The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-11-04

September past, and the letter would tell her
gracious madam all about it,
The letter enclosed was from Jacob Ever
cit himself, revealing the mystery of his
life
Oh Anna Fay with your nut-brown hair
and Quaker eyes, and dove like ways, who
would have believed that YOU, so COOL and so
demurc, with Jacob, the best man of Green
Grove, would have given such hostage as
that round, red, laughing, loving little bcin.
that flower plucked in forbidden forest
that unauthorized, unsanctioned, unlawful
little liege-Estella, star of the morning y
God forgive YOU both. You snned and YOU
suffered; You fell and you rcpentcd; per-
haps your burning tears and your prayers of
pcnitcnce and grief may have eilarcd the
dark record in the Great Book above. You
are both cold in your tomhS. now Heaven
mercy rest on vou, and Heavens angel, re-
store you. There arc enough in this hard
world to cast stones at YOU both for us, we
will but water the flowers on YOUR graves. and
pluck up the weeds and place a hcadstonc
: where YOU lie.
In this letter to his sister, Jacob made a
: full confession; telling her that shocked and
terrified at his crime, he had sent away Anna
Fay, who refused to marry him as he wished,
aud how she had lived in Italy ever since
he, Jacob, feeling that entire separation,
though they loved each other still, was the
only reparaton they could make to heaven
and how five years ago. she had died leaving
their child without friend or protector in
the world. How he had gone over with Bet
ty Thorne, to whom he had confdcd his Sc
crct, to guard and educate his girl which he
had done carefully lie then ended hv an
pointing Tabitha guardian and sole trustee to
his daughter. now seventeen years Of ace
All his >upcr>cription>. and a certain wear
lv allowance of wl,icE we shall have 10 speak
presently, were to be continued until E>tcl!a
would be Of age. when She would consult her
fathers memory and her own feelings only.
1t to,s but little time for Mrs. Hilbert 10
reflect upon her course of action. Paul aud
Jessie, imp.l>iv as all young people are,
pleaded instant adoption Of the child, and
Betty Thornc. too: but Tahitha Hilbert,
wounded in her family price, in her religious
conscience. and in her worldly "mhition. tur-
ned co!'i1y to her children, saving. The Girl
who has robbed Won Of your inheritance. who
IL stain or an unspottcd name. and who
never ,lark"n tIir>i"'I ..-''.-.' e. ~.
: as guardian or trustee. Entrcatv is useless
.JcSSy am Christian woman and a moth
cr. ard understand my duties
So Betty 1':ornc was written to, and all
recognition of thai unhappy girl distinctly
declined: coupled with a