The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-05-26
CHAPTER V.


After leaving her son, and seeing the
servant take him into the house, Mrs.
Meriord returned to her lone home if the
damp cellar in which she had but that
night to stop, for the time she had rented
it for had expired, could be called a
home ; and after collecting what few ar
tices of clothing still remained, she tried
to sleep; but sleep she could not, and
when morning dawned, she had scarce
closed her eyes. Rising early, she set
out determined TO find some employment,
bat strangers would not employ her, and
she could not apply TO those with whom
she had been acquainted in better times.
After nearly traversing the city over, and
being ready to drop down with fatigue
and despair she accidentally observed at
the window of an intelligence Office, a
notice that family just starting for Eng
land, wanted woman TO act az sort of
governess, and travel with them. Sum
moning all her remaining strength, she
went into The Office and applied for the
situalion.-luckiy the man had entered
the Office few minutes before her, and
was at the time expressing his regret at
not being able to obtain a woman willing
to leave the city; and he was obliged to
go the next day or run the risk of being
obliged to wait another month. Think
ing it therefore his only chance he agreed
with Mrs. Meriord, and took her home
with hm.-3eing too much hurried, no
one made any inquiries about her family
until they had been several days at sea.
Mrs. Mcr!ord then gave them full histo.
ry of her life in such frank AMI open
manner as to gain their hearts complete
~. Mr.. Somerlon and his wife were
both possessed Of fine feelings and could
sympalhise with her, and from that time
they treated her as an equal and allowed
her every comfort and convenience.
She lived with them in England scvc-
raj years until Mrs. SOmcrlon died when
Mr. Somerlon preierring to return TO
America, procured her another situation
in family in which she lived for twelve
years in the capacity Of g0vcrnass and
companions, visiting France annually to
spend the winter, and returning TO Eng
land in the Spring. it was one Of these
visits, that while sitting at the window Of
the hotel, she observed an elderly gentle.
man pass, whose counicnance and figure
she well llHcw--H ,oas her father. She
was heard to shrek by the inmates of the
room, and directly after she tainted. Sup
posing her suddenly taken III, they asked
her no questions when she recovered. -
After this she took frequent walks for the
purpose Of fading ont where he resided. |
Some three weeks afterwards, she again
saw him and followed him unn0ticed until
she saw him enter boarding house as
though familiar with its inmates. Con-
GLIDING that he boarded there, she deter.
mined TO have an interview She accor-
dinghy despatched the children home with
the servant who attended her, and prcpa-
ring herself for the meeting, she rang the
bell and requested the servant to tell Mr..
Sin;on she wished to see him. She sat
down in the parlOr scarce able to control
her feelings. In few minutes he entered.
At first he seemed much astonished, and
the better feelings Of his heart, almost
triumphed. Then as if suddenly recoI.
Iccting himself, he stopped and in haugh-
ty tone asked his kneellng daughter "what
brought her there ?" The words went
like thunderboalt to the heart of Mrs.
Mer!ord. She sunk senseless to the loor,
and it was several hours ere she could be
aroused from the stupor into which she
had fallen, and when she did i, was only
TO rave like a maniac. The excitement
had been more than she could bear, and
had brough, on a high fever. Her proud
father would have sent her away had he
known where to send her; but as it was
he was obliged to own that she was his
daughter and provide the necessary atlen-
dance.
Her disappearance caused much won
der in the family where she had lived but
AS the servant could tell nothing. they
gave themselves IltlIe or no trouble about
her.
For several days her r4lher would no,
see Ter, and persisted in the determine
lion"ts fave nothing to DO with her when
she recovered, if she did at ALL and there
seemed little likelihood nj H. Pnt uuch
as they were deadened, his parental fec
llngs were not entirely extinct; his con.
science began to work and would not Let
him be quiet Each day did its action be-