Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, May 11, 1871, Image 1
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Written for the'*oiritviile Enquirer. .
.; tw&ij&t* 2Ht m. ^tueiMr ,
THE LQ8T- DIAMOMC. ;
BY MRS. HENRY BRAS,
IV: CHATTER I.
A dbi%g r?y, rainy, tbumkm autumn evening!R?in
ou tbe window pan w; raiaontfco
fag .tones below; min pattering mi tbeHfdc
ing jwota, inciBg up spun and sp^hing
t*ds nitii, sort of e?>rttokeep time to its j
own everlsrtiDg drip, drip, drip. I had b?
coma,tiri4 ?f mm ma, mi got op aoq
went to lookout st the weather; hot ittritMd
?!2f r mt~
*" fw?*wv MW*
tjiftf jitA. -rftlT ^IINli^NlIK
A^yitTi AA iWttlKljhAfk il?A fpni^pi' ??J
aP*f"> vKfW tte |AXsuMtW wv loUUw^ ttiiu
spread out my hands toward the feeble little
"* "bl?M, and commenced turning over ill my
mind that never failing subject for meditatiou-my
prospects. ' j
"My prospects!" Heavens antleartlvwhat
were they? The ptfospeots of a governesseven
under die most favorable circumstances?
are somewhat dim and intangible things, but
in my case they were positively forlorn. However,
the mo?? forlorn they were, the inore nocessary
it seemed to think about them; so
there! sat and thought?wishing that I could
get an answer to my advertisement; wishing
some good&iry. would suddenly appear before
me and ask me to tell her just what T wanted;
wishing I was somebody else?anybody but
my own miserable self; wishing Miss Winter
had not died;,wislHBgi finally, that Ivwaa
dead myself, and out of everybody's way.
This IsSfcEKQSe wair supernuous, wiug woii
!there #m nobody on earth in whose way I
could *51 be, except myself, and myself did
find mea terrible bore, there was.no doubtof
that; ihr 2- was aaofpban, dependent on my
own resources for my daily bread: I had an
ancle, I believe, somewhere in Canada,7 bat I
poor father, on his dying bed?some three
years before?had murmuredsomething about
"George''and "write," but I did not know
where td write to him, and if I had, I would
not have done it I was eertainly not in Ms
way, at any rate, ak he apparently never
troubled his head about me; most likely he
had forgotten my very existence.
Until recently, lhad not been so very badly
off. I had usually managed to get a respectable
position somewhere or other, and had
considered myself quite fortunate when I obtained
a situation as teacher of Algebra and
French in Mire "Winter's first-class boarding
school. Btit Miss Winter had died, about a
month previous to the commencement of this
history,-ai^ Miss Blake, wfio bad been her
. head teacher, and who kept up fh? school if*.lite!y\
informed me that my services in the establishment
would no longer be required.
Miss Blake bad never liked me particularly;
though; to do her justice, I believe she would
. have allowed me to remain if she bad not desired
the place X filled, for a cousin of hen,
who had long been wishing for it. I retired
to a cheap boarding house and advertised,
and answered advertisements, but nothing
came of either proceeding?-either the places
I applied for were just filled, or the requirements
were too Heavy ; at one house I was
told a governess was always expected to sew
for the children, as well as look after them in
leisure hours. The woman who told me that,
1 felt convinced, would have ground me down
in & wdak.:' It was'such an unfavorable time
of the year too?here was nearly the beginning
of November ; in a few weeks the Christmas
holidays would be commencing, and J.
could scarely hope to get a situation before
January. I got vWy heart-sick indeed, and
as my puree was but scantily filled, I tried to
do something in the way of a little commonplace
fancy work to eke out its slender contents.
I was but a poor needlewoman; however,
I: braided blue and white and yellow
jackets for little boys, and worked white
aprons with red worsted, putting very bandsome
looking pockets to make them attractive,
and usually managed to sell them at a low
price at a little shop in the neighborhood,
kept by an honest looking woman, who, I believe,
would have given me more for them if
she oould have afforded it. She found sale
for them, for I have seen children go by my
window dressed in the articles, which I could
not mistake as my own handiwork.
While I sat revolving all this in my mind,
the tea-bell rang. At first I resolved not to
go down, for I was conscious of some traces
on my face of the indulgence of a weakness
which I had not been quite able to repress,
and moreover I was not in the least hungry ;
but common-sense told me that I would be all
the better for A little refreshment, if it were
only a cup of Mrs. Ellison^ weak tea; so on
second thoughts I bathed my eyes, smoothed
my hair, and repaired to the supper-room.
As I took, my place at the long narrow table,
Mrs. Ellison'sdoud tones exclaimed, ''there is
a letter for you, Miss dray, just come in by
the post; Sally hadn't time to carry it up
stairs, so I put it under your plate."
A letter 1 another impossible proposal, I
supposed, as I mechanically turned up my
plate. There it was, with an unmistakable
direction upon it, in a clear, large, gentlemanlike
hand, "Miss Franoes Gray, care of Mrs.
