University of South Carolina Libraries
? - " % " ~ ? h " *t. , a ' . * ? ^ /. ' --- !*? -5 - v s$y ' - ..' * ." ' . v* * * - ? ^ - * r * ^ "* * '. ?fl j ? "!jr' ^ ' < ' *?-"*" * % * s' ,y /**" *,|[7* * # -v* ''jt* ' *' lewis *. obist, proprietor. j ?#. |ntoj?fr?ri jarnils lmwpf?: 'jw % ^r<tm?rfiorn of t|t |)oljtfrai, jsotial, ^griraltaal rnrti comotcrrial fitftrafs of %?oofjj. |t8bim?os bq^atcm^ib^aotabcu ' VOLUME XI. ~ ' yORKVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 11, 1866. . ' ;' rNUMSER 3& , tolg. . Written for t&e Yorkville Enquirer. BLUB A! GREF; ?B, THE FORTUNES OF WAR. BY CIiAUPB yORRBSTEH. CHAPTER H. L An explanatory chapter is necessary for the proper understanding of what has already been related, as veil as what is to follow. Mr. Dttdoan Rogers was an old, well-todo merchant of three score years of age, a native of Cumberland, England. Three man nrior to the American war, revolution, rebellion, or whatever the reader may be pleased to term the late sanguinary conflict, resulting in such disaster to the South ; be married the widow of a Canadian merchant, having lost his first wife Borne years previous, and removed to this country with' his only daughter, Ellen, then in her thirteenth year, the ehild, of course, of bis first wife. The present Mrs. Rogers was a 'woman of rare beauty and accomplishments, but totally different, in every imaginable respect, from the mother of Ellen, whose place she was now called upon to fill. It was a matter of surprise to Mr. Rogers' friends, what eould have Induced a man of his age and habits to contract a marriage with a widow of thirty-five, whose only reputation was an excessive love of dress, a constant attendant at every opera, bail and soiree, and a general fondness for display. But as man is an inconsistent oreatore in all olimes and atall ages, it would be unjust to expect that bis actions in life should be actuated by sugbt but passion and caprice, or that a 'reason why should be expected of him for any of the absord and unwise steps Which far may be inolined to take. MrsRogers was evidently pleased with the mstob, tnd her husband was satisfied; and if the parties immediately oonoerned, saw no disparity in age, taste and habit, or, id short, do objections to the union, then you and I, reader, should not interfere Mrs. Rogers was by no means destitute of some of the most amiable and laudable qualities. Whatever may have been her fruits?some of them were glaring?tbey could generally be traced more to the disorganised aad neglected brain, than to the yrilful perversity of a corrupt heart?more W education than nature. A woman of the most indomifebJ? will, glaring egotism and selfishness, ah*-was shogefeker unfitted <xs a companion for a sedate, quiet and pliable old man- like Mr. Rogers, and totally out'of place as guide, advisor and preceptor to the sweet, gentle and lovely Ellen, with all her unspoken longings and passionate enthusiasm of temperament. * It was oot many months after this unnatural union, when both parties awoke to the consciousness of their folly. Neither oould satisfy their minds with a satisfactory why and wherefore of the marriage. In the eye of law something bad been said, some form gone throngb, which constituted them busband and wife; bat to their own minds everything was vague and unsatisfactory, and the memory of their nuptial vows?a lie before God and man?brought with it no freshness of delight, uo thrill of joy. 'And who is Susan V the reader will very naturally ask. Hers is rather a romantic, but none the less melanoholy story. It ' seems, that while ou the passage from England to America, this girl, who was accompanied by herfr tber and mother, took quite ? frnoy to, and was constantly courting the society of little Ellen, both ohildren being about the same age. During a terrific storm which had almost proved fatal to the vessel, the mother of Susan?an authoress pf some notoriety, by the way?while standing npon the deck of the vessel, looking over the stern upon the boiling waters beneath, dis covered' what jb# supposed to be a aeaa body, floating oat apoa the current She called to the oaptain, wbo was staodieg by, sod pointed to tbe object which bad attracted her attention. The oaptsio saw nothing and advised her -to go down into tbe oabin, as the storm was Increasing and her position bd exceedingly dangerous one. Regardless of bis expostulations, she got upou Kannk tn nhtain a better view of the a u?g? ? ,,, ... , bodj, wbiob bad now floated far astern, and just aboat requesting the captain to do likewise, when a heavy sea struck the vessel, careening her away over to leeward, shifting the cargo in the hold and threaten, ing the immediate destruction of the vessel. To eontinue the atory, in the captain's own words: 'I was thrown violently upon the deck, and would have been swept overboard, bat oatohing hold of the rigging with a death grasp, I awaited nntil the vessel righted herself somewhat, wbioh she did in a few moments. To my otter* consternation, I discovered, opon regaining toy feet, that both the