Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-11-11
From Godey's Reprint of Blachwoofs Magazine
A Tale OF Truth.
THE GAMBLERS DAUGHTER;
OR THE LADY OF ELMwoOD.

w
The evening shadows were stealing on, at the
close of cold bright winters day. Stretched
on bed of sickness, pale, wasted, silent, lay
the lady of Eluwood. The curtain of purple
velvet, dark and gloomy in the fading light,
hung heavily around her, and through an open
ing at the foot of the bed CLEAN of red light
from the blazing fire now and then fell on her
face, but did not rouse her from the deep tho't
in which she seemed plunged. There was
beauty even yet in her large, dark eyes and del
Icately formed features: but her cheek was hol-
low, and the tightly closed lips look as if no
smile of JOY had ever parted them.
A hired nurse, the only watcher by that
sick-bed, was DOING in an armed chair before
the fire, rousing herself now and then to glance
at the lady, who was totally regardless of her
presence. The old woman began to feel chill
" as the evening closed in, and she was rising
to draw the curtain before the window, when
the clear, gay laughter of child rang on the
frosty air, floating up from the garden below.
A look of misery passed across the lady's face,
and she sighed heavily.
"Did you speak, my LADY," asked the nurse,
moving to the bedside.
..No, NURSE answered sweet, yet feeble
voice: II want Notwithstanding that you can
give me-" she murmured, as the old waman
turned away. "Oh, for a loving voice to cheer
me in this dark hourr'
Again she Law, silent and thoughtful as be-
fore; but after time, she called the nurse, and
as ifby strong effect, said, ''Go to him-to
my husband-and tell him am very i'll. Say
that, for the love of Heaven, / entreat him to
come to mes
;. She half raised her head from the pillow to
listen to the old woman's slow footsteps, till
the sound died away in the long and distant cor
ridors. The slamming of door gave her no
tice when the nurse had reached her destination
and she clasped her thin hands in an agony of
impotence, as it seemed, to know the result of
her mission.
''Surely, surely he will come now," she said;
che does not love me; he has taught my child
to scott at me; and yet, now, surely he will feel
something for mer'
The door was heard again, the nurse tottered
back, and stood once more beside her charge.
my lord bids me say he is engaged now, but
will come by -and-by."
The lady's head fell back on the pillow, and
the color that had risen to her cheek for mo-
ment faded away. The nurse had been used to
looking on scenes and suffering and sorrow, and
perhaps age, too, had blunted her feelings, for
she re-establshed herself in her comfortable
chair and sank into doze. The lady's voice
once more reused her.
sGo to him again, nurse; say that am dy
ing-you see am; tell him | entreat him to
send for Mr.. Patterson topray for my departing
soul. Beg him earnestly to grant me this, only
thisr'
Again the messenger departed, and again the
lady listened anxiously for return, yet with less
hope in her eorrowful eyes than before. Her
heart sank evidently when she heard the nurse
returning Immediately, -.
"My lord says" said the old woman, ut is
only your fancy that is sick.
sand dill you tel him, nurse, that you knew
was dyingr interrupted her listener.