Ellison, No. 9, Green Street, Benton ville,"
and postmarked "Thornby." As I took it
up, a slight thrill of hope passed through me.
So fearful was I, however, of another disappointment,
that I put off as long as possible
the moment for reading H; I ate very slowly,
and drank my tea in little sips, as if to calm
* '* " ixvm.
a own ine smtui levei ui auuu^witvu w. ~?
raenood to rage within me. At last, however,
I could no longer endure the suspense, and
hastily rising from the table I seized my letter
and ran up to my own room.,
Before opening it, I took out of my desk as
advertisement I had cut out of the "Bentonville
Timed' and read it over. It was in answer
to this advertisement that I had sent in
my application, and here was the reply. The
paragraph ran thus:
"Wanted?In a private family, residing
in the country, a lady to take charge of the
education of two little girls. She most be
competent to give instruotion in Mnsic and
French, as well as the ordinary English
branches. As she will be treated in all respects
as a member of the family, a lady oi
refinement and good-breeding is desired
None other need apply. Address Q?r. E. B.
Virian.'Thoraby r. Q?> -?? cotmty;,
"N. B. A liberal salary giyqfc&*~>? .
; ??a$ibg.M?d *Qf*r tfcewhich I alreadyr.kiffiW.by
heart, I proceeded with troubling
fingers to break the seal?a large red
sea*with a crest apon important
missive, h contained hut a few words, b(it
Jheylwere eminently satisfactory.
h BwH ?oFTr 'I3?orBhy, Oct $0tb? 18-wftj
"Madwn: Your letter, containing credentials,
has been duly received. We find it sat*
<jjay^ yon cau make it convenf^^^^e^t
Thorn by Station, where a carriage will be
Hie salary we propose to
give* *5otfa year; the duties required not
arduous, .dlf the smto?ero*4?y?.iwl mut
mail y n we do not he^r^her}&om yon, will
expect you at the appointed time. ,
p I am, Madam^ very res^ctfully,
not-arduons!" Why, at Miss Winter's I had
got but but 1300, and skve&fiye hours a day.
The offer was simply magnificent; my loftiest
imaginings had never pictured itocli a sum.
So elated did I feel by this piece of good fortune,
that I immediately commenced to fold
up and put together several articles prepare*
tory to stowing them in my trunk, though I
had four days before me, in whioh to make all
necessary preparations. My absurd eagerness
was tempered by this reflection, said smiling
at my own childishness, I sat down again in
my little chair to reflect again on my *^ufqepects"?with
what altered feelings J I coqjd
really smile now; gone was the cloud of In
an hour before?the great black oloud thj^
had been overshadowing me like a horrible
pall, for days and weeks past/seemed suddenly
lifted, and the glorious sunshine of hope
Streamed upon me, filling my heart with delicious
light and wartnth.
- . Oh! fortunate ones, who have no care in
life ; Who depend hot on your own exertions
fcr a livelihood; who have loving hearts to
think for you and cherish you, and antjjflH
aD your
pie waold b^WB^RJ I felt that Geomv
Vivian
1 hT 4jfe ^nf I ?i *"' have
^xil 6T&11 j j*
though I was nev^ j|?t.one myself." .
experiences, but,hoped ttijjjf
were over now. Many times aurr^f theMmj
1 read and re-read General Vivian's letter,
and tried to imagine what sort of man he
was?-whether the little girls would be good
aksd tractable?whether there W*4 a Mrs.
Vivian, and if so, what kind Of person would
she be. He said "we" in his letter; so it was
natural to suppose that he was not a widower.
I fancied a quiet, somewhat elderly couple,
he possibly some years the elder, and both
devoted to their ehildren; the latter pretty,
innocent little oountry-bred things, different
from the noisy romping boarding school girls
I was accustomed to. Perhaps there were
other children, or a maiden annt; and in my
own imagination, I drew a very charming
family mmlfl And nip-fared myself among
(them; treated a8 a friend and . honored guest
As the four intervening days wore on and the
time of my departure drew nigh, I began however
to feel a little natural trepidation at the
thought of entering a new and untried sphere,
and feared that the anticipation I had been
indulging in, might after all, not be fully
realised.
The eventful day came ;'my humble leather
trunk was packed, locked and strapped, and
a, card with a very careful .written direction
tacked on.the,lid ; and I sat, cloaked and
bonneted, waiting; satchel m Jhand, fer tire
carriage that wis to convey me to the station.
My kind lady had filled a little basket for me
with more eatables than I could possibly dispose
of in a twelve hours' journey; "for," she
said, "it was so awkward for a lady to get
anything to eat when she was travelling alonej
and I Would surely be hungry." The boarders
gathered around to bid me good-bye, and
to offer their good wishes. I really felt grateful
for the interest they all seemed to feel in
my welfare. At last the carriage drove up,
my adieus were Baid, and in a few minutes'
time I found myself a comfortable seat in the
rail-car, where I had been deposited by the
very gentlemanly conductor.