lady and the helmsman bad been swept overboard. The alarm was given, and while directing all hands, except a half dozen stoat fellows, to throw most of the oargo overboard so as to right the vessel, I saoceeded in lannohing the life-boat with all possible baste, hoping, almost hopelessly, to be able to rescue the unfortunate creatures, who were seeD feebly straggling for their lives. Six of my best men had manned the life-boat, and bad but just placed their oars in position when the has* band of the unfortunate lady, wbo bad by Borne means heard of the accident, rushed upon deok and insisted upon going in the .boat. I was about to reason with the demented man, when be suddenly brushed by me, jumped over the gunnels and fell heav. ilv across the boat, striking the'baok of his bead against the iron oar pios and otherwise injuring himself. The poor man was carefully lifted upon deck, but died in a few momenta after. Bia wife oould not be' v V * a_. [saved, owing to the accident to himself, which detained the boat too long.' Such is the oaptain's brief story of this tragic occnrranoe, whioh left poor little Susan ah inoonsolable orphan, away from her Dative land, among strangers, and upon the pathless waste of waters. What was to be done with her in this desolation? The ohild was questioned in reference to her Relatives in England, but oould give no definite information, except that shje had a brother a few years older than herself, who was living with her uncle at Liverpool. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, after some little consultation, backed by the earnest entreaties of little Ellen, oonoluded to constitute themselves guardians of the little orphan, until some inquiries oonld be made in England, in regard to the remaining relatives. The oaptain bad no objections to this arrangement, provided the parties would, upon re- 1 ception of the baggage belonging to the deoeased parents, give him an acknowledgment in writing, also a statement of the safe delivery of the ohild, accompanied by the signatures of some three or four passengers as witnesses. This was done; and from that hour to the time at whioh our story opens, Susan, now in her sixteenth year, was an inmate of Mr. Rogers' family ?the old man's pride and blessing, and Ellen's dearest friend. Strange to say, though Mr. Rogers bad often written to Manchester, the native oity of Susan, he had received no reply ; and neither were SosaVs letters to hefr brother, in Liverpool, ever answered to That the unfortunate parents of the girl were wealthy at the time of their deaths, there oould be no doubt, not only from the information imparted by Susan, herself, but from the actual contents of their trunks.? The quantity and quality of the jewels and dresses, together wtih the large amount of gold and silver coin and bills of.exohange wbiob these trunks contained, proved oonolosively that Susan's parents were much more than ordinary travellers. Most of this money bad been deposited, by Mr. Bogers, in one of the banks of tbp ojty of Charleston, but, was afterwardi invested in Confederate Bonds. The-jewels, however, are { still in Susan'* possession, and are a little fortune in themselves, go qjqph then for SuBan Mansfield, by way of introductionEllen Rogers was a most beautiful girl of Efeventeen summers. Mrs Rogers Vas food of ber as a child is fond of a toy?a boy of hi? BPW jacket. Sbe delighted to be seen with Ellen; and, straqged tq say, re alizcd intense satisiaotion ai toe aaminiuou eliotad by J^Ilep's beaqty. Does the reader understand this P 1 cannot say that EL- j len was loved by Mrs. Rogers, in the true i sense pf |be word, love; fdr snob was not i the case. And yet stio loved her society, admired her loveliness as one admires a fine landscape, and seemed to be attraoted towards her by an irresitable potency. If the imagine what a frame feels for its picture, or a casket for its .fetyel? supposing .khav idea may btf formed of what Mrs Rogers felt tolf^d9 EUen; bat as do saob idea can be formed, j neither can Mrs. Rogers' be anderstood in any of her feelings or fancies. Ellen con tributed to ber happiness, added to her j pleasures and increased the sense of her i enjoyments; and it was the happiness, the 1 pleasure and enjoyments that she loved? , not Ellen. To say that Mr. Rogers loved bis only daughter, would be saying far too little.? i There was idolatry in bis heart towards 1 her, almost sinfol iq its intensity; not be- i oause the flame.was kindled from unholy firej, but because the smoke arising from . that flame blinded him to the beauty above ' him, and shut out from his vision the image 1 of Him who hatb said : 'The Lord thy ' God is a jealous God.' 1 It was stated that Ellen was the only 1 daughter of Mr. Rogers, but not his only ( child. A son, a few years older than El leq, }eft the paternal roof immediately after ' the marriage of bis father on account of some remarks of Mrs Rogers wbiob be did not feel disposed to take as coolly as his 1 father could have wished, and, up to the time qt whiph our story opens, nothing