Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-12-14

NJ you SnOuiu reverence lou nave Jus
now cast aside the friendship of one whose
love would have been TO you priceless
treasurel Most f,rvently 10 | hope that
yon may now repent III agony the rash
ness which has prompted such an act.
\ thank you tor your sollcitude, Eve.
Illyn," l replied with bitterness, land
rust me, | shall not soon forget on whose
account it was called forth, and that to
her also am indebted for this summons
TO your presence-the FIRST which ] have
had from you for long, long time
And as ! spoke my voice trembled and
burst into tears.
II Z" Jessie-sister y exclaimed Evelyn,
and in moment her arms were twined
lovingly about my neck, ohl let me ask
your forgiveness. But though, you
lid not love me-you were so glad TO re-
lsign me 10 another"
\ "And so you allowed that other to
Dad you into this belief" interrupted |
reproachfaIly; you suffered her to poison
your mind against your sisler-the sister
who loves you so dearly, ard who would
Hay down her LIFE 10 save you moments
lpain p
"Ohi no-you wrong her, indeed You
do" she replied earnestly. "She has
never said one word against you--she
has seldom even mentioned your name to
me. | alone am to blame-i am so use
less Il have So long been burden to you
and to all related to me, and imagined
that you were tired Of waiting on me,
and wearied out with humoring the fan-
cies OF the helpless invalid. Besides
dear Jessie" and she hesitated as iffear-
ful Of again wonnding me, "yOa have
been very much changed of late"
"You speak truly, Evelyn, l hore been
a very different being" was my rejoinder,
" but it is all owing to her. Had she new
er come among us. it would have spared
US all much misery, and therefore can
never even listen to her voice without a
shudder
"Oh! Jessie, I cannot bear to hear
you talk thus, you who have SO much
cause to bo grateful to her.
IL, dear Evelyn" was my exclama-
ton in tones of surprise, and wherefore p
"She took the whole charge Of you
during your dangerous Illness" replied
Evelyn; But for her care you might
now be lying in the grave. She watched
over you night and day, till the crisis of
the fever was past, and did everything
that was possible for your comfort. And
oh! Jessie how have you returned her
kindness
".She maiched oper you till thc crisis Of
The tirer wos past! All! how that little
sentence startled and stung me. ieIt
again that soft kiss upon nay brow, aud
The words, Poor motherless one :" oDce
more fell musically upon my ear. Was
il possible that this had hecn reality !
that my stepmother had uttered those
words, and that her lips 4
had awarded me tina, tender caress! Iii
SO, how deeply had injured her
:" did not learn this TIL now. EVELYN"
I said after pause. l was not aware
that she had been near me while | wa
so I'll. for never saw any one in the
apartment but the nurse"
:" Is it possiblen exclaimed the sister
" then she wished to conceal her kind
ness She was too noble to obtain your
friendship through the medium of grai-
tude doubtless prelerring to make an APP
peal to your judgment-that gene rous APP
peal which-which you-oh jessie
Jessie" And Evelyn hid her face and
wept.
my own heart was now ovcraowing
with shame and remorse. will 60 to
her Immediately and crave her forgive
ness" exclaimed starting up. " Bu'
no." and sank back again upon my seat
how can she ever pardon me 7 and | do
not deserve that she ever should"
"Oh, she will-she will pardon you-goI
and seek her dearest JESSIE urged Evelyn.
and obeyed. Hasten,ng TO my s,epmother 81
apartment, knocked several times at the door,
but receiving no answer, pushed it open and
entered. She was sitting at distant part of
the room, but she did no, perceive my ap-
proach, for her head was bowed upon her
hands, and she was weeping convulslvely -
Well did | know who had caused those tears
springing to her side knrlt before her
and besoueht forg iyeness. Nor was my pray.
er unheeded.
That evening | sat by Evelyn's bedside
with my hand clasped tightly in that Of my
stepmother, while my father stood close at
hand, and his eyes rested on my face with all
the warmth of former times.
Never did | have the slightest cause to re-
pent the consequences Of that day. Scarcely a.
month aflerw ards my sister died,
"She closed her eyes and stood in peace
Before smiling God"
and the voice Of my s,epmoher soo,hed me in
that hour of deep distress, and reminded me
that there was an angel more in heaven
When at my fathers death, which happened
just three years after his marriage, his affairs
were found to be 80 involved, that there was
barely enough to satisfy the demands Of his |
creditors, and | was obliged To open a school |
to maintain myself and the little ones; ; my
stepmolher, who possessed in her own right
an annuity sufficient for her support, shared
with us her allowance, and refusing to be sep
arate from the children of her deceased hus- |
band insisted upon aiding me in my endeayOrs
to obtain competence. And have reason al I
so to feel grateful to her for the happiness Of
my welded life fUf she was the means of
amcably settling a misunderstanding that oc-
Cured before our marriage between myself
and him who is now my husband, and which,
but for her intervention, would have ended IN |
a total alienation I'm every way she has proy-