Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-02-04


only in a womans brain One or two persons
there might have been there, who had some
reason to remember kindly Simon Renwck
but if they have changed one-half as much as
he has there would be little pleasure in the
meeting Besides, have grown old, and should
see with boys eyes no longer; the place is
probably changed, and instead of the picture
which have kept for SO many years, should
get only miserable modern daub--a bad bar
gain, at the best childn
"Now, that is too bad!n cried Rebecca,
fiinging aside her book and seating herself on
Q stool at the old mans feet II have been
counting on an excursion down to c. this long
time, not that think it can be at all compared
with our Maplehurst but then should like to
see the place where you were born. Now, do
be reasonable once, and say that you will go
down there next summer, and take me with
| you" she added, clasping her hands over his
knees, and gazing half seriously, half mis-
chievously, up into his face.
Go down there with you! Z" exclaimed the
Old man, with strong emotion. @Face those
scenes with you! It would be like facing
Death ~
He dropped his face into his hands, and his |
manner was altogether so strange and excited
that we gazed at one another in silent aston
ishment until he suddenly looked up, and, with
an evident effort to recover his usual manner,
said, as he laid his hand on Rebeccas head
There, don't cry, child | didn't mean
anything What o laundering old toad am
You shall go where you please, if it is to KAN
schatka, next summer-only let us talk about
going down there
Seeing that the expression of surprise and
curiosity which his manner quite as much as
his words had excited, still fingered on our
faces and in our eyes, the old gentleman, after
mechanically opening and shutting large
book that lay on the table by him several times,
turned to Fred, and said, with an attempt at
his usual abruptness-
@The truth is, Fred Martyr, that no mans
past is quite a Paradise. Some parts of mine
are quite otherwise, and the conversation has
stirred up bitter memories. There is Often"
ne went on, after pause, and gazing earnestly
in Rebeccas face, something in this girls
face--something in her attitudes, and her way
of looking up-that reminds me of one knew
in my youth; one who was neither kith nor
kin to me- but more than all the world beside.
| don't know exactly how or what it is" he
continued, still looking in the perplexed face
upturned to his, /" for the cast of the features
is wholly unlike; and yet there are times when
it seems as if Rachel Halliday herself stood be-
| fore me, and-but what is the use of talking
like an old fool. Rebecca, my girl, let us have |
some music; something brisk and cheerful |
childo
g By and by, Mr. Renwick,o she said, with
out stirring from her position at his knee.
But this Rachel Halliday, (what pretty
name)-you have never told me about her. Is
she living? ?n
" No, child" he answered, hoarsely I" It's an
age, or, seems so to me, since they made her
grave in the village churchyard. might have
said I made it for Fred Martyn, would
you take me for one guilty of murder 90
| You, Mr.. Renwick" said Fred, giving
voice to the general surprise which the old
mans words excited; you a murderer!
yes; what is there to stare 80 about | am
but a man, and all the murderers, from Cain
downwards, have been nothing more or less, |
| take it. True" he went on in musing tone
"they said she died of consumption, but
know and God knows better 1t seems like
arrant nonsense" he added, after a moments
silence, for an old man to be showing his
weak spots to pack of youngsters like you;
but then, the wisest man is fool some time
in his life, and some of you may profit by my
folly. So brother Ed, lay down your book
and learn how easily man may become a
rascal-aye, villain-and yet escape legal
punishment for his crimes; for, in the eye of
the law, be it remembered, am a very inno-
cent-nay, quite an immaculate parsonage.
What am In the sight of God and my own
conscience, is quite another thing.
II have often told you, children, that my
mother died when | was born. OF my father
[ remember nothing distinctly, unless it be the
cold, damp chilliness of his forehead, when an
old housekceper lifted me up and laid my little
hand npon it as he laid in his coffin. have
a confused memory of the funeral-of pale
faced man, who would take me in the carriage
with him and woman, who swathed in black
Grape from head to foot, seemed to my childish
fancy like great black cloud and Of my
screaming Justify to go back to the old house
keeper.
at seems that ] had no near relatives on
either nv father or mothers side but the
property which my father left was sufficient
| to awaken the warmest interest on my behalf
| in this gentleman, distant cousin, and as nv
father had died very suddenly the court in its
wisdom assigned me and my property to his
care.
"He kept a country store, and was shrewd,
hard, mean, grasping MANA haggler for half
cents---a finished hypocrite, who would cheat
an orphan in the price of her fathers shroud
while he poured forth text after text of Scripture
for consolation; in short, he was that concre-
ton of earth's meanness-a respectable scoun-
drel. He was rich, lived in nice house, at
eenueu meeUnS rebmariy pau MS ulxes
promptly on all such property as he could not
keep from taxation, gave somewhat literally
to benevolent societies. especially for the sup
port of heather child who had been named
for his only son, Thomas Alling. Indeed,
some people were disposed to view my being
placed under his care rs direct interposition
of Providence in my behalf; for where could
friendless orphan enjoy such careful, judcious,
moral, and religious training as under the roof
of MIR. Alling to say nothing of the living ex-