whatever bad been beard of him. The old man bad used every effort to ascertain hie whereabouts, but all in vqin; and, to the oredit of 1 bis step-mother, be it said, sh*e too had quite exhausted her ingenuity in efforts and fruitless plans to bring back to the arms of his father and sister, the homeless wanderer. Suffer me to introduce soother character before resuming my story, in whom the reader, no doubt, already feels some interest Edwin Williams, a native of Providence, -l Rhode Island, hearing of a situation as : book-keeper, in a large mercantile estab- 1 lisbment in Charleston, and having been ; advised by bis family pbysioian to seek a , warmer olimate, oame to the city about a ' year previous to the war and suoeeeded in obtaining the situation at quite a lucrative salary. Bringing letters of introduction to. some of the best families iu the city, it was not long before be found himself moving in quite an agreeable circle of friends, and ' Knnuli fiilirronf ill htlflineSS dunDST the dUV. '"""b" e> ? w ... bis evening's were mostly taken up among bis young lady friends at some party or J soiree, to which he was constantly invited Mr. Williams was handsome, agreeable in manners, intelligent and well informed to a ! surprising degree for a man of his age, who j had seen so little of the world and moved j in such a contracted circle. Now, it so happened, that Ellen, who, much against her owd will, generally accompanied the fashionable Mrs. Rogers wherever she went, was present at a large party to which Mr. Williams had been invited. Struok with her almost faultless beauty and fascinating grace, he sought and Obtained, during the evening, an introduction to the beautiful girl, who, all unconsciously, was winning ' the admiration of every eye, and making sad havoc among the hearts of the gallants. Ellen was shy, retiring, and rather too much reserved In her manners for a young girl, * . iiL .t. . ii} bat this was exactly what captivated young Williams; precisely what seemed to him her peculiar loveliness and beaaty. Mrs. Rogers, without waiting to ascertain anything of his character or position and simply pleased with his address and handsome exterior, gave him, at the oonoinsibn of the party a cordial and pressing invitation to visit her hoose as often ** he might make it convenient, and this was done without consulting Ellen or even mentioning the faot to her As a matter of course, Williams found it convenient to call very often, ? * t ?l n _ i Tin._ so oiten, id iacc, coat doiq oqssd ana niiieu began to talk seriously over tbe matter and to question tbe propriety of suob marked, attentions, which had already began to be noticed and commented upon by tbeir friends. Bat Mtb. Sogers insisted that die girls should entertain him, in spite of all their unwillingness to do 30; and EHen, over whom her step-mother seethed to exert*an irresistable control, quietly submitted to do as she was bid without a murmur. Now, Ellen, my dear/ Mrs. Rogers would say sing that little Spanish air for Mr. Williams,1 as she took the timid girl by the hand and led her, like & ohild, to the piano Tbe little Spanish air would be sung without a word of remonstrance. Now, Ellen, my darling, let Mr. Williams hear how well you can play that charming Sweedish Waits.' The Waltz was played. Then turning to Williams, Mrs. Rogers would say, 'Ellen has full oommand of her instrument, you see, sir.' These and like remarks were made, maklog* the blood orimson the cheeks of poor Ellen; as she felt that her step-mother was simply making an exhibition of her for the entertainment of ber visitor, regardless of every feejing of delioaoy. The fact of the matter was, Mrs. Rogers seemed to exert her utmost efforts to draw Mr. Williams' attention to all of Ellen's graces, accomplishments and acquirements as frequently *as possible; though, it should be said, that Mr. Williams ? J MA A MAA mmm U?iAMAH Una ucoucu uu ttonistauuD wuaiovoi iu tuat icopeot, as be was already too muob attracted for his own peaoe of mind. Now, it so happened tiiat Mr. Rogers seldom got from the coanting house until very late at nigbl, and these visits of Mr. j Williams were encouraged without the old man's knowledge.* One night before leaving, Mr. Williams mentioned "the faot that a grand launch of the gunboat, Palmetto State, was to take place on the following Thursday, and invited Mrs. Rogers and JSllep pud Susaq to* acoqpipanj him in a private carriage tp ^itpess the nautical exhibition. Snsan politely declined, stating as a reason, that there were so inany drpnkep soldiers about, that- she did not think any ladles would bo present. Mr. Williams oolored and seemed mortified that be should have ventured to give the invitation) but Mrs. Rogers eame io bis rescue by a cordial acceptance of the invitation for Ellen, and herself, not forgetting to adminjster a stern rebuke to Snsan for what she considered a very pert and uplady like reftfsal- That very night ?9990 made it her business to to Mr. Rogers at his return, and ask his opinion about the propriety of allowing Bllen to aocept the invitation. The consequences were just what the intelligent reader would have expeoted. The old mau kindly, but firmly refused to ooDsent to any suoh thing. 