The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-06-18

state ofhopeless inbecility. l thought 100,
of my sainted mother, who, with no one to
assist her but me, and with scarcely bread
enough TO eat, watched over him a whole
year, as she would over ahelpless infant,and
when he was gone, how like the vine up
rooted and broken by the fall ofthe decayed
tree around which it twined, she too dropped
and died. All the agony and desolation of
that hour came back 10 me, as did the voice
that mingled its tones with her funeral knell,
as it told me the vessel was lost in which he
sailed who would have protected me and
saved me from all that have suffered
Miss Lester did all that shecould 10 soothe
her excited state ofieeling, but finding that
the feverish flush on her lace increased raih-
er than diminished, and that her pulse was
wildly throbbing, she began 10 be seriously
alarmed, and having persuaded her 10 lie
down, took little Lefty in her arms, who soon
fell asleep. A few minutes afterwards, her
brother called for her TO return home, and
she requested him to go for physician, who
in the course oftiiteen minutes was at the
bedside OF the sufferer. He informed Miss
Lester that there was every symptom of in
flammatory fever, and unless the most ener-
getic means were resorted 10, there was ev-
cry reason to apprehend that her disease
would terminate fatally. Miss Lester re-
manned with her all night, and in the morn
ing procured her good and careful nurse.
She likewise took the children home, and
committed them to the care of her house
keeper.
Ibelieve | shall call on Miss Belmont
saidshe TO her brother; land as you will of
course go with me, according TO promise,
advise you TO look particularly to the tie of
your cravat, and see that your hair is ar
ranged in the most becoming style.'
How soon shall you go?'
In hall an hour
4 shall, without fail, be ready TO escort
you.'
They found Miss Belmont alone, and look
ing-so Herbert Lester thought-beautilul
as an angel. The conversation took liter
airy turn, and he was charmed 10 find that she
had read extensively, and that his favcrite
authors were hers. In poetry, particularly,
he found that they agreed not only in ad-
miring the same authors, but the same po-
ems, and she recited several pathetic passa-
ges which he named with so much taste and
feeling, that he began TO imagine that his
sister, though her hand was open as day to
melting charity was dull and frigid when
compared with Elvira Belmont.
As soon as Miss Lester found an oppor-
tunity, she brought toward the subject which
her brother had mentioned the day previous,
and was pleased 10 find that Elvira entered
warmly into her pIan.-When Lucina rose
10 90 she remarked that she intended 10 call
on young girl who was sick and an orphan,
whom she considered as one of the most
prominent objects Of charity within her
knowledge, and invited Elvira TO 90 with
her. She readily assented, and fifteen min
utes' walk brought them 10 the dwelling of
Emily Allison. Herbert Lester left them at
the door, and Elvira followed her conductress
into mean apartment, where TO her mex
pressible CONSERVATION, she beheld in the pa
iient her whom the day preceding she had
treated not only with inciviliy but rudeness
Her first impulse was 10 90 to the bed, and
in a whisper to entreat her not 10 recognize
her. 1t was a useless request, for delirium
prevented her from recollecting either her or
Miss Lester. When Elvira became aware
ofthis, emotions Of Joy succeeded the feel
ings offear and shame which had at first
assailed her. Her Joy, however,was of short
duration. for soon her own name was pro-
nounced by Emily, sometimes with epithets
ofreproach, and in accents of entrealy, though
in language too incoherent 10 reveal distinct
ly any circumstance which had taken place.
But soon there began 10 be method in her
Madness and seizing Miss Belmont by the
wrist with frantic grasp, from which she
could not break, she recounted infinitely all
the incidents which she had the previous
evening told Miss Lester; only now instead
of supnressing Miss Belmont's name, she re-
vealed il.
'And yet, said she, when she had finished,
looking up in Elvira's face, for all she was
so hard-hearied, she was as beautiful as YOU
and very rich
Lucilla, who could not help plying Miss
Belmont, in whose countenance feelings Of
shame, amounting almost TO agony, were de-
picted, succeeded in addressing the poor
girl, who was perfectly insensible Of the ret
ributive pain she was inficting, in sooill-
ing, conciliatory manner, TO prevail on her
10 release her reluctant auditor.
Il hope said Miss Belmont 10 Lucilla, af-
fer somewhat recovering her selfpossession,
shat you will not be so ungenerous as TO suff-
er the rawlings ola maniac 10 influence your
opinion concerning me. 1t is true owe her
for work, and that she called yesterday for
her pay, when happened 10 be totally I'M
prepared, but promised TO pay her next
week. and she would have found me as good
asmy PROMISE
Miss Belmont had the discernment 20 see,
at once, that her explanation failed to rein
state her in Lucilla's good opinion, and, say
ing something about her nerves being une-
quail 10 bear such scene, she coldly babe
her good morning, and left the house.
She had been gone only a short time, when
some one raped at the door, which, on be-
ing opened. Lucilla found 10 be Alkaline
Bradford.
lam much pleased to meet you here, said
Alkaline, for you may be able 10 tell me
whether il will be likely TO wound Miss ALI
sons feelings 10 offer her few dollars, with
out requiring her 10 sew for it in return
your aid will be very Acceptable replied
Lucilla, though, unfortunately, Miss Ali
son is nseusible 10 what mighteither wound
or give her pleasure
'She cannot be dead said Alkaline, start
ing.
NO, but she is in burning fever, and to-
tally deprived ofreason. But howcame you
TO know that she needed pecuniaTy aid q
she called at Elvira Belmont's the other
day when was there, and inferred from
her appearance and what she said, that she
was not only in INDECENT circumstances, but
actually suferingfrom privation. Unfortun-