As I sat looking out of the window, won
dering whether the train wonld ever start?
for I felt feverishly impatient now to proceec
on my journey?-a gentleman stepped up 01
the platform close to me, and touched his hat
' Tl '' - T o oAmonzlmf flftnnnfri/
n was a lur. uaugwu, ? vvw?..
bachelor, with whom I had become acquaint
ed at Mrs. Ellison's, where he boarded.
"Excuse me, Miss Gray,'- he said in a some
what embarrassed tone, and turning very ret
as he spoke; "bat I heard you were going oi
this morning, and took the liberty of stepping
round here from my office, and of bringinj
you these"?and he thrust into ray handf
through the window, a large and somewha
ill-assorted bunch of flowers. "They are no
' much?flowers are hard to get now?but the;
1 were the best I could find."
1 "Thank you?you are very kind," I repliec
| really touched by this little mark of attentioi
, which at the same time surprised me con sic
f erably, for it was quite out of keeping wit
. Mr. Langton's character and habits, he bein
A very reserved man, and not bj any means
given-to acts of gallantry.
"Not at all, I assure you?an^^mt-Hthere j
was something else, I think?y^ jiui(|^m- j
bling in his pocket, he drew j
i envelope and banded it to me, gettMH^e
I time redder and -redder; "will yoafiniWcind
i enough to read that?not now if yon please,
i but at your leisure, and if you would send me
an answer, entirely at your own convenience,
you know, I would esteem it a very great
Jfmror?thereto the whistle, Miss Gray, goodbye/God
blee&yba," and before I x could answer,
he had $o&ed off, and the train was off
>?t the: same minute, while I-sat with the eh?telope
in. my hand, the picture of
j? J-'-Aitii T i..U -MJUnfkWhai'
mem, HO UUUUU, U A iuun.ru M JI muN MUfw
f oo. earth could it be ? It directed tomyl
self, and anxious to solvetJp^jpatery, I bastiI
iy opened it and ^rew t^^|t note, the cobby
your loveliness and' amiability of Chiracter,
(Good Heavens, I ffibogbt, is the man
crazy?) renders it incumbent od me tovji$ftfce
my fate in your hands. Tes; dearest Miss
Gray, unworthy as I am, I haw dared to love
you," and with you U nrests to mate me^the
thought I, here is something I certmSiIy never
dreamed of!) I implore ybti, do not jndge
me harshly ; and give me-an answer at four
very earliest conveniehd&.H would not, however,
have you decide hastily; I entreat you
to we|gh the question well before condemning
me, as I sometimes fear you must, to th? cruJ"''J"
' i' ' x T r> 1 * *- *"
( elest of disappointments. If you can retoJcn
4 ;ihe affection I offer, my life will be devoted
Rfcendenng you happy. I await your reply
- P? the ttmost anxie^/ '
' -"In the meantime, I, remain yonr most
humble and most devoted servant, .'A
"ROBEBXRLAHQTON, _
* .Attorney at Law.
"P. S.?If I can lir'any tyaqrjiarve you, ndw
or at any future tin^Tt^yi^l^iavor^o j
a^^^ad the note xiver twee, anfl then folded j
Ljw/.; j W^!!ti#
.,r,? .-; >?\l.yj? ' *i/'f JflPH 1 Jl jr - - T^5a^V^1 Ak a I
note in my pociet, and' Gentlyflying*
his flowersftpd speculating on the^Seption I
that awaited me. I felt so excited that I
cpuldscarcely touch the luncheon prepared
^out two o*clock I had to change to another
car; then on we wheeled again; on and
#n, over bridge*, and by unfamiliar villages,
until at last, with a shriek, the train gapped
- for 'the tenth tiroc?I bad started, and looked
out nervously at every previctas statian-^ahd
the conductor, thrusting his head in the door,
shouted "Thornby!" in stentorian tones.
Thornby, at last! I rose, collected my
packages and left the car, tbfc conductor politely
assisting me, and promising to attend to
my trunk. As I stepped out on the platform,
a servant in livery approached, and touching
his hat, said respectfully, "General Vivian's
carriage is here, sir, for Miss Gray."
. "All right," said the conductor; and I
I found myself directly in a plain old-fashioned
coach, with my satchel and basket beside me;
I had qnite forgotten iny dowers. In another
moment my trnnk was fastened on behind,
the train started off in one direction and the
carriage in another, and I was on my way to
my hew home. ,
Leaning back among the luxurious cushions,
I looked out the carriage windows, enjoying
the change from the rough jolting car
as we rolled easily along. ' It was nearly too
dark to see anything of thd surrounding country,
bat after about an hour's drive we stopped,
and I heard the opening of. a heavy gate,
i whichbrightly conjectured to Ife.the entrance
to Geberifl Vivian's domain. . WtJthen passed
I along what appeared to be an avenue of oaks,
{then came another gate, and in tetf mlniltes
: more, I saw a glimmering of lights ahead
I shining through trees, the carriage stored,
j and I"^as at BeechcroTt.
i }
,*4 ? I 1 ...
