Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-02-17
THE DAILY TIMES
THE SQUIRE'S DAUGHTER.
CONCLUDED.

THE SQUIRE'S DAUGHTER.
CONCLUDED.
The Rev. Joseph Bell reaped no advantage from
the success of the scheme by means of which he
had separated the youthful lovers; for he became,
in consequence so odious to the fair Selma, that
she refused to enter the same room with him, on
account, as she said, of the disrespect with which
he had treated Aunt Bridget, to whom she peril
naclously referred whenever she was called upon
by her father or any one else to show cause for
her proceedings.
Aunt Bridget, who was penetrated with graft
tude at this instance of her nieces dutful respect,
united with her in taking active measures for the
expulsion of their quotidian annoyance from the
ruins of Blackmere Hall, which he haunted like
an evil genius. The parson, however, spared no
pains in rendering himself agreeable to the old
squire, over whose feeble mind he daily acquired
stronger influence; but believe it may be set
down as general axiom, that when the females
OF the house are united in common cause, they
are sure to compass their ends; and the aunt and
niece at length succeeded in banjshing their I'M
welcome visitant from their domestic circle. 1t
matters not to detail the means by which this de-
sired object was effected: the result was that the
disappointed candidate for the fair hand of Selma,
vented his wrath on the occasion by suddenly de-
handing, in a peremptory manner, the payment
of divers sums with which at sundry times he had
accommodated Mr.. Stanfied. The old squire
was paralysed, and, had Selma consented, would
have endeayored, by the sacrifice of her affec-
tons, to purchase the forbearance of his quandam
friend.
Surely, my dear papa, you would not so far
depart from the dignity of your name and family
exclaimed the young lady, in reply to the sources
expressed wish for reconciliation with her anti
quated lover.
Not willingly, my Child replied her father;
but how else can I resist impending ruin? How
raise three hundred pounds to liquidate the de-
mand of interest and principal which it seems l
owe him?
Your submission, my dear father, would not
pay the debit and if it would satisfy the credi-
tor, think you would never stoop to the degra-
dation of existing from day to day on such paltry
terms
But if you would marry him. my dear Sell
4 would die thousand deaths first p exclaim.
ed Selma, shuddering.
You are very perverse.' said her father: the
would make you very good husband; and, in
fact, unless you can persuade yourself to accept
him, know not what we are to do; for you must
be aware that have other debts, and that the
estate, burdened with mortgages and other en-
cum ORANGES, produces an income quite inadequate
to our maintenance
L know that, papa; and my firm opinion is,
Sell it Sell Blackmere Hall and its Deepen.
denotes, the ancient domain of my family the
girl is mad to think of such thing y retorted the
angry squire, and he forbade her to allude again
to the subject.
Selma o5eyed; but his creditors were less
complasant. The principal mortgage foreclosed
and seized the estate; others put in their claims;
the whole property was put up to auction; and
when every thing was sold, very inconsiderable
Surnluc remained for ha mn inf IF tho
of the name of Stan6eld. To the squire, this was
of little consequence; but the alienation of the
patrimony broke his heart; and before the pur-
chaser took possession of the crumbling ma
nor house, its late possessor slept with his
fathers.
Selma was gifted with an innate strength of
character which had only wanted scope to display
its energies. On the present occasion, she felt
like daughter, but she acted like heroine--not
the heroine of romance, whose sckly sensibilities
vented In tears, swoonings, and Mysteries, but
like the selfdevoted heroine of real life, who re-
presses the bitterness and anguish of her own
heart to minister to the relief of those around
her. She saw her sole relative and friend, Aunt
Bridget sinking like her father bepeath the calam.
ity which had deprived them of home and fortune,
and she felt herself imperatively called upon for
active exertions. She had no counsellor to ad.
wise, no comforter to soothe nor had she any
friend to whom she could apply for assistance;
but when the last rites had been paid to her
father remains, she resolved to trace for herself
plan of life, which, she trusted, would enable
her to meet the exigences of her situation
Having hired small house in the village, she
commenced the business of tuition; which, though
the very antipodes to romance, afforded main.
tenance for herself and Aunt Bridget, who, par.
taking of the Incidence of disposition and heredi.
tary pride by which the squire had been charac.
terised, would do nothing for herself. Within
few months after this reverse of circumstances,
the OLD lady, like her brother, sank under the
burden of calamity. The decease of her kns.
woman, though in reality mitigation of Selina's
troubles, the dutiful neice lamented as trying
at1iction. While her aunt lived she had a
motive for exertion; and however irksome
her task might have been, she had felt a
satisfaction in performing it, for the sake of
the last surviving link between herself and
the world, in which she now stood solitary
being.
An unprotected state, she was aware, was not
exactly desirable for female so young as her.
SELF. Mr.. Bell had taken the opportunity of
Mrs. Bridget Stanfeld's decease to recommence
the persecution of his addresses to Selma; and
was at length SO pertinaciously annoying, that she
resolved to abandon her native village for ever,
and seek the sanction of home in some pri.
vate family, by accepting the situation of COVER
ness.
An occupation of this description was difficult
to be obtained by young female, whose educa-
ton, like that of our heroine, had been of de-
sultory nature; but after advertising till both her
patience and slender resources were well-nigh ex
hausted, Selma at last formed an engagement with
a family in distant county, where, for salary
which metropolitan housemaid would consider
infinitely beneath her merits, Miss Stanfeld I'M
dertook to communicate the rudments of learn
ing to six young ladies and two young gentlemen. |
With heavy heart, she babe adieu to the scenes
of her childhood, and took her place in the Lon
don mail The route Law through the ancient |