'So far as Alice is oonoerned,' said be, 'she can do as she pleases?as she always does-~but Ellen shall not attend the lauoh or any other exhibition, until I know more of the young man of whom you speak/ This was immediately communicated to Ellen, who resolved to obey her father and decline the invitation. Here the matter rested until a day before the launoh was to take place, when a written invitation was received by Mrs. Rogers for herself and the two girls, from Mr. Williams, to wbioh she gave a written acceptance on her own responsibility. 'Matters having gone thus far, Mrs. Rogers felt herself bound, as a lady, to fulfil her engagemeots, feeling herself quite equal to the task. Alas for poor J31len ! Mrs. Rogers proved too powerful an' antagonist for ?ber; and, after a series of arguments, threats, entreaties and promises, the girl yielded a final, but felnotant conBent. Now, Mrs. Rogers consoled herself with the 'flattering unction' that sbe oonld witness the launch and return long before her hnsband could get baok from the office, and thus nothing would be said or koowo about the matter. It so happened, however, that Mr. Rogers, feeling UuTT.1! LhaL ^MOOQ, j and observing that there was every appearance of rain, returned at an earlier hour, only to fipd the state of things recorded in the last chapter, and to perase the cold, heartless, business like relation of bis idolized daughter's miraculous preservation from so tragical a death. We may imagine his feelings?tbey cannot be described. CHAPTER III. (But why have you taken such a dislike to the young man V asked Mrs. Rogers, as herself and husband sat together in the parlor, some days after the acoideut related in the opening chapter. (You are determined to misuaderstand me, Alice,' replied Mr. Rogers in a tone of fretfulness and impatience. fI do uot dislike Mr. Williams, in the ordinary sense of that word. God knows that I am under lasting obligations to him for saving the life of dear Ellen. His berpio act in periling his own life for her sake, entitles him to my warmest praise and gratitude; but Alice, notwithstanding all this, I again repeat, that I disapprove of his visits?bis nightly visits to my house; without my knowledge of consent. It strikes me, bowever, you may view the matter, that his own sense of propriety might be sufficient to oonvinoe him of the grant injustioe he does the girls, by thus calling the attention of the neighbors to his repeated visits, leaving them to infer the existence of a % \ peculiar relationship, which does not, to my 1 knowledge, at least, really exist.' t 'I am not so sure that I understand you,' said the lady. 1 (Understand me/ said the old man, f drawing hip obair nearer to the lounge upon 1 whioh Mrs. Rogers, daintily reclined.? ] (Never fear about that Alice; for it is my j purpose to be understood. You want plain e . 11 ? TT7-1I _L.i T . umk, ao you i rraii, wiw. x mesa mi amj is just this: if fir. Williams makes* babit of visiting my boose every evening everybody will take it for granted that he is * paying attention to Susafi or Ellen, with a view to marriage.' 'Well, what of that 7'aaked the lady. 'What of that P repeated the old man, 'why snob an impression would be ealetria-' ted to do injustice to both the youug gentleman and the girls, who have no idea of each a thing.' * 'You speak knowingly, I presume ?' said the lady, smiling and looking wondroosly . wise. 'Yoo have, do doubt, ascertained, beyond afLdoubt, that the parties in question have no idea of snoh a thing/ 'Of oonrse, they have not,' said Mr. Bog- era. 'But, suppose, for the sake of argument,' said' the lady, intently watohing the countenance of her husband, 'that Mr. Williams really has the intentions wbioh you so much doubt?what then?' 'What then 1' repeated the old man, starting from his seat, 'and pray, who is this Mr. Williams, that he should have the presumption to make any such advances, without first oonsulttug me? In my day, a youug man, never ventured even to visit a youug lady, with a view to matrimony, without first obtaining permission from her father or guardian to pay his addresses.? And pray, which of the girls has it pleased the yonng gentleman, in his condescension, to b"leot-r8a6an of Ellen ?' , /there yon go !' exclaimed Mrs. Rogers. 'Yon are too old a man, Mr. Rogers, to fly into a passion about nothing. I did not say positively, that Mr. Williams bad any idea of paying his addresses to?eitbef Susan prPeq/ 'Then, what do you mean ??he is not I * r?? a f * if % .9 aw courting you, ru do Donna {' ssta toe oia . man exojtecily. <1 presume not/ said- (be lad;, ooloring. j 'And I am oertaio that he has* no idea of marrying me,' said be, 'unless I am to be 1 forcibly abducted.' This is absurd, Mr. Rogers!' said bis j pile, with an air of offended dignity.