The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1847-01-14
CHARLOTTE. N. c. JANUARY 40 Is47.

IN which | had placed every thing con
duciye TO her comfort, which my slender
J means could command, and in which
saw her established ere | departed. ! wa!
: obliged to hasten my return to London
10 order 10 receive the Gnal instruction.
Of my employer. The moment OF my
departure was painful bu, Clara supported
II better than | had expected it was eyi
dent tina, she eserled all her toritude on
the occasion.
IL was early morning when | left the
cottage oil Ruddock, after earnestly soil
citing the attention OF its inmates 10 my
poor Clara. This they promised faithfully
TO beslow.
As the carriage in which tourney ed
, rolled along, J saw at distance the grey
tutreis Of my family mansion rising amid
forest Of empowering trees. A shlvering
sickness came over me as hastily avcrted
my eyes from those well known objects.
soon despatched the necessary bust.
ness in London, and was ready 10 EN-.
ba'k. had the satisfaction Of hearing
from Clara before my departure. She was
veil, and calm, and quite prepared 10 avail,
my return with patience.
The morning OF the day on which |
embarked was fine, bu! the packet had
been only shor, time uuter way when
the weather changed; storm arose,
which our small vessel wea,hered with diff
ficulty, end app-ehensions we're at one
time entertained, that we should be lost
by the skill, GOODNESS and Judgment Of the
captain OF our llltIe Grail, she however,
reached tho destined port in safety, aliho'
so much injured as to be deemed unsafe
for recroSsng the channel, before under.
going complete repair. heard no, long
alter, that 1t was reported in England that
the vessel had been cast away of The coast
I Of -----, and every soul had persisted.
Knowing wha, would be the rcuteuess of
CIaras suffering, should this report reach
her before she was apprsed Of my safety, |
wrote 10 her Immediately, informing her OF
the facts and promising a speedy return.
The business which demanded my at
,enlion, respected the agency Of q consd-
erabe estate belonging TO the gentleman
who employed me. Either through neg.
gence or design in the persons whom he
had heretofore trusted, the affairs OF this
iIi,h estate had fallen into great deranse.
menl, and il was his wish that after in.
forming myself Of the necessary particu
lars, and placing all things once more in
train, would myself accep, The agency
aud reside on the spot. Whatever might
once have thought Of such proposal,
was now 10 no situation TO dcnur. 4 pros
peet thus opening TO an honorable independ
ence. was not TO be treated lightly; it is
scarcely necessary to add, that accepted
the Ter with gratitude.
Successful IN my arrangements, nothing
gave me dlsquiet bu, the circumstance OF
not hearing from Cara, and ! had now
been absent from her many weeks.
Every thing which came to do being
finished | was established IN the agency,
and it only remained that should brinE my
wife and settle ourselves IN the Tranquil en-
loyment OF competence, OF least. passed
IN London no longer time than was necessa-
~ 10 explain the concerns in which had
been engaged. | then sci Out for ----.
Il was evening when arrived al Rud.
docks cottage. The clouds we're gathering
for storm. 40 air Of descrilon aud lone
llnce. reigned around. No light rhone
through the windows, nor did there seem
to be inhabitants within, Ny mind msgaye
me that all was no, right. My heart throb.
bod wildly. could hear lis beaiings. Al
mos, dizzy with apprehension, | threw my
SELF from my horse and approached the
cottage door. II yielded to slight effort
at opening it, and looked within. There
was no living thing to be seen, ezcep, an
infant about two years old, seated on the
hearth near the embers of decsying FIRE,
feeble glow from which fell family on the
scaniy furniture Of the room. As paused,
uncertain how to proceed. heard light
quick step without, and girl hastily en-
tered. Il was my old acquaintance Nancy,
now grown fine tall lass. No, seeing me,
she ran to the child, which she raised in
her arms, caressing and bestowng on il
thousand atiectlonate eplthels, and which |
was Obliged TO interrupt, that | might
make the enquiries | wished respecting
Clara. The glrl started on seeing stran.
ger near her nor did she seem much bet
Ter assured on recognizing me, ss she vi.
tered scream which btough, tho mother
into the room. The good dame, for her
part, far from screaming, seemed deprived
OF the power OF utterance, and stood staring
ss if she had beheld a spectre.
"Do you not know me, Margaret" |
asked.
Know yr, Mr.. Richard, lord love you
If it be's yourseIt-~yes TO be cure But We
all though, you were drowned, and lost
Oh, how glad madam will be to see you
again -
Clara lives then she i, welll
But was soon undeceived learned
with painful forebodng, that not long after
my departure, nows had arrived OF the
wreck Of the packet in which had sailed
and loss OF the crew and passengers That
the report had thrown her into an illness
tina. nearly cos, her her life but what gave
/ ,,, ,,,oxa .nrrr,sp not uDmlxed with alarm,