The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1847-02-04
CHATTER XVI.
The SmDggter's Fort.

, the W idOw Eckar, I'll her decease, WhlCl
, was on a tour for the benefit Of her health
Miss Wharton on the succession of lha
event, returned, mistress Il The Eckar de-
mesnes BY the aII Of her late lady and m
vested with fol- powers, formally took pos.
session 81 the estate.
The old man vas gricyed, as lie said
10 the very heart, not only for the great 10
justice which had been done 10 the righ,,
toll heir and inepl descendant Of an anclcn
house !, but also on s. eng the many evil,
resulting from The new order If thin.
which immediately succeeded. The SICK
and ndlgeut inhabitants Of the village
whom Mrs. Eckar formerly relieved auc
protected, were now ueg elected and abau
doned to whatever destiny NIGH, await
them, unsoolhed and unrega1ded. Nor
aas any ioyor SHOW u the Iuckess ,cnan,
whom The pressure Of sickness or mlsIor.
tune had prevented from making Up his
rent by The tine bis quarter bad expired,
and he had to present himself at the great
house, and meet Miss " Wharton in all her
Nor ass the lauy VI 49,
her efforts TO secure to herself the degree
oil we, with which II was her pleasure to
DO regarded by all who were subject 10 her
authority. Donaldson, who had iom erIy
been IN the employ Of Mr. Eckar, came to
her aid their uu'ed efforts, however, ONLY
served to increase the discomfort winch al.
ready prevailed.
Griffith had for long time suspected
that more than ordinary friendship existed
between the above mentioned ind vtduals,
which suspicion was soon confirmed, when
on their return from short excursion,
which they made, lhey announced their
marriage. Miss Wharton, or rather Mrs.
Donaldson assigning as a reason for the pr.
Yacy Of their uupusis her dislike to all sori.
d eclat; to say nothing Of the feelings o
respect lof the memory Of her late trend
whose still recent death forbade the exhi.
btlon OF that fesuriiy which a more pub
lie exhibition Of the ceremony would have
demanded.
Griffith doubts, for he still doubted, were
changed into certainly, by the introduction
Of fine boy OF two or three years old, who
va. brought to reside in the family. And
his great resemblance to Mr.. Donaldson,
the lavish fondness bestowed on hlm by
that gentleman, as well as the permission
gwen the child to regard MIR. aud Mrs.
Donaldson as parents, and address Them as
such, lett not a shade" Of doubt on the
mind OF Griffith, OF the claims which he re.
ally had on his projectors for paternity
Disgust was uoa lotueG TO aversion IN III,
heart Of the old man, ,ud n0lw ithstuUdns
then Efforts 10 dctalu hun, he quilted the
service of the Dona'dso and entered Iu!t
the employ Of 4 gentleman who resided ~
a distau, part Of the country.
/ Here he lved ull he received a commu
nca,ton from an only SISTER who dweIt 10 a
small collage on The Eckar estate, her hus.
band having been employed occasionally by
the family to work IN The grounds, HIS
death, which had lately occurred had beer
followed by that OF her infant child ant
lonely aud impoverished, she implored tn,
ard Of her brother; requesting that he " oui,
come or send Tor her, that she might, II
her SOLITARY Idowhood, have the satls'ac
ton OF beIng near hln, now her only ser
wing relative.
Moved by affection for his sister, as vel
as instigated bv a secret wish Of again Wis,
ting a place where be had once comforta
by and happily passed mauy years, Crit
filh solicited and obtained leave OF absence
and set out for his native village.
He found his sister, as he SAID, lonely e
nough; but she caeered up a; the sight o
hIm, aud began making preparations for
her journey.
And now II was, that in rambling abou
the country and gossDplng with his old &C
quan!auces, he heard the report of The dealt
of Richard Eckat, Nho was SAID 10 havu
been lost with the vessel WhI,h was wreck
ed OFT the coast OF Ireland also OF the pres
emf residence Of his widow at the house c
Mrs. Donaldson; and the fact OF her BEN
near her confinement,
lie wished much 70 see this lady, he ha
known her when both were in Lappler Gu
cumstsnces; and been grau6ed by the KIN
notice which she took Of him, as well 4
charmed by the sweetness Of her geuer,
demeanor. lmpelod by this desire, h
approached the mAnsiou, with the hope {
, belng met aud luylled to eater by some on
whom be knew. la thus he was dsappolr
. ted. He saw none but strange faces |
! place of the Old dumestics, who hike hlm
r self had yielded their situations to other
Il more willing than themselves To endure IN
D arrogan, commands Of Mrs, Donaldson, c
! the arbitrary sway Of her lord.
Y Ouce or Twice he encountered Donadso
/, bui has lowering brow and repuIsve ma,
IS ner, Tor he hal not forgiven hlm for haWr
% Quilted hls service, checked anything b
L yond a distant fcTereucc,
II From the wife OF Michael Ruddock
q had gained what little Information she pc