoned. This ends the whole proceed igs. The United States court may have done their duty and the grand jury of Lan easter county may have discmarged their obligations, but the truth is palpable, that the murdering of one mian, and the serious wounding of another, still remains unvindi eated. Thle laws of this State were recklessly visolated-the Constitution and lawvs of the United States were trampled under foot, and a citizen of another State ruthlessly assassi nated by a band of desperate fanaties-and yet not one of the murderers were discov ered or puntishied. And all'this- occurred in Pennsy'lvania-in the midst of a people piroverbial for their devotion to the common int erests of the entire country-in the broad blbze of open day-with an ex-governor al most within hearing of the tumult-and, no one has been punished. There is a neg lect somewhiere--there is a flagrant viohlion of diuty, the precedent of wvhich will be in fluent-ial for future trouble and disorder. The Christiana ridts, resulting in death and bloodshed, wiil long be remembered wvtth shame by the people of this State, and re garded with indignation by the citizens of the whole Union. The off'ended majesty of laiw, and violated dignity of order, have been either ignorantly or contemptuously neglet ed ; and wherever the fault lies the retribu tion will be dreadful." A rapper in New England, of the Andrew Jackson Daviis school, professes to have had a recent coinmunicatioti from the spirit of Ethan Allan, ini which he stated that he and Tom Paine were stopping at a hotel kept by John Bunyan.. Iarr'onTAxT To LAik5t.-The following is recommended as a sure way of rendering the colors in calicoes permanent, and prevent them fading by subsequent washing: "iinfuse three gills of salt in four quarts of boilin" water, and yit the calicoes in while hot, an2 leave until cold."' A rich bachelor of'New Jersey recently died, leaving by will several legacies of fronm ten to twenty-iive hundred dollars each,'to ladies whom he had addressed, but who had rejected him. He said that they had after wards grown so ugly that he could not be sufficiently grateful. " WooD is the thing after all," as the man witli a pine leg said when the mad dog bit it. - To Ascurazx A YOUNG LADIES AOE. Ask her mother, aneutpytlaalw by t wo. The quint mil bm om.au