The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-06-21
THE STORY OF MISS STANHOPE

My father was physician in the little viii
age of Ashton. His family was respectable,
and he was a man of some learning, but his
income was very limited, and barely sUfficed
TO supply the wants of his family, though he
had but three children, of whom | was the
Youngest. Nv sister was my senior BY sew
eral years, and my brother two or three years
older ian myself. was boarded at respecta-
bic school, short distance from The village.
He came home every Saturday, and was gen
orally accompanied by school mate. a youth
named Henry Murray. These weekly visits
were the brightest of my dull life. for nv sister
was stern and cold and the difference of or
ages, and her position as mistress of the fam
lily (my mother had died in my infancy pre-
vented my making a componiOn other. But
my brother was foudly attached 10 me, and
when he was al home We we're seldom asund-
er.
was little more than fourteen, when q dis
iant connexion of my father, being on visit
10 the family. became much attached 10 and
offered TO adopt me. Ny father gladly accept
ed her proposition, for she was very wealthy.
Behold me then transplanied from an humble
household, in quiet village, TO large and ell
egant mansioa. m the gay and busting town
Off. | sled some tears at leaving the
home ofmv childhood. but they were soon
dried, for my new protectress was kind and In
dugent, ard soon loved her far more than
had ever done my sister. In my occasional
visits 10 my father she accompanied me, but
my brother and his friend Murray had left the
neighborhood 10 complete their education at
rne ofour northern Colleges. and had few in
ducements to visit my austere sister, who envi-
ed my good fortune, and regarded me with c.
rem less affection than she had formerly shown.
Two years passed rapidly away. My bro.
Their returned from College. and was invited bv
Mrs. Burney to spend some weeks with us be-
fore entering upon the study Of his profession.
Al my request. the invitation was extended to
his friend. They came, and in those few
weeks were the happieSt portion Of nv life.
had, though uncnnsciously, loved Henry Muir
ray from my childhood, and now, when we met
the manly beauty of his person. the graceful
ease ofhis manner, and his highly cultivated
mind completed my fascination. believe that
he was dazzled by my position in society and
the great wealth 10 which was heiress, for he
omitted no means of increasing my regard.
and ere his visit terminated, his lips had con-
trmed the tale which his eyes had already told
and my too fond heart too easily believed. We
parted afiancediovers. for my adopted mother
would not refuse to sanction my choice; tho
in consideration of my youth she insisted that
our marriage should not take place till Murray
had completed the study of the law, TO which
profession he had determined to devote him.
sell. With this arrangement | was well salts
he'd for was ID no hurry TO leave my present
happy home, and The consciousness of being
beloved, was all that my fond heart re-
CURED. Murray was hot so patient, but he
did not express his dissatisfaction openly
Perhaps he dared not. for Mrs. Burney, as
should before have informed you. was widow,
and her large fortune was entirely at her own
disposal. AT the time, the idea that mercen.
airy motives could influence the conduct of my
lover, never crossed my mind, and when i,
vas arranged that he should, after paying a
shoH visit TO his friends, return to F.
and pursue his studies under the direction of a
celebrated lawyer there, thought myself the
happiest of human beings
Soon after Murray left me, 7 was summoned
to the deathbed ofmy father found him DIV
ing of violent fever; and my beloved brother
whose constitution had been impaired bv th,
close confinement of college life, contractet
the disease, and after few days. illness, h,
too expired in my arms. These accumulate,
mlsfortunes bowed me too the dust, and it wa
many weeks before | was able to return home
ihls was passed in the house of my sister VIII
had married, and settled in our native villag,
She had young family, and it seemed to IN
mat her character was far more gende and a
uacnve than it had formerly been. PerhaT
our mistortunes had endeared us to each otl
nm.
tears and with more affectionate feelins
ed.
on my return to F., found Murra
already established there, and his sympath
was the most precious balm my wounded hea
could receive. Ofcourse did not enter I'M
inc galeties of the city, and for a little viii
my lover devoted himself entirely to the task
sootning and consoling ME. But gradually