"
1 CHAPTER II.
The carriage door was opened and a tall
1 figure?which I could hot distinctly see?pre>
seated itself, and a courteous voice said:
"Miss Gray, I presume? Allow me to wel!
I come you to Beeohcroffc."
! j Murmuring some indistinct reply, I allowr
j ed myself to be assisted down, and then up
| the broad flight of stone steps, at the top of
I which, oh either side, lay two1 couchant marble
11 lions, guarding the entrance. We passed
I {through a lofty door and entered a side hall,
.1 floored with tesselated marble; another door
); opening on one side revealed a welWighted
:! room and:groups of animated figures within.
Forth from this apartment stepped a^fefr
>; yet sweet-faced and sweet-voiced
I | in rustling silk, who took my cold^^^^^B
f j both hers, saying warmly:
II "I am glad yon have come,
I fear yon have had a cold and wes^xfartL
s, You must come tip to your room at once, and
t warm and refresh yourself, and then I will
t bring you down again and present you in the
jr drawing room. We have a few guests tonight,
so I know you will like to take off
I, your bonnet up stairs first."
i, "Thank you, madam?you are very kind,"
U I replied, feeling grateful, as any poor wayh
worn traveller would be, for this friendly reg
Ception. She led me up stairs to a pretty,
I cheerful looking little room where a bright
fire was burning, an easy chair stood/Ui front
of it, ready to reoeivemy
"Now make yoatself oomfortaW*. and J
will bring you up a cqp of tea," said .1*$
Ur>:;.,. " ...
I "Oh! Mrs. 5 Vivian, pray dpniU trouble
yoftself," Irejometl; "I do not want any
tea, thank you; you are really too good/'
"Tap good ? Not at all; I know Exactly
your feelings, and a good cup of. bog fea will
restore you' wqnderfWy. Bat Lam not Mrs.
Vivian, my dear? my Bister is a great invalid,
and I usually take her place as hostess on occasions
of this kind. I am Miss Marchmoifi*
and a sort oi factotum in the estaBliahment.""
"I beg vdural^Hltedam," * *?ologi*ed
"No* at all; I am 'nttoral
'How kind she is! how^^^apd comI
sank into the yieldingdaptbs of that delightfill
chair. I had takenW my bonnet and
;thO iflfS When my new Iriend re-appeared with,
a little silver waiter on which was a cnp of
fN^iant ten, and a plate of white, flash^ looking
biscuits, and another of thin crisp toast.
The waiter she set down on a little table at
my side, arid declared I must do nothing at
all until I had partaken of totnethin^ as-I
sadly needed if {^he saw it in my heavy eyes.
If my eyesawere heavy, my heart was light,
as I again thanked her ;~and as she prepared
to leave me, saying ftotif ItikM tMid
return in half an hoar's time and take me
down staira, I ventured to say? *
"Will you be so very kind aa to excuse me
from coining doWnthisi evening ? Ton most
not think me rude, bot' as you have company
I think I would rather rtkjrhere/'
"Oertafoly, my dear; jfeti mast do exactly
as you fori inclined,0 replied Miss Marchmont.
*1 suggested yOnh' going- down, thinking you
would be beet foryOtt, I think, to zatzreyioas
tobave a goOd long rest?-shall I say goodA^htnow?"
Sheshook hands with pie again?I noticed
how soft and white her hands were, and how
S^bidding me ring the bell in case I should
<\ the comfort, the delicioas
ed atone of the family, bid fair to be verified.
I bad been welcomed aa an expected and detired
go est, and not a mere hired official.
^Hrent to bed at last, and tired out by my
$ff?irney, soon fell into a sound sleep, in which
visions of Miss Marchmont and General Vivian,
and Mr. Longton's awkward figure and
parting benediction were confosedly mingled.
I awoke to find that the sun was shining
brightly in my room, and that some one was
knocking gently at my door. I started up to
open it, ashamed of having slept so late. A
nice looking maid-servant was standing with*
out, witha pitcher inher band. ' "If
you please, Miss, I've brought the hot
water," Bhe said, civilly ; "and Mistress says
you've not to get np until yOn feel like it, and
asks how you are this morning."
"I answered truly that I felt quite rested
and refreshed, and enquired how long it would
be before breakfast"
"Nearly an hour," was the reply.
They breakfasted at half past eight; so I
would have plenty of time to dress.
"Conld she help me in any wayf'
I thanked her, but declined her offer of assistance,
and when she had gone proceeded to
make my toilet. It was such a very simple
one, that I half wondered; as I looked at my
reflection in the glass, whether my appearance
was sufficiently Creditable. At all events, I
could do no better, Und-if my dress was plain,
at any rate it was scrnpolously neat, and fit
me to perfection. After *ll/fc remarked severely
to myself, yod are nothing but a governess,
and it matters very little fyyy you are
dressed?nobody will look at you. )3qiuehow
the reflection did not have the effecfeftdamping
my bappy,* and oould not
help warbling little snatches- ofioag-Hto
fdeaof Franoes Gray singing Tit wtoabsdrd.
