Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-05-24
CHAPTER V.
"a star has lett It's sphere. "


The next morning, Florence left home to call
upon young friend. Cecil employed the hour
during her absence in writing, and had Just re-
turned to the drawing room, when Florence
flushed with exercise, entered
sOh. mamma :! she exclaimed, throwing her
self on an ottoman al Mrs. Willougby's feet
came home by the Lake, and in that misera-
ble hut on the ,hore is Il poor sick woman, with
two little chiIdrcE--.hey look half famished.-
Can not we do something for them 7
The tears sutfused her beautiful eyes, and she
arose hastily and left the room. Her mother
followed her, saying.
1T was always so with her, even fro,l her
childhood. | never saw such acute sensibility.
Now, mother, do you not see how YOU have
msjudyed her 2 asked Cecil. Did not you see
the tears in her eyes as she spoke Of that wo-
man.
Il cannot so hastily change my opinon-i
formed it not hastily. | wish you to do the "a
favor. Go with me to the Lake now, and let us
see what can be done for the poor creatures
there
1t was indeed a miserable hut down by the
watcr-and more comlortless within than with
out. The sole article that could be designated
as furniture, was a miserable pallet OF straw.
which was spread in corner aud served tor IA
bed. Two little chllren were playing in the
sand before the &c r, as MIS-. VAUGHAN and her
son appr ach, 1 The younger Of tie two, a
girl, rrtreated into the house As they drew near
Ccc followed her, but Mrs. Vaughan remained
for moment or two, talking with the other
child. The sicl: woman was lying on the bed
apparently asleep; bat, hearing strange loot.
steps on thehreGAold, she started wildly up
Fixing her large black eyes upon the young
man. she exclaimed vehemently,
Go away--away? wont have you know
amt poor don't you see I've got bread enough
to last until 90 ol my journey 2
Cecil was shocked, but ked kindly If there
was nothing lie could dc for her.
'No-no,' shrieked the woman; 'only go a
way. Don't you the young princess that here.
came here IA little while ago with her laces and
gay ribbons thought she had come to do
something for Us but she struck poor Bessie
because she stepped on her fine gown; and she
said we were vagabondS, and should all be sent
to the poor house. Did you come to ke Us
there Oh, don't-l On't' and the poor crea-
ture wrung her hands trantciy.
No indeed, said Cecil, much aaitated and
then, as his mother entered, he left her 10 20 for
physician. Could it haye been his beautiful
gentle Florence On no it Was the deiirious
raving OF feyerl
| In very short time he was standing araiu
by the bedside of the c!: woman, while good
Dr. Thornton held her hand in his. lie pro.
nounced her disease to be merely a ght fever
but increased by fatigue and some mental eX.
citemeut.
'And i, she not delirous p asked Cecil an.
xiously.
,Derious? No, She is nearly famished
, Tor want Of proper food
Cecil waited to hear no more, but pm. his
| purse into the physicians hard, and, brouinn
! him to supply their wants, rushed from the
! cottage and walked rapidly along the margin
OF that placid lake bat its calm surface i'll az.
corded with his own troubled heart, and 20 hC
turntd from i, and wandered up into a gro,
Just beyond The branches Of the tall ,re .
waved above his head aud 'sung oc.tle sung,
t. the summer air; the birds WaHl d lhe
sweeies! songs al>o and the little Wild Iwers
That Cecil crushed AT almost every lootstep
only sent forth swccer fragrance with lhe
dying breath. But all til, s. bright and Deaui
Ia! Things, ana even the 9linpse> OF the blue
sky above himl, aud of the rod, II sun.ligh Ii u
felt in checkers aiourd his path, CecI hecdet
not. There was Il dark, wild tempest raging il
I his heart and lie had not >tIenarh to say untc
! il, Peace, be stlii.' .tluuc lie stud in that
shady wood, until the deeper darkness gat,er .
about h.m, anI he knew that, ere long, nigu,
would cover the earth with her dark mantle
even as disappointment and doubt had entered
h.s heart so ne arose from the ground aud re-
! turned slowly 10 the cottage. Deiure euie ring
the parIor, lie threw himself upon srliee on
the piazza. The leaves q! the vines shls lel
him from observation but he looked through,
: ,he open %indow into tie little room, where he
L@l passed 50 many pleasant hours. Jane, the
little serving glr, wa filling the Vases " it
fresh flowers tor the eveniu. and Cccll pitir,
her, as he notice. her pale, sad fac aud tn,
neglected locr that hung over her neck Poor
chld Suddenly Florence entered the room
and approached the girl.
What did you break the China vase rha,
stands on my dressiI & table ior-and ,cicn dc
you break it I" she exclaimed, angriy.
i did not break it, indeed Mjsy Florence,
replied Jane, trembling.
You did break il, you little wre'ch-d1nt
tell me another lie aud now you sha be pun
lshed-and IT my Wother does not do It, viii.
Come with ne, this moHent,' aud Florence
seized her arm.
Cecil waited no longer, but sprang through
the open window anl stood before Forer ce
She lei 60 her hold on The arm OF the Girl, who,
raising her mourntLl eyes for Que nom ut To-
his, ghded away. Neither Of the lwo, who
were lett there alo .e, spoke Once the young
girl raised her flashing eyes to the face of Cecil,
but they dropped before his stern, yet sorrow |
Jul gaze. F.ll t.e minutes they stood immoy-
abe-then Cecll turned away and sought his I
mother. Mrs. Vaughan listened in silence
while her son repeated all that had transpred, .
and when he had flushed exclaimed.
Il greye for you, but thank heaven that
you dscoyered her true character ere it was
90 late
Mother, you do not know what it is TO lave
me, whom you have pictured as but "a little
over than the angels suddenly and uneXpect-
dly transformed 10 but little better than d t.nd.
{ is bitter lesson for me. | can not remain
ere longer. can mol see her ggan. will
70 to the hotel tonight, end Tomorrow return
ome.'
Perhaps it will be BETTER replied his mother
| SHAH follow you in "a day or two.'
For few moments longer they oonyersed
ogeher earnestly, and then Cecil lett the house
Irs, Vaughan wept, when she VAS aloue, for |