-?? , 'What we speaking of, is, to mo at j least, of too mnoh importance to be made f the snbjeot of jesting.' Then observing W hoebecd afrsgttp reply, she continued. 'Now, be so good, Mr. Rogers, to be quiet jqst a few moments, while I say a few words 1 aboqt Mr. \yillianqg.* 1 'Prooeed,' said Mr. Rogers, sitting down J and quietly rooking himself to and fro. <1 do not know, positively, as I aaid before, wb^f are Mr- Williams' intentions in- j his oft repeated visits/ said Mrs.* Rogers; ^ 'but I judge by very many circumstances j that he is food of^ Ellen's society and admires her beauty. "There Iflnothingorimin. J si in all this. Ellen is a very sweet sing- t er and performs splendidly upon {he piano j ^ and this, added to her personal oharms, is ^ .W Mr Wil. oertaiuijr a duuiuicui ki?uu ?)uj > > . .... ^ liama should feel inclined to repeat'his vis- ( it*. I do not koow ih?t a young man poult) t wish to spend his evenings in a befter .place than among yonng ladies of aooomplish- t ment, refinement and beanty. These charms ' are certainly Susan's and Ellen's in a pre- 1 eminent degree, Mr. William's sentiments f towards the-girlB may be simply those of f | friendship, bat of this, I know nothing de- ; definite. At times I have imagined?perr j haps it was only imagination?that Mr. ? Williams was rather partial to Ellen, and t from some few expressions which escaped ^ him in conversation with me,,l might have ^ inferred that he was not destitute of even I very strong affection towards her. So far ^ as Ellen is oonoeroed. I do not think that I - c she feels any particular interest in the young r man?certainly, no affection j and | have been obliged at times to think bis sooiety t ' even irksome to her.* Bat, admitting that j ' Mf. Williams loves Ellen, and that his re- j peated visits simply indicate the fact, is there any Ijarm in fill tbfjt?apy presnmp- 0 I tion in h'is love V ' e 'Allow me to reply, Alice; oalmly and Q dispassionately reply,' said the old man, (j with nnusnal earnestness and gravity? ], 'Ellon is my only daughter?perhaps my t rtnio nKilrl?.and no innh. I love her far h more than anything in a)I this world. She | ? has been reared -with no ordinary oare and <J jealous attention from jnfanoy to her pre- ? sent interesting and critics! age. No pains, 0 no expense has been spared to inform, eul- 0 tivate^nd refine her mind, every effort made to improve her heart. * From day to 6 day, and from year to year has my love, 0 my oare and my wealth been lavished upon ? her. Now just on the verge of woman* s hood, in ail her pride and matchless beau- e ty, in all the fullness and sweetness of Q affection and maidenly simplicity, this man a ?this stranger?this Edwin Williams, h whom I never looked upon but once in all t! . the years of Ihe past, and of whose character I am ignorant, utterly regardless of a father's claims, and a father's rights?en- a deavors, without my knowledge pr oonscnt, to win her from my old heart andsednoe her from my home. Tell me that this is not oriminal ??that there is no presumption in j the love of snch a man 1' - ]< 'Bat, Mr. Rogers,' said his wife, observ- b ing the agitation of her hosband, 'has Mr. ^ i Williams no olaim upon yon ??none apod h yoar daughter V 'Upon oar love and gratitnde he has indeed !' replied Mr. Rogers, after a pause of some moments. 'Bat what has ali.thia to t! do with his aeaseless"persecutions of Ellen ?' g 'Persecutions I' repeated Mrs. Rogers, a lifting both hands in surprise. ft 'What other term can you apply to these n risija of Mr. Williams, persisted in, night a ifter night 7' b Ton surprise me, Mr.. Rogers,' said his a fife. * 'If Mr. Williams finds pleasure in b [pending bis evening here, it should be a c natter of no eonseqnenee whether that a jleasure be afforded beoanse of his love for ft Ellen or a mere general fondness for the ii lociety of young ladies. To him we owe o he life of the dear girl, and it is the least a ire c*o do, m m evidence ot gratitude to- a yards him, to grant him the society of ?1- tl en, if it administers to his enjoyment in tl ;he slightest degree. I feel persuaded, that a is you know nothing of Ellen's feelings to- * sards him, you apply a most unjust term to lis visits, when you oall them persecutions.' b 'Perhaps I do,' said Mr. Bogera, 'par- I laps I do, Alice; bat so far as saving _E1- v en's life is concerned, I cannot see as, I (i laid awhile ago, any good reason in that v act alone, upon wbieh Mr. Williams can e iase a claim for her heart and hand in mar- b iage. * No honorable mat) wonld urge such o i claim npoo a father?never, never!' I 'Far be it from me/ said Mrs. Bogera, si to insinuate, even for a moment, that Mr. y Williams entertains any soob idea as that tl vhich seems to have taken . possession of n pour mind.' b 'Then why do you harp upon that string ? 1 STou have reminded me a dozen times that n [ owe the life of my daughter to this man, i md urge it as a reason why I sbohld sur- o ender all claim upon my daughter, all oon- h irol over her actions, and jnst let Williams b >ome and go as he pleases, and mskewhpt- d jver disposition of my ohild that may snit n lis convenience, founds I \ object most v leoidedly to any saeh bargain.' And so tl laying, the old man stamped his foot and * calked rapidly about the room. 8 .'Now, just look at him [' said Mrs. Bog- a )rs, in a tone of derision. 