My toilet, completed/1 opeae<fmy^oo?SEJ
went 3^'stairs. As I approached the'dining-room
a hum of many voices met my ear;
I passed on, hpweyery^hrough the. hall, and
went out at the thrift floor, wh ich was open,
and here 1 stood awhile enjoying the scenery
before me ?> ' A
green lawn, as smooth as velvet, extended
for some distance in front of the house,
gradually sloping down toward the banks of
a clear, shining river, that sparkled and dimpled
in the rays of the early sun. Ob either
side was a well-cultivated flower-garden, surrounded
by a wire fence overgrown with
creepers and flower vines; noble trees of a
century's growth, studded the lawn, and in
the distance was a belt of dark pines, above
the tops of which stretched a faint blue line of
mountains, scarcely visible through a veil of
light mist. The sky was cloudless, the air soft
and balmy, and some little birds were twitterI
ing musically in the trees close by. .<
RnrfHenl v there was a loud bark, and the next
moment a great shaggy Newfoundland dog
came bounding up the steps,and leaped upon
me; while almost at the same instanta girlish
voice exclaimed :
"Bown, Monarch?down sir! for shame 1"
and the owner of the voice, a slight dark
eyed damsel turned the corner of the house
and lightly ran up the steps.
"Please excuse him, he is somewhat rude
in his greeting, but he won't hurt you," she
said, smilingly extending her hand;"you are
Miss Gray, I suppose ? Aunt Alice told roe
you came last night"
"Yes; I am the new governess," I answered
accepting the offered hand ; "and you??"
f "I am Edith Vivian, the eldest girl. ]
children. It ta a happy thing to ppocufal
aona and dangbters." fm . ;
? <tA#d ? happy thmgfor then4(t^^^#d^
Mid loving parents," I replied, the ?
?.'* * r+ -t A _ f + UlL^l
, tope we aball be good friends... J-like your!
i^jfceso much !" "
- . "Do you ? I ara very glad ;,I can certainly
Return the compliment," I rejoined smiling
ijjfewn into her frank upturned countenance,
Trer I was charmed with her bright winning,
j manner. She wasverypretty too--extremely
pretty, with straight delicate features/brilliant
^tazel eyes, shaded by very long blade lashes,
a broad, can did brow, and a profusion of rich
|brown hair, now considerably disordered by
tfbe breeze, for she was swinging her bat ca*e?
jlepBly on one arm. In the other hand she
held a large bunch of wild flowers, and glancingat
them I asked her if. she had. been
; luting in the woods so early in the mornijbg.
;"Oh I yes, Monarch and I generally take a
[ffcP.oll before breakfiut.. I- think it is the
j^eaaantftst part of the day. Don't you like t
jHMprnetimeSjM replied* "but to be candid
^ ^I^tbink a morning^ nap is very
in winter. I lie in bed late
ifSMa|^hen, I promise you. But Linda, ray
rum+lBaK lam all +l,a roo. round IB ftl WAYS
1 -WW* ' u 1411
doWfi just barely in time for breakfast."
I "She is younger than you T'
j . "Yes?a yeqy younger; I am eighteen, and
j ahe is seventeen. Then you know there are
ibe two cbiidreir,iucy and Blanche; they are
twine, just eleven yean old."
"Aly pupils V* I itfked.
"Yes, haven't you seenihem yet ? Cftne ;
l auppose we go in, it must be nearly time, for
breakfast" ;
I followed into the breakfast room, where I
found quite a group assembled. .General
Vivian; *P*e first from his arm-chair, anaoamo
wS :<?<(rteo,% to I now,
for the first time, see ...ratPfouy what, he was
smilipg blue eyes, aquiline features and brown
clostering hair, untinged by gray; apparently
not more than forty-five, though, as
reeted wdl ; next shedrew forward two little
bIue-ev^fair-baired girkj|dMdM^^tEat j
after they had
| not think X p^- f
f was iTiiji iiiiyp^ 1"' "" i
I antique Grec^ rtatofc km
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ d>r ^ ^
as myself, having on nothing but plaid calico
dresses dnd white linen oollars, so I had"no
reason to he ashamed of ray dress. Everything
on the table was beautifully arranged;
the breakfast service was of white French
china, with a gilt cipher on each pieoe; the
silver massive and elegant. A stream of
light pheerful conversation ran on . daring the
raeaT, in which the younger ones freely joined.
I was appealed to several times by different
members of the family, and soon felt perfectly
at home.
