Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-06-21

an - the witch i, exclaimed Harry, slightly re-
oo;nc with superstitious dread then resumlng his
courage and raising his voice, he caled TO her Inc
murmuring of the waters over their rocky chanhel
drowned his voice and he had to repeat the CALL IN
a louder tone, before the woman was maze aware OF
their presence.
Starting suddenly from her abstracted position,
she leaned forward, and peered through the partial
gloom in the direction where they were standing
Ahr' she exclaimed in voice trembling with
excitement, which was just ntellglble above the
rush of waters-''Ah Harry Cheever, is 1t you =
You are true to your word, and l will keep mine.
Descend to my dwelling, and will be with you In
trice.n
Now. Mary be firm you will need all your cour
aee and equanimty to endure this interview" whis-
pered Harry as the two threaded the remainder OF
the tortuous path. When they reached the door OF
the hut, the woman had already entered, and stood
ready to receive them The interior of this sylvan
dwelling was as wild and picturesque as is~outward
appearance. A bright light, from blazing pine tor
ches shone from the mouth of huge chimney, cast
ing dark shadows from every object upon which it
rested The place was scantily furnished, the only
seat being rude bench, standing against the wall ;
brass kettle and dashboard leaned in corner,
and against the chimney stood table with plain
cover upon which was perched huge black cat,
looking like of the familiar spirits OF the tabled
sorcerers of old The woman's form, though some
what stout was withered and bent and though the
face bore few wrinkles, there was it an appearance
of age and misery. When the two entered, she came
forward and taking the bride by the hand motioned
to Harry to remain without. He complied but with
out entirely closing the door, order that he might
keep the parties under his eye. He had no sooner
withdrawn, than the raised the hand of the
maiden to the light and brought it SO near that a
red strawberry mark was visible on its back, near
the wrist CLEAN of satisfaction shot from the eyes
of the witch, which the next moment gave place to
an expression of sadness then turning the hand she
held in her own, and pointing to the palm With her
finger, she asked: Mary Manchester, shall read
your history 2"
Mary was agitated, embarrassed, and at loss what
to reply The woman's strange conduct and evident
excitement, however, had raised her curiosity, and
she invited her to proceed.
The woman made effort at camness, and fixed
her attention upon the lines traced upon the fair
palm of the maiden. AT length she began:
1t is now fourteen years since you left the home
of your birth, and wandered away in company with
your father. His history his untimely and sudden
death, you know. Of the history of your mother
you know nothing.'
Madam u interrupted the bride, | must not lis
ten to you-I would be gone-I come to listen to
your history, not my mothers - and, panied beyond
measure, Mary made a motion to depart, but the
now have duty to perform-a duty to you, to
myself and others and you must listen to me, pa
tiently if you will, forcibly if you must!''
Seeing no help for it, Mary resigned herself to her
| lot, and the woman continued
| "Of your mother you know nothing but what you
have gathered from paper left you by your father
That paper is true in things, false in others
false, not by design, but through Misrepresentation
Whatever may have been your mothers faults, she
was guilty of actual crime"
! At this point of the conference Mary conceiving
she knew not Why that what she heard was true
dropped upon her knees and clasping her hands,
claimed with fervor " God, [ thank thee! now | can
be happy" A flood of tears composed her excited
mind, and she begged the woman to proceed for she
was no longer unwilling listener.
':Your father" continued the woman twas sus
picious and hasty in his temper Your mother saw
his pecuarities, but did not know how to appreciate
or govern her conduct in accordance with them
When his mind was engrossed with the cares of I'M
successful business she disappointed OF her pleas
ures, and blamed him for the disappointment; bu
all that you know. You know, too, that your moth
err left home in the company of one who had been a
constant visiter in the family, and with whom she
! had been on terms of imprudent intimacy, BUT IL
spite OF appearances, your mother never harDoreo
one unchaste thought, or INDUCED in any course Of
conduct with the intention of wrongng your father
She only saw in this species of amusement an limo
cent mode of indulgng her idle and exciting habits
Not so the man who had been the cause of the ca
lamity that befell your family. He was william a
cold, calculating william with the cunning of the
devil himself he laid his plans for your mothers
ruin He thought he discovered in the levity of his
victim acquiescence in his schemes and regarded
the confidence she reposed in him, of honor,
as an evidence of Illicit love. When they reached
New York, instead of conveying her to her friends,
he took her to hotel There, he revealed himself
Your mother was distracted. The revelation of that
mans vilany overcame her. and she fell into a fever.
He guarded cautiously against her making her pres
ence known to her friends, and when the dclerium
of her fever was raging had her conveyed privately
! to place where she lay insensible for days. At
length she recovered her reason, and begged to be
taken home she was told that it would not be safe
she was even denied the privilege of informing her
friends of her location. All this time she per-
secuted with the attentions of the whom she had
learned to hate-and, oh how bitterly did she now
repent her thoughtessness! At length, driven again
almost to madness, she found means to escape, and
returned to her home. 1t was deserted; and none
could inform her whittier her husband and daughter
had fled. She found herself maligned and despised
among her old eighbors, and she too fed. For
months, she wandered in search of her kindred. She
could hear tidings of them, until evening, a.
bout two weeks since, she young girl-she was
struck with something familiar about her-she fol-
lowed her to her home-for more than an hour she
watched outside the dwelling for her temperance
at the end of that time, light appeared at Win
dow, and the girl entered your mother climbed the
lattice-work outside, and took her station where she
could observe the daughters movements; presently
she her take package out of bureau, and be-
gin to read She recognised the handwriting even
at that distance-the daughter looked up and saw
';Her mother y exclaimed Mary, wildly throwing
herself into the arms of q the witch"
g 1t was, indeed, your mother my poor girl said
the woman after they had freely mingled their sobs
and tears 6 1t was, indeed, your mother; happy,
most happy to be again restored to her orphan
daughter. | should have mentioned to you that
your father left his business in unsettled state
After his departure, affairs took favorable turn,