'Really, sir, I tl nnst confess that I never gave yon half the i< sredit yon deserve for yonr theatrioal abili- e lies." *' ^ 'It is all very, well, Alice/ said the old nan, still walking to and fro, 'alt very, well * ndeed for yoo to tn?fce my anxieties and y 'ears, a subject for burlesque and ridicule 1 d But my miod is made up es to my future lj !ouit>8 of action;' Then suddenly throw- e og himself upon a sofa in the opposite cor- fi icr of the room, be ooutlnued : 'If Ellen d >ad not been led into disobedienoe by those 1( rho are oredited, at least, with better prin- fi riples than those which aetpate such teaoh- e ngs, there would have been no danger to e ier person; and, if gbe had perished in the k iver, Williams and yourself would have ? >eeo held responsible for her death in the b ? j .it 'JtJx.* olut: ... ? fJOO VI VJUU BUU S1I I*gu?l liuiu&tug U1DU* g{ <TWJ Mr. Pwfn.' - T- JT i* ?$onTjpernjp| me,' <jQqtinqed the old '* nan with emphasis, <1 know all aboat the h vhole affair?-every particular. Ellen bad tl 10 intention of disobeying her father, and > n fact, had no deaire to aooept Mr. WiJ- d i&ms' invitation to the laanob. $be told tl ron as rough, hot, somehow or other, simply t< o gratify your friend, Mr. Williams, yon e; to violence to yoor consqieq#) &q<J the feel* qga of Ellen, and oempel her to acoompany M 'ou. Common sense, aye! even policy, i' honld havp inffaenced Mr. Williams to ob- A ain my oopsent, before riding oat to Bagb * f public exhibition in company with my #i laughter, and evidently against her own tl vill; bat that was of suob little conseqaence tl o him, that be did not troqblp himgejf a- h mat it. And what then,?. Why, |!lleo is w precipitated into the river directly in the A raok of a gunboat, which threatens to ? irosh her to atoms. Williams rescnea her, si rbioh waa nothing after all but what be ft ? - 1 ?J *? J* T man fi rw UUUUU iV UU| uuwyrci 7' eel to him for the act. And now,?bear d t, ye Gods I I mast pay htm for this ex- ? libition of heroism by the gift of my only i< laughter; as mnoh as to say, (Your daugh- a er would have been taken from yon any tow, Mr Rogers, had J not risked my life y 0 save, her;?so let me have her.' A very 0i [ueer agreement 'poo my word ! Why the a oaohman, or one of the negro draymen, tc ould have urged a like claim, had they j escued my daughter. Now, Alice, so long tl a Mr. William^ is satisfied with oar grati- w ode, and oontent to accept oar friendship, b t is all right. This noble act of his shall Jj end additional fervor to oar gratitqde as g he ye^rs go by, and strengthen every bond 01 f friendship to my last hoar. My infla noe, my fortone and my borne ia at fai? gT ommaod and service, .as my friend and my %\ laughter's friend. Bat, if Mr^ Williams y( nys claim to the hand of flllen as covxpen- n ation/or his services, and has nothing else Qi 0 plead bat that aot alone, the argument m rill he ' worthless, and the rescue of my fc aughtef, so far as its bean upon bis onion Q, nth her, will be worth that !' And the tc Id man snapped bis fingers and walked ont j8 f the room. , w *This is very unfortanate 1' said Mrs. Rog gi rs, musingly. 'Here I have been endeavring to do Mr. Williams a service, and I 8< erily believe that I have but thrown ob- ea tacles in his way. What possesses, Mr. Rog- di rs, that he should so sadly misunderstood ie, as if 1 really thought Mr. Williams laid a| ny claim to Ellen's hand, simply because tl e rescued her .from ?.' A knock at he door cut short the sentence. re (Come in !' af (A gentleman wshes to see Mr. Rogers,' iD aid Susan. * m 'What name, my dear?' 'Mr Edvin Williams,' replied Sas&o. . 0I 'Tell the servant to ask him to,'.said ? Irs. Rogers, coloring. Theo, as Snsan jn 3ft the room Mrs. Rogers exclaimed in a >g( one of mortification and impatienoe, 'Mr. Villiams to Qome now J Coald any thing e[ ave been so unfortunate !' g, ? '' f o CHAPTER IV. in 'Be seated, sir,' said Mr. Rogers, after sc be customary salutations had been exohan- tb ed. 'This is the first opportunity yon have ot fforded me of expressing my heartfelt grati- tii ade for exposing yoar own' life to immi- hi .eat peril Ar the preservation of that of p< ly only daughter. I confess ray utter inanity to repay the debt of gratitude by any rord of mine, sir; bat try me by any other ntand you will know how much I appreiate the service yon have done me. If t any time, io all the coming years, yon Ml the need of a friend whose fortune or aflnenee oan farther and 'mature any plan f yours, in business or anything else, let me ssure you that I am at yoar serrioe, even into the utmost limit of yoar wishes. Not hat I would endeavor thus to repay you for he readtte of my daughter; but simply as feeble intimation of a depth of gratitude rhioh cannot be repaid/ 'You overestimate tbe sefvioe I have sen instrumental