After breakfast Miss Marohmont told me
that her sister, who. was Hot feeling well
enough to leave her room, was desirous of
seeing me, and begged that I would pay her
a visit. I was accordingly conducted by Edith
I to4ier apartment, which was on the same
I ^ - - i a
I floor as the breakfast room. 1 found ner lying
on a couch; a delicate, fragile-looking little
lady, with a pale face and great dark eyes,
and a little mite of a hand which felt like a
child's as she put it in mine. 1
"I am glad to see you, Miss Gray," she said
injfcvery soft, gentle voice; "I was sorry not
to be down stairs to receive you last evening,
but my health is so feeble that I seldom leave
| tearoom, when there is company."
J hspged her to make no apology, and ex'
^npm^^dpe that she was feeling better this
^iajes, I am better, thank yon, though
stiTTa little weak; I hope to be ont in the
parlor this evening. I hope you found everything
comfortable in your room ? I begged
my sister, Miss Marchmont, to see to all the
amjBgementa for me."
I assured her that nothing could be more
' comfortable. She looked pleased, and after a
few remarks about the weather, my journey,
etc., commenced speaking of her little girls.
"Yo.u will find them very good, tractable
children, I think, Miss Gr&y," she said in her
gentle tones; "they will be a little shy: at
firsts but they will soon make friends with
you, I have no doubt I do not know that
' yoo-will consider them very well advanced in
' their studies, for being so much younger than
the'others?there are six years between Linda
and themselves?they have been a little oyer
indt%e^ and have not applied themselves
very diligently, I am afraid. However,. I
: trust to yon to remedy that, with a little judi
wuug nnMingwvM? ,
, "I will do my best, I assure you," I replied;
"they are very sweet, amiable looking; ehil'
dren; I do not anticipate any difficulty with
: them." "
t "They are amiable, I most acknowledge;
: they have never given their father or myself
i the-teast troiible;" . i . :
? "None of your daughters have, ntanrta,*
) saucily pot in Edith, who was sitting on a
? low fbCEtSol beside hef mother. e: 1
"No, my dear, I have very good daughters/'
, said Mrs. Yivian, passing heir band in a caj
resaing manner over Edith's dark locks'; "I
[! often think, Miss Gray, that I am blest hi my
untaniy nsmg to my eyw ; urn <
none can- appreciate the value of-untiWBK
are deprived of it"
Mrs. Vivian looked at rae with kindly interest.
"You are an orphan ?" die interrogated, in
a sympathizing tone.
"Yes, madam^my mother diedwhSnI was
a child, butuntilthrte years ago, I had the
best, most devoted of fathers. Hk death vat
to me a lops that can never be replaced."
* "r'oor child1." she rejoined, pityingly;lave
you been working for a sapport ever since f"
m&dfun; I have no one. bat myself to
depend. <mf !
"Yon look very yeong^atfty I ask your
Bgb;f' v M-.: .Vi',-.;-ri rf r 4J$k'#v,0'
"I \w? tw?ity4wO'laafc March." .
\i f'Twenty^wot^UHl to
trouble r And instinctively the mother's band
again sought ber daughter's Bead) and reeled
there protectingly as if to shield ber from the
possibility of over- having so rode a fate to
encounter. ; .r
"But mamma, Misa Gray needn't worry
herself any more about all that new," said
Edith brightly; "she is hot*, you knew, and
this will be her heme, at any. rate for a long
tim*" "I
trust she will findit a happy otoe," said
Mrs. Vivian. I could only ta4 nty. hsftd in
- m.c ? 9 a T A.J
acknowledgment at their JluXUlWJ! * m WU
much touchedto speak. <:
After a pause, Mrs. Vivian resumed:
"As this is Thursday, I do not think, Mill
Greyrthat therewiUbe anyoocaskra for you
to commence teaching the childreu until the
beginning of next week. Tpu might just
give them a sort of examination, and appoint
th?jp studies,*od then if it aoite you, yo*onn
conrajetftenegularly on Monday*.",; >enVr
I assented to the proposal, wad after a little
more conversation,-, fta^ ito fnbtmct iny
visit to ^unreasonble lengt^, I ro6e to de
MEj^w'do you know tbst I am an ex-'
^H/ttfe f* I asked, smiling; "per/hifljfc.jfot
on mv best behaviour at the
11'certain yon will never be
ty&0\ And only think, you are only
f^lkr thin I am-tfatflfTfot nitfch
Hfer aha that rennmfe me, I want
ygfto call me Edith instead of Mife
PSfeSSn have done once '/twice'id;
formal, and I hate formality/'
glossed my mind,for aniistarit,of
Pfo return 1hecorri$iment?it was
(Brace I had any one to call me "Franand
as she said, there was qply four
years difference in oar ages; but then I reiblte
with the dignify of the position I Ought
to oceupy. It was so delicious, so new, to be
lifted, for the -first time in three long years,
out of my isolation; andtroafOd With rial familiarity
and warmth.
