Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-07-03
The Daughter Of Night:
STORY THE PRESENT TIME
BY s. W. FULLoM.
CHAPTER VIII.

from any proceeding likely to give them offence
Mr Belwood, senior. was sole proprietor of tn
! adjacent collieries and iron works. and might b.
considered MIR Harley's near neighbor, his man
SION, empowered in extensive pleasure grounds
beng only two miles distant He was also hi
colleague i'll the representation of the shire
MIR Belwood had early in life been left a wild
over, with an only son, and, in less than yea
afterwards, received a new charge. in the orpha,
daughter of a brother, who, after losing his for
tune In a disastrous speculation, had died bank
rupt The two cousins, thrown thus closely to.
gether, were Charles and Helen
Suen and severe. Mr. Belwood was not GUAR
dian calculated to win upon the affections of ;
tlm'd and gentle girl but if the little stranger SC
prematurely cast on the world, did not meet with
second parent in her nearest relation, she found
a Jealous protector in one of his friends. Such
was Mr. Ihornhill. who, under rugged exterior
and morbidy irritable disposition. was anima.
ted by warm and tender heart !; and moreover
was reported by one or two venerable gossips
familiar with times long gone by, to have been a
rejected suitor of her mother. However this
might be, he certainly evinced from the beginning
| the lWeliest interest in Helen's welfare Through
his influence, she had been carefully educated,
acquiring proficiency in all the conventional ac-
complishmentS of the day, and about two years
| previously to the time under consideration, had
| quilted the wearisome routine of the schoo-room
| for the honors of the mansion.
| 1t was now nearly month since the elder Mr.
| Belwood had proceeded to London, toinvestigate
| the affairs of his factor. who, after conducting
business successfully for many years. had sud-
denly failed and, as already shown. intelligence
had Just arrived of Mr. Belwood having been
seized with paralytc stroke, threatening speedy
| dissolution. These facts duly set forth it will
| be necessary to revert for moment to Mr.
Thornhil, left with NIillcent at Mr. Harley's
lodge.
| Bidding the poor girl to follow, the worthy
practitioner sailed ont to the road where his old
four-wheel, drawn by his older horse, yclept
| Speedwell on account of possessing an unblemish-
ed reputation as a slow coach, was in waiting
and he directed her to mount into the seat behind.
| Millicent only looked at him in wonder, but the
command being repeated, obeyed and the doctor
drove off at SpeedwelFs most dashing pace-a Jog
trot.
| More than half an hour elapsed before they ar
rived at his resdence-a pretty little villa facing
the high road. Here the good dame who officia-
ted as his cook and house-keeper, Bundy by
name, was not little shocked at first sight, by
| the appearance of Millicent. especially when in
formed that she was to be received as guest in
to the kitchen. BIT besides, being one not to be
contradicted. Mr. Thornhill was looked up to bv
Mrs Bundy as domestic Amirable Creighton
and, consequently, she never ventured to oppose
him.
'And, TO be sure,'' she remarked to herself,
as she took charge of Mllicent, the poor wench
have most bonny face, as do one good to see.
though, as far as Eve heerd say, the miners bear
cruel name-thats the truth ont. But the
master knows best'
''She's an orphan.' said the doctor. testify,
sand very good girl But take her into the
kitchen. and give her something to eat for be-
:, Geve, she's starving. What 10 you stand staring
at 20
''Lor bless von, sir, amt staring at ALL,
She hurried Mi!licent away, leaving her mas
ter in the hall, where he continued to pace to and
fro, keeping up the periodical reference to his
watch, till at last. supposing sufficient interval
had elapsed. he recalled the house-keeper and in
quired if Millicent had finished her breakfast
''Btess you, sir, the poor lass hasna swallowed
| a Bit" was the answer; shut l have made her
take cup of tea, and it seems to have Just set 'un
| again"
| At the request of the doctor. Mrs Bundv bus
! tied off, and soon introduced Millicen into the lit
! tie back parlor, where he was awaiting her.
s'Sh down. he said, with keen, rapid glance,
| while both his voice and manner BETRAYED agita-
! ton. II have question or so to ask you. but
| you are not bound TO answer, unless you please.
Only one thing will beg of you-say nothing
! but the TRUTH
81 never do sir" replied Millicent
! 81 believe it. You are good girl, know
| very good. coming from where you do, and only
wonder to find You so. | must tell you. too, that
YOU did quite right this morning not TO inform the
| magistrate who was the mother of this infant
| 1t would have been cruel and wrong to betray her.
! and saw you would rather have suffered punish
| ment yourself"
..That | would with all my heart"
! 81 will prevent your being endangered again,
for we will forfeit the bail. And now object
must be to avert all suspicion from the mother
/ the weak unfortunate mother--who, unless am
( n,cta I ha,ya
! You see then. how anxious | must feel, before
any further steps are taken to ascertain if | am
right. This is why l ask you to tell me her
name"
81 can't do that, sir, know all you say is right,
, and for her good, but made her my promise not
! to tell on her and never will"
| ssBut tell you am her friend-the friend OF
her childhood, of her mother" said Mr. Thorn
hill, testify. 81 do not put the question from
curiosity, but that | may be guided in what do
that | may not be plodding and working IN the
| dark
.Then. maybe, she will tell you herself, sir,
| don't like to deny you, seein' how good you've
been to me ; but wouldn't do it for the world"
| erhis is sheer obstinacy." said Mr. Thornhill,
pacing rhe room impatiently. Then, suddenly
resuming his seat, he added-''Listen to me-
| The night before last you were removed from the
! colliery in Mr. Bewood's carriage, and conveyed
! to his house. There you were placed in bed by
the housekeeper, and left asleep. Now, when
| and how did you quit the house?"
Millicent made no reply.
81 can tell you," resumed ThoTnhill. "lou
! came ont by the fower-garden gate, opening into
! the lane: for discovered, by accident, from the
gardener that the key was found in it next MORN
| ing-a circumstance he fortunately ascrlbes to
his own negligence. Well, you passed up the
lane to the churchyard, where, about two O'Clock
You were discovered by the man, who gave evil
dence against you to-day. Was it not SOP"
''You're puttin' me on trial, again, sir. | own
| to havn' been in the churchyard.'
'And the child you We're interring was newly
born-had in fact, been brought out of the gar
den gate, from Belwood House, and was wrapped
in an India shawl, which, as know, belonged to
a lady living there; for it was presented to hel
bv me. SO, you see, putting all these facts to-
gether, with some l noticed before, do not re-
quire TO be told who the mother was.''
"Then, if you be her friend, sir, with yonr gooe
heart, I'm you'll pity her." replied Millicent
with an appealing look.
| 'You are a strange person." said Ihornhill
thoughtfully, and in more gentle tone. ''Anc
vet, herhaps, l ought, after all, to commend rath
er than reprove YOU. know my con njecture i:
but too true; and your resolute silence, after sc
much has been said and done TO wrest your Sc
cret from vou. proves that, if the affair should be
pushed any further, there is no fear of your be-
traying confidence But we must remove yol
from the neighborhood. Would you like to leave
your present mode of life, and go to service?'
"Oh! yes, yes! yesr' cried Millicent. go