The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-11-29

for some other home, in sorrow for the flowers OF
some other country! Nay verify"
"Ah Lucy, 1t seems to me that the sunlight OF
our happiness would be almost too bright for earth,
were il not for the shadows which rest so heavily
upon my fathers mind-the mystery in which the
fate of my mother is still shrouded."
eyes Walter returned Lucy, "it is indeed
cloud a gloomy cloud in the clear sky which is
above us, and yet this would not be earth-it
would be an abode in which we should feel our
selves strangers and pilgrims, were there not some
trials sent to cast their shadows across our way II
is not strange that here, where she was wont to
lead you in your infancy, your thoughts should fix
upon one who must have borne more of misery
than it is the common lot of mortals to endure.
"Here is the fountain, Lucy | wished you TO
see il first by moonlight, that you might have the
picture as it was craven on my memory. ltseems
to me that, notwithstanding the lapse of time, il
lacks no feature now, save the figure Of that sweet
woman seated beside t,while Ipursued my childish
sports at her feet. Come, sit down there, Lucy,
on the marble-you seem like her to me, 81 would
see it again as then saw it."
sHush," said Lucy, laying her hand upon his
arm, "there is some one there already"
Walter started, and hushed his breath moment
for he too perceived the figure to which his wife
was pointing. 1t was a woman seated with her
back toward them. upon the same spot which he
had just requested Lucy to take. Her face was
turned from them, but her hands were clasped
and her ghnce directed upwards. The hood she
wore had fallen off, and her hair, was unbound
and silvery white, fell in thin ringlets over the
coarse shawl which was wrapped around her
Walter and Lucy gazed upon her for few mo.
ments, while singular feeling of awe stole through
their bosoms. So motionless she sat. that they
might almost have believed they saw the spirit ol
her of whom they had been speaking, descended
from the skies for visit to the spot which had
been most dear 10 her in life. After short time
they moved forward; their steps arrested her aten
ton, and starting hastily up she grasped the bon
net which lay beside her, and was about to retire
but, as she saw that they had paused in the patti
before her, she turned again, and spoke.
"Pardon me sir' said she, for intruding upor
your ground. should not have come hither hat
known the family into whose hands the place hat
passed were already here; but had walked many
a weary mile for this last visit, and could not re
turn without seeing this spot 1t was very dear tc
me once,-you would forgive me if you knew
how dear"
"Forgive you, madam !" said Walter, in trem
bling volce-'that " i'll do most freely ifyou will
tell me your name"
"My name, sir' Among the country people
am called Aunt Milly: had another Unce but i
has been long ago"
"Nay, madam. but your other name-I mucf
mistake if it has been forgotten" and as Walter
spoke, he removed the hat from his head, and step
ped forward from the shade where he had stood
into the open moonlight With shriek the wo
man sprang forward, and grasping his arm, exclaim
ed--"Your name, young man! in the love of mer
cy, tell the nameIyou bear!"
Amelia Vnton was found-and they who hat
suffered so much were now thrice blest in being
once more restored to one another.
The cause and manner Of her disappearance
were briefly told She had received cruel letter.
from her husband-forged no doubt by the SAINT
hand which had written those by which he hat
been deceived. And from the prosecutions of hin
who had been left as her protector, she fled alone
for her child had already been taken from her.
Richard Vinton had hunted her from one place
to another, until she found safety in that part
the country; and she had remained for some year
in remote part ofthe Island, but at last returned
that she might be near the spot in which her hap
piest as well as her most wretched days had beer
spent. Her abode had been with the peasantry
and they had treated her with kindness, and lovet
her for the good deeds which her hands were eve
ready, but her companions had been poverty anc
sorrow, for she moved among them but not Ofthem
She had heard of the sale of the estate, and hat
now come hither, as she supposed to pay her las
visit to the spot ere those grounds should be haunt
ed by other forms, and those walks should echo tc
the tread of strangers.