"We are going to have such a nice time at
Christmas," pursued Edith, rambling to another
subject; "we will show you, Miss Gray,
what a real Christmas frolic is. Some people
are coming here to stay, and we Will have
dancing, and plenty of fan. Don't' you
dancer ;
"I used to, onoeOn a time,0 iTegoined.
"Oh 1 well, yon will again; I am hot going
to let you sit in a corner and look on, yon
may depend. My veijrdearest friend, Ada
Vere, Is cominj.'-^ianH it a lovely name ?
You know she is engaged to my brother Andley."
"How should I know r I triced, smiling.
"WeH, she is, and 'they are to be married
in the Spring. The wont of it is/Uai wedding
is to be at her fisher's house; I wish it
could be at Beech croft instead. She fir the
loveliest girl-^-prettier even than Linda.
Don't yon think Linda to a beauty, Miss
Gray?"
- "She certainly is," I rejoined. - * r'
"Every one thinks jo. I always envy ftur
people?I am 90 little and dark. Ada is
youhger than I am, and haa been engaged a
year. Would you believe it, Miss Gray, j
have never had an offer?"
I laughed outright. '
"I don't seC anything astonishing in that, I
must confess," I replied, "considering that
you are still Very youthful."
"Oh! but dd you call me youthiul ? X
don't think I am, I am sure. Now, somebody
wanted Linda tb ma^itfretf, ever so long
ago; but papa dldtftwfeh it, and so?"
She stopped a little abruptly, Conscious perhaps
that the was going a little too anreeeryedly
into family details, and to relieve hir t
quietly changed the subject We continued,
a pleasant desultory chut for half an hoUr-jg
more, and then she jumped up and said
would now leave me in peace for a while, iw]
that I must be tired of her clatter.
"But remember, Miss Gray, yon are ncif%
sit bete and mojpe you know I We are gcSt
for a leog walk -presently, and if you Hill
come with us I Will dhow' yed eom? of t&f
beauties of Beecbcroft It is a lovely dayfbr
a walk: - We will go in about au kOO^i tuiie,
but I will toll you when we'ai*$MtdJ&if you
like." ' . ; '
I thanked her, and promised to acoompaay
her. I MtulWlly supposed that the "we"
meant Linda and herself, but the part? oot*
sisted of her father, Monarch, a minute spanied
called Tiny, and oortelveei, I found afterwards
that she and Linda did act geagwlto
deal together; they seemed affectionate, but
there was apparently not moeh sympathy or
similarity of taste between them.
-We had a delightful ramble in the woods;
Edith darted frequently off, with the vivacity
inft^SHHiH8^HHBH
timek /&1HPHpH^H^H|^^H
*"Why, Mi?
SSCTWfi^^
aad did. I-^sd ^lever* seea ? more sinoert, f j
In the evening, Mre. Vivian came into the 1
dnwiBgroom*-^^ S^peaftboe ,wm hailed IJ
with gtmt acelaanrtion,and it waspleaaantto 1
see the eagerness with which all vied in iind- 1
fog for W the most comfortable place, and 11
arranging her cushions and fooWtool to suit ]
near. landa, mid, tww wr nerwnir reserve <
of demeanor, and pressing affectionately to <
herliiotfers side, spote to her gaily and ca- j
reasingiy, while Edith?evidently the favorite j
child of both parents, though they were kind ?
and loving tti iUl,?rtook possesion of her nsttfcl f
place, the footstool at her feet. j
After tea we-had music again, and some ,
charades for the little ones, and then the par- j
ty brokeOn itf the night ' ,
After I had retired to my room, I bethought (
me of Mr. Laagtoirt note, and tie ided that .
now wotda he as good a time as a*y other to (
answer it. It was true, I had not given the f
mo to do, but I knew if I thought over it for ]
i?'wett,*>dytottW^'rfiWwOTMBe J
the same, so I might as well apart him ail ufc- ]
necessary sjypffyr ^aecofdiggly sat down '
I sive as niwitiln exnreesed mr thanks forjihe
LrTr. T Tt * "' " Pi* p. ?! 55^ jcompliment
he had said toe. which. J .assured ,
j ffiiiiirni finwrii a*- - -i 'ninrr f r dirm jj
; .1 > .
the south&k
HOW T^v^^^ rvmJs^D^rArB )
?. u, rorpponaeni oi ine wmself
in his letter published to-day. He makes
the paper of which he is the representative
take considerable literary liberty with the !
names of Stuart, Stephen & Co., carpet mer- 1
chants on Pulton street, on the right-baud 1
side going towards the City Hall from the 1
ferry, and jost.tlfo doors from the corner of '
Cranberry. These gentlemen are well knowp I
inJBrpcklym They do a large buaina*. The 1
firm is composed of gentlemen who <m> do
sertrediy esteemed and trusted iaihu city and ;
no one was more surprised than themselves
at the "peculiar juxtaposition" in which they 1
find their names. But let us
BEE WHAT IS CZLUBG&D
against Stoart, Satphen & Oo., in the Sun let- 1
letter of to-day. The comsjumdeui that
he has just got s glimpse at thti (nils for fur- '
Dishing the State Capitol of Sooth Carolina, J
and that the furniture was bought, ordered, \
introduced, and charged for by Mr; John B. 1
Dennis, Chairman of the House Committee 1
oii refurnishing the Capitol. The correspondent
Says thatTfenhis tried to keep him from
looking sit the bills; but he got hold' of them
throogh source. He found them 1
charged to the firm of Stuart,'gutohen-ll'fti, \
of Brooklyn; N/ Y,, and to the firmofftiepl 1
A Davidson of New York city. Among the 1
items which the correspondent discovered, he ?
enumerates the following:. '' ft
MmfvdkU. 'frit* charged.
