The Cecil Whig., 1849-03-17

h'" t"cii'e ior thou.ht ana Iallcy 10 weave into
web OF mystery.
All waited in nervous expeetation for repr
htion fthc astounding knock-and aet in it
came, single heavy knock, accompanied this
time by groan.
The father and daughter moved not muscle
The mother started wildly, unconscio,slv grasp
ing her husbands arm. John fell heavily back
i'll his chair, caspcd his hands and shut his eyes
in silent submm sion 10 fate.
'Who is there,'' asked Mr. Umsted in harsh
tone.
"a frend-wounded- sick-dyinr-n was
the answer which came back slowly, and at in
terva's as if the speaker was in great pain.
"Die then, where YOU ares shouted back Mr.
Umsteud IN wrath, his face livid with hate.
"For God sake take me ~ was the int
pleading reply. in sweet supplicating tones 81
am very faint indeed and would like toto
die heavy groan burst from him, and all
was silent.
Father" SAID Anna in an imploriug tone,
turning 10 her father who was about 10 make a
churlisl, answer to the man without. Tllcsym-
path les her kindly nature are earoused-"Fath-
er wont you let that man in. Just think he is
dying, and dying man cannot surely hurt or
harm us.n
"Sencc, girl,' he answered harshly-"Wha,
know you of Tie danger. That man is not dy-
ing-ony faint" Then added in a softer lono,
placing his hand tendely on her heud-"IVe
have treasure here my child. which we have
| guarded with most anxious solicitude for seven
teen long years-we have watched it, cherish ed
it until 1t has become our idol-dearer to us than
onr lives That man, ifallowcd 10 enter, would
steal it away"
| "Brt Father he is but one faint man. and
cannot rob US if he would. Oar money!
"Sil!y child. | spoke not Of money, we have
a treasure here dearer far than gold. 1t is YOU
nv daughter. 1t is you he would steal from
! us -
THAT he could never do, father You mag
mfg dangers. Now she continued winding
her arms around hIs neck and bring her beautiful
supphcatlng face almost angelic in its cxprcs-
sion, close 10 his-''now you will bring him in
will you not. DO not let him die unpitied, un-
Soothed on those cold stones at on, vcrv door
Father, it's youi daughter, your own Anna who
| pleads"
"My child, it cannot be-nay be paticnt.
! have always treated you as nv equal, never
| giving you command without a reason for it,
| ever regarding you as creature of mind ana
nor as prppet to obey bindly have allow
ell your nature to form as nature designed 1t
should, only teaching YOU to think. | have rea-
soned with you metaphysics intending soon
to tell yon Of the world that YOU might be pre-
pared TO enter tive will reason together of
that now.
"You know that came to this secluded spot,
because loathe my race You know the cause
of my hatred. But that was not nv principal
| reason. The human heart must love sonnet hing,
it is life to love. Mine, divorced from the world,
conferred upon you. You became cnshrincd in
my heart an idol between me and heaven. |
saw that you would unfortunately be very beau
tiIili Men run wild after beauty, worship it.
! You would be besct with admirers and natte-
rers villains, rePr ohates, young, old. and hoary
| headed, wearing virtues mask would tiwn
| round you. Your head woud he turned. Your
young guileless heart polluted. | determined
this should not be. Yon were one of naturc's
| fiirest works. and resolved that she should per-
feet her own lovely creation. Here IN this west
ern world sought this home, where vice could
/ not reach you, and your life has budded bloom
ed as swcctiy, beautifully as could wish.
You cannot imagine how anxiousy, lea alously |
have watched every unfolding leaf And now
when my object is almost won, when nature has
| nobiy done her part, when you lave acquired
strong judgement, and an inherent force and de-
cslun OF cha racter, tbat needed only my training
to enable YOU 10 nsc them, and combat success
| fully with IL worlds deceit and rise superior to.
and above II. Now comes stro Hing vag1bond
to overturn this beautiful cdifice before it is fin
shed, and immovably fixed and crush my hearts
hopes, render trntless long years Oft toll and
care Still he might lie kept out, and a II be well
but this daughter, tins idol, like the moth that
madlY seeks destruction, insists, IN stubborn OBJ
stinacy on the double ruin. My child let him
dien
"Father," replied Anna much affected
by her fathers words and manner, "You
say trul y l am natures child. That ma
ture prompts me TO love you, you can
not know how dearly, but that nature
also teaches me to help the unfortunate,
the suffering. 1t is one of her greatest
precepts. 1t is my delight, my duty to
obey you, but my nature teaches me ]
have duties higher even than thai. be-
lieve, too, my father, that IN passing
through life, we act sometimes under un-
comfortable impulses, as if higher pow
er than ourselves acted through US. Such
experience now. [ cannot refrain from
urging your mercy to this dying man,
and I cannot really see any danger to
myself. Admit him then dear father
and gladden. your own heart by doing
good''
"My dearest chl!d,' replied the old
man, in an almost supplicating tone,
"Do not urge this. 7 will tell you frank
ly what my fears are.''
'sThis man is, I know, from his voice,
young, perhaps good looking. You are
just at the age when females are most
susceptible to passion OF which you are
profoundly ignorant This young man
will see you. and unless he is marble will
love you and will tell YOU so, if not by
word by language of the eyes more in
telllsible still. Few women, even in the
giddy world beyond this wild abode,
where deceit and guile are the hearts
study, and treachery turks unseen IN ev-
cry smile and Kisses in every honied
word-few even there, who have hearts
of human mould, can remain insensible
to the passionate, oul-breatbinp love OF