The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1851-06-18

when 1t was finished Mrs. AllSton suddenly
dashed off in merry waltz, and presently
Frank was whirling his pretty sister round
and round the room to those wild, exhilara-
ting notes. When the play eased, 40 thank
you, motheri" said Emma going up to Mrs.
Allston. In a moment the step-mother's
arms were about the waist and her lips pres
sed against the lips of the child. That name,
and the glademhrace which followed, struck
the foreboding heart ofIsabel Her,eyes in
voluntarily sought the face of Frank, and
she was not displeased to remark the lower
ing of his brow and the slight curl of his
lips.
But the evening of the next day, Isabel,
on entering the parlor, found Frank alone
with his beautiful step-mother, sitting on a
low ottomon at her side, as she half reclined
on sofa, and leaning his head against her
knee, while her softwhite fingers were threa-
ding his wavy, luxuriant hair. Isabel, Civ
ing one startled glance at the two, who were
chatting pleasantly and familiarity together,
crossed the room and took up book. Pre-
sently, Frank rose and caRe and stood by
her side. She looked up and murmured with
aslighly reproachful smile. "Et tn 6rme." +"
The boy co!ored, and soon after left the
room
Thus the day wore on, Isabel feeling her
treasures wrested one after another from the
fond and jealous hold of her heart; sorrow
ing in secret over her loss, and still pressing
her mothers holiest legacy, her child, dear
little Eddie, close and closer to her breast
One afternoon, when the hour came for
their daily ride, she missed the child from
her room. After looking through parlor,
kitchen, and hall, and calling through the
garden, she sought Mrs. Allston's chamber,
from whence, as she knocked at the door, she
heard the sound of singing and laughter.
"Come inP' said light, musical voice. She
opened the door hastily, and there sat little
traitorous Eddie, in his step-mother's lap,
playing with her long, auburn ringlets, while
she sang him merry songs and nursery
rhymes.
"Eddie!" exc laimed Isabel, somewhat
sharply, ''you must come with mamma and
be dressed for ride"
ono, no." cried the perverse child, II
don't want to ride-I'd rather stay with my
iprctty new mamma, and hear her sing about
Y Little Boo-peep.'"
"No, my dear, you must 60 with your sis
ter" said Mrs. Allston, striving to set the
little fellow down.
Isabel advanced to take him, but he buri-
ed his face in his step-mother's lap, and
screamed, "Go away, 60 away; l love this
mamma best-I won't 90 to ride with you"
Pale as death, Isabel turned hurriedly and
passed from the room. She almost flew
through the house and garden, to the arbor,
to the grave of her mother There she flung
herself upon the turf and clasped the mound,
and passed her wounded heartagainstit and
wept aloud.
"They have all left mel" she cried; II am
robbed of all love, all comfort; am lonely
and desolate. Oh my motherv'
While thus she lay, sorrowing with all the
bitterness of a new bereavement, she was
started by a deep sigh, and looking up, be-
held Mrs. Allston standing by her side. In
stantly she sprang to her feet, exclaiming,
"Have | then no refuge? Is not even this
| spot sacred from officious and unwelcome in
trusion?"
ooh, foibear, entreat!" exclaimedMrs
Allston, with sudden gush of tears. "Pray
do not speak thus Of me!-you do not know
me- / seek to love you, to be loved by you
this is all my sim"
Isabel was softened by those tears, ant
murmured some half articulated apology fol
the passionate feeling which she had exhibi
ted.
"Dear Isabel" said her step-mother, evil
you hear my little history, and then judge
whether | have erred in assuming the rela
| ton which now bear towards you?"
Isabel bowed her head in assent, and Mrs
Allston seated herself in the arbor, but Isa
bel remained standing, with a firm set liz
and her arms folded,
II fear" began Cecilia, "that your faith
father has not heen as communicative and
confdential with you as he should have. !
heard from him this morning, with much
surprise, that he had told you very little
concerning me and our first acquaintance
He said that you never seemed to wish foi
confidence, and he could not thrust it upon
you. | know that you must wonder greatly
how your beloved father could choose a wo-
man like me-poor and without station, OF
high connections"
"No, replied Isabel, coldly; con the con-
trary, | wonder most that you, so young and
richly endowed by nature, could prefer a
man ofyears and character of my father
know not what there is in him for beauti
| full woman to fancy"
."Ah, Isabel" said Mrs, Allston, looking
up reproachfully, :" ! never tancied youl
father. 1t is with worthier, deeper, holiel
feeling that regard him."
Isabel sat down on the rustic seat neal
her step-mother, who cotinued in low bu
fervent tone
Yes, Isabel, | lore your father, dearly
love him. and he is the only man | have
ever loved"
"Whatl" exclaimed Isabel, "were yor
not then widow when you married him p
"Why, no, dear. Why do you suppose
iit?"
81 heard so---at least heard that you
were in deep mourning"
"That was for my mother" replied Mrs
Allston, with aquivering lip; "yet until now
| have not been out Of mourning for many
years. have seen much sorrow, Isabel
The warm-hearted girl drew nearer to her
step-mother. who, after brief pause, con-
tinued---
"My father, who was lawyer Of S.,
died while | was quite younga school girl,
away from home, already pursuing with ar
dor the study Of music He left my mother
very little besides the house in which she
lived. My only brother, Alfred, a poble
boy, in whom our best hopes were centered,