1 ^ Mg I
8/M0.00 <
m9>- " it&K <
I crimson cQruun* M ? ? ? ifao7,w
1 oofnic9i? ?? #? lV;i; ' 868t to t
20 Sjpittoonfl.....^. v |C[). " " '*^
article of which the real value is omitted from .
the above table, is considerably less than one- .
third of the "price charged" for them in the i
same table. The correspondent also says that '
Stuart, Sutphen [meaning Stuart & Satphen] (
of Brooklyn have fornished carpets enough at <
O ttow4 in Af Ant i?uu? nnvAtin tiuiaa in 1
JtUU IAJ U? vu? UfUtJ. yU|MU UMIJW Jll "Columbia."
He then goes oii to describe'
winds up' by saying that the whole bill for re- '
furnishing the State House is $92,500.
Believing that Messrs. Stuart, Sutphen & 1
light OIL this transaction, a representative of j
noon to see and Jtearn what they bad to com- 1
raunicate on their own I
and an bonoredjag^Bfe^S^ffi^^^^B
auction:
jKEznji&n
tf Sted*'
Davidson are two, one for lev than f2t,000;
^eptheribir abont 12,000 odd. TW "whole
of the bills actually charged bp ^(Ibat is, by
both *m)% Imim iB&m- How 192,500
can beil^^ he ^afged, I do not underetand.
1
I Eogte?'Could there be such a thing as ii
JPBvl
y.ttB^^^/^Ly * * ^; ?*?? ?(fjf ^ Jy
)ur bill vmb the work fas <J<m? AgprtMt
we talked agtin eJswit ee? nflimiooa.oiMMp^y
it was pot attbf of ten -per cent.
wlees^Tto irwk 'wm to be done by the 1st
if NoveriaW. | I attend^ to IHtle^Ae^ttt
ay payment What us
fttoWbeiaf mMtaitiM with -*
fucb a toing ?
^ ^enn^
Mr Hardenburgb?No, ; not
mtvT'towmk
bill which nay onfe is at Jfotfy to ^wine
oar boob to eee'isfkir and just i In regard
to the $92,600 Ikomr nothing-; that k wearly
twice our bill and Nicol A Davidson's pot toIff
iLnni* ordered; of
the Speaker's chair was foroiehed In acdorJanoe
wiihthe dinwtiODSofMr. Denmeaml
the Speaker himself, who were op North last
rammer,*nd who left directions with Mr.
i?ee*<?yard
iogoMi ta^atfl^^Oaipnr, Ao.,^paid
for by Mr. Hard^Qbur^i ^ York
be potting them
for their shipping and freight*
Bled eves the payment of the Sill which >
jast, and the bill itself seams to have , been
ionbled by the Legislative Committer,, not
fer hbbenefit toforsMr*w?r> I W" -<*
;; BOkBoY^^WOKTHlia.
ilected a xnember ofthe^XeeishtttHpe from
Charleston, having boarded at the Mills Honae
? week,in orderto beaHetowr tbatherepres^i^
the district ^
>r who tries to deal with him, woald ventore
m anythiag not aqnamlif wpiikl iea of hii
? ftAfw^ howewBtt e*
>!?hThow ^ nHtSa ait
10 T92"'F^nW- J It gpeai ^
x Go?erootK(4m^.i?xste*iy^>^
mis the mimsho raised theCoafederateflag
wer Fort Somter/April13,1881. He topjed^
the dose of the ?<?., *
oft SXX^jf*^TB6
W*yw Api6<^^ r-'-^J
oe sincerity couuojwr ^
JP^t gread/agitotae them,and wbeti they
Sraeh out their hands they shake like aspen
eavea on windy days. By a daily, moderate
ise of the blanched stalks of celery, #a a saJad,
they may become as strong and steady in
limbs as Qth^pen^.
in labor weakening tothe nerves or afflicted
with palpitation of the heart, should uae celery
daily, in seaso^ and oniona in its stead,
yhen not in season, 'E&weitional Chwctte.
; I ,+? , . ;?ottv
Mr 'Sir, you hajre brakeifc yoktftfflaaua%"
afcht geatlwfci;* mgtker. "OW never
r^g^^j^jnak^wiother jnstaa good."
BBbl