The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-08-26
SELECTED TALES.
From the Lady's Book.
THE ADOPTED DAUGHTER.
TALE.
A TALE.
ny MRS. NARY Ii. PARSONS.


Il will adop Emily Sincl,ir YES, she sh all
be as my own child, and viii b. tn hera moth
eff have your consent aud approval, Mr..
] Morton = and the handsome woman who had
uttered the above sentence, lifted up her dark
eyes for moment, and rested them inquiripgly
| upon the face OF her husband.
My consent he replied will certainly be
given if you desire il my appreciation is dif.
ferent affair. Much, very much is TO be con-
sdsred ere you take the keeping Of anoIher's
happiness into your own hands, as think you
will do by voluntarily adopting Emily Sinclair"
The chck Of Mrs. Morton flushed slightly,
aud look Of mngled shame aud vexatiou pass
ed over her fine face as she answered, ii is APP
parent you consider me unfit for the task
should like 10 make the experiment were 1t on
ly 10 prove you false prophet"
Mr.. Morton was silent; many feelings strug-
81 ed in his Losom, but hs.shrank from giving
them uiierance. He could not we'll explain 10
his wife why he deemed her inca apable OF giving
or receiving pleasure in the adoption Of Emily
Sinclair. Let us for moment advert 10 their
past history. In early life, Mr.. Morton was
clerk in The Ellsworth firm, one OF the most
fourishng and prosperous in - city. The
only daugh hrer OF Mr.. Ellsworth, the fair and
spoiled Ella, had singled him ont from among
many wealtbier suiiors, given him the passion
ate love OF an afeo lonate but unreg ulared heart
married him with the consent Of her father, and
had thus been the means OF raising him TO rank
and station Ear beyond his most sang uinc hopes.
The love Of Morton was devoted enough 10 sat
lsfy even Ella, enacrng and capricious as she
had ever been; his feelings of gratitude render
I'd him forbearing and genrle-yet resolute
when occasion demanded-thc calm and even
midness Of his disposition, the firm dignity Of
manner and character which preserved his own
rights from being eoeroaehrd upon, while he
yielded often and tenderly 10 her--won upon
her respect, and increased her love aud esteem
as the years Of her life rolled on. Yet the
faults Of Ella were not corrected, scarcely amc-
liorsied; many painful hours she had caused
her husband, and remorse never failed tc visit
her With bitter and accusing pangs, but the
strong pride Of her character, either stided such
!
! They were now in the autumn Of life, aud very
beautiful still was Ella Morton. while her hus-
band, with his open and placid counienan"e.
his broad ample brow, and he winning smile
that played about his mouth, as though IL loved
its resting place, the gentleness or his mauners
united TO uniform kinduess and benevoience Of
character, was one upon whom the eye loved 10
linger, and the heart bounded with Il warm gush
Of feeling and sympathy TO meet. Ella Morton
had 10 children; long since her parents were
dead, and upon her husband the one strong
stream Of a passionate and loving heart poured
itself fourth. Morton knew well it was so
tina, all OF earthly feeling her heart had gamer
ed was Isvished upon him; yet oh ! how often
and how bitterly she pained him-sung his
soul with rsproaches that were undeseryed-
doubling his iasb, and ilin. his heart with sor-
row, that be could not ronsiifu'r ner happiness,
while his own was destroyed. He loved her
truly she was indeed fair, and very captivating,
and when the imperlous and exscting temper,
that sullied her character lay sleeping, there
) was soft and winning tenderness in her man
uefs, lDSt NOuUo fOHUu ltlt utdf Ol Utf
band, I'LL he deemed her once again the Ella
, Of his youth, the young wife of his bosom
t Much Of bitterness mingled in the thread o
their desiiny-much also Of happiness; offer
she had erred and ss often been forgiven; per
haps both felt Of late that some one else 10 love
. would give new charm to their domestic life
\ Morton alone feared tho experiment; bis wife
self-eouhdent aud naughty, believed heuelffu'
= " competent TO discharge the important duiIe
}. that would desolve upon her in the adoption o
D daughter. Emily Sinclair was eighteen, lin
: id, gentle and sensitive shrinking from cold
ness. and cllnging fondIy TO those who met he
with tenderness and affection; her disposition
was open and ingenious. her temper regulated
her mind improved, her mannsn captivating
and her beauty Of kind to win love as vsII a
as admiration. This young girl ua a
+ orphan she had few friends in her adversely
7, and none so able 10 assist and aid her ss Mr'
IS Morton. Her mother had been for years th'
Isdys nearest and most intimate companion
;, and abe loved Emily veil for her own sake, bu
!. more tsnderly for that OF her lost mother. 4
10 this Morton knew he hesiistsd 10 refusing
p home to one 30 slane in the world. so very de'
= olste-yei he feared her lie ~ould be one {
: op spIendor, While the bonds Of depe'
.. rGuid sea- - .ssr'. A. 'h''
y thoughts passed through his mind. they ls
y their shadows upos his face. and hi, -Ifs li.s
r., not the expressioa Of his couniensncei ct
a, lesued forward, aud resiios her h4Dd iss,iy Q
- his ova for momsat. said
Your deeisioo uo-, Il you please ca
l., wait no longer
" q. ioct.S - go ~. !. -s. ore o e [,