in rendering?tbe duty have boon enabled to aUebfcrg*,' oeSd ~E&rin Williams, pressing tbe old man's band. So far as your gratitude ia concerned I can esy well understand your inability to gfire xpression to it I am folly repaid, sir, by alf as muohasyou have so kindly said, beanse I have no doubt of your sincerity, Mease believe me, Mr. Rogers, when I asure you, that I will be muob obliged to ou, if you will make no further allusion to he subjeot. However you may view the. fetter, I cannot imagine why a man should e applauded for discharging a simple duty, 'o be able to discharge it, is, in itself, to my rind, a sufficient reward. Your daughter ras under my care and protection. She aoompariied me in full health from this ouse; and, notwithstanding what may have een the intervening danger, it beoame my uty to bring her back even at the risk of ly own life- The accident which occured, ras neither here nor there,?did not alter he case *n the slightest degree; for, if it rould have beeu criminal ou my part to lifter her to perish, without an effort to sve her, so, there is no great virtue in he resoue effected, "since failing to effect e, the loss of my own life would not have ven mitigated the evil. Pray do not men; ion it again?I am more than satisfied/ 'Well,' said the eld man, after a pause of ofee moments, 'your argument may strike ou as very logical and conclusive, but t ou't lika'it for all that You have saved the ife of my child?that is a fact; and yon are ntitled to my lasting gratitude?another tot. Now all the logic in tie world cannot o away with these two facts, and make a >viag father look npon bis daughter's rescue ram death as a mere barren doty, performd by a conscientious man, for which he is utitled to nothing but a cold, formal ac nowledgment. Pardon me, sir; but I sonot admire Such sentiments, even though anlraJ ho all tYia ]nnin nf Pomh all ?ha *V^IW u* X'ttUUU Ul BU IUC | jphistry of a nd would think all ttie hotter ofyou if you ad cot tried so hard to oooviooe me that be reaoae of Ellen was not worth while beig grateful for. By heavens, sir! my aqghter is my life, my fortune, my everyaing; and her preservation does entitle you ) a measure of gratitude whioh 1 can nevr, never repay.1 'In the name of heaven/ eaid Williams, vbatdoyou expect me to say? I grant ?t what you aay is true enough, but must boast and bluster about what I have been bit? te do, before I oan convince you that I ppreoiate your gratitude and feel that in le resoue of Miss Ellen, I have done more ian the mere performance of a duty. This 10.4 9f lftPguage becomes you, sir; hut ould be altogether out of plaoe in coming om me. To be plain with you, Mr.Rogrs, y u do me great injustice in your in.inuating remark, that' the preservation of lias Ellen'B life is uot worth being gratejl for. There has been nothing tu my connot or laagusge, I trust, to extort such ao xpression from yon?nothing to make yon uagine my estimate of your daughter's life nd your happiness so trifling.' 'Pardon me, sir,' said Mr. Rogers, 'but nn AA^Ainln hawA a mAof t>nfnutnnata bow UU UOI WiUIJ U avg 9 II1VBW UU1U1 bUUBVQ TT BJ f expressing yourself, tod, if 1 replied in manner seemingly offensive, I intended i do na violence whatever to yoar feelings, is I said before, Elleo is dearer to me. lan any, everything ip the world, and hen yoo labored so. hard to convince me, f argument, that in the preservation of her fe I had nothing to be grateful for, it rated rather harshly upon my sensitiveness a that point/ <1 did not labor to convince yott of any loh thing, my dear sir,' said Williama.? IVhat X am trying to do is to make you feel jarself indebted to a higher power for the fe of yoar daughter, and to feel yourself der no particular obligations to me. My otive in this effort is laudable, I believe; >r, judging by my own feelings, I know of jthing, absolutely nothing, so oppressive > a man's spirit as the oonviotion that be nnder an obligation to his fellow-man. I ould impose no such harden upon you, r. Queer fellow !' said Mr. Rogers to him. >If. Tbeo after some little thought, he id alood : 'You sod 1, Mr. Williams, iffer very widely inour opinions and views, ow, io my bumble opinion, it is an agree )le servitude to be under au obligation to lose whom we esteem/ To those whom we esteem, I grant it,' ipiied Mr. Williams, <bot we are not thrs Feoted towards those whom we know nofchig about. Bat please be so good as to disisa the subjeot.' Certainly, sir; if it be an unpleasant )e *e vou, I have no objections,' iid Mr. j ogers, throwing himself back in the rook gchair, and looking very moob d'saatiaThe silence which ensued was somewhat nbtrrassing to both parties. Mr. ftogeft izedupon the oeilipg, is if tome wonderil thing bad taken place there, then, rookg himself furiously for some moments, he iddenly stopped, and iDtently examined ie nail of his little finger'as though some irious phenomena bad arrested his attenaq j then, jumping 'bnrriedly.to bis feet 3 drew a large silk handkerchief from his Hjicet, and, applying it to his nosefstaxtied Jmt yJRlv ^ . 1 Mr. Williams frbm his revery, by aloud and discordant blast, causing that queer young gentleman to let Jail bis eaae and gloves, and step heavily upon his braver, whioh be bad inadvertently left on the floor beside his chair. Mr. Bogets smiled in spite ofhimaelf aa Williams quietly resumed bis seat and coughed a quick, restless and impatient oougfa; then noticing, bis confused and uneasy-Satpreasioo of countenance, *!* ol#; gentleman (Hade seme remark tbdsldid k* teat newa from General Lee's fomtyJirbiefc sooceeded admirably in bringing ewrytbiisg flight agai%- tbougb WUliams 'fbemdd dPfl posed to change tbe subject ofuoUwoptiMf! " which be very unexpectedly succeeded ia -J. nutis USUI lujo ifJUtvmg, PIT. OOgeH} I 00 very urgent and guttata business of an exceedingly delicate nature ' The time 1 allowed myself for this visit hae almdy expired, bat, having no idea of another such favorable opportunity, I will tresparo a few moments longer upon your time and ^ 'My time and patience are at your service, sir,' said Mr. Rogers,* *9 is all else * I belonging to me. What oan I do for you ?' 'Much V replied Williams, with an em- v J phasia which surprised the old man. I * n 'Glad to hear you say so/ mid Mr. Rogers. 'Pray proceed/ i 'Ton are no doubt aware/ began Williams, nervously twisting the corner of his * handkerchief and growing very red in the face, .'that, for sometime poet, I havebeen in the habit of visiting this house almost every evening.' . ? 'Well, siir V said Mr. Rogers. 'During these visits it has been my good fortune to bp thrown into the society of Miss Ellen/ Williams here oast a hasty glance towards the rooking-ohair, and observed the old man's countenance very troubled .and Sltip* ions, but be continued iashfcer desperation: ? <1 find it impossible, notwitbatoijding all my efforts, to absent myself from ber psesuv # ence, and deny myself of the pleasure 1 derive from her society, even for * single evening.' The old m&n groaned aloud, but Williams continued: '1 find an attraction about her, wholly incomprehensible, 'which I oaonot resist, and over which I have pa possible cootTb?* I have lost all interest in iife, am becoming negligent in business; and, in abort, think " of nothing and oare for nothing bat Miss Ellen?whom I love with all the ftrvor.ijpi true and loyai heart.' *><& whistled'long and loatfly. 'I make no apology for loving" her, sir, for it ia impossible to do otherwise. I strived against it Mn Eogers,?God know*' that I did I?but it was useless, utterly uayfe less I' And here the poor fellow broke down. v So, this ia the objeot of your present visit ??to tell me that yoo love Ellen, eh?* And the old man looked thoughtfully down upon the carpet, and sighed, as he oontiouod, 4I am 'inclined to,think your attach, meat to Ellen very unfortunate, Mr. Wit' liams; but aa you have to frankly declared your love, what is it that you'wish to ask **? 'Can you can not guess, air V asked Mr. Williams. 'Having told you tf the lore I feel for your daughter, it follows aa a matter of course, that hereafter, my vials' must be made only with your consent, and; with the mutual undenMadiogthto .1 toaar liberty to pay my addresses to Miss Ellen and press my suit* with a view to marriage. Shall I, then, continue my visits V 'Suppose I sbonld frankly answer, no?' Then, of oourse, I would discontinue my visits at onoe, sir/ replied Williams. 'Well/ said the old man, 'I shall not say no, notbeoanse I believe you' would do as you say, bat beoanse I wish to aot fairly and honestly by you. Neither will I give % my oopsent to. any immediate stops oa yoar part, to farther intimacy with Ellen. I most speak to heron the subject and be governed, in some measure' in my. future course of action by what she may feel.and say on the subject. To this, you can have; no objection?it ia simply juSUoa/ n UIIOUJIl niui 1UUM1 ivcui^ auu au just; but sir, I cannot be satisfied with the mere glimmermgi or the hope you hold out to me. Am I justified in expecting, after you fairly consider the you, sir, if I answered in the affinnative. Remember, th&t^yon are an utter stranger to me, that I know nothing of your past history or your present character; and, while I cannot but feel deeply interested in your welfare . J and solicitous for your happiness andwell-being, I cannot but think that I . owe it to my daughter, as a sacred duty and an act of justice, to be very cautious to whom I entrust her happiness.' You are quite right, Mr. Rogers,' said Williams, his countenance change sally dowii, he added, 'But you will at least think ore; the matter, before you drivfr from my heart , the hope which so richly blesses it. You will go back in memory, to the'fsr away years which> are g<fod, ?jd recall the anxieties and utterable &n>, vac fiat-tering hopes and vague apprehensions which swayed your own heart, and raffled your own mind, as you stood before the father of the mother of her who calls yon father now, and listene<Ho hie words as the sinking mariner watches, thrrnioh the mist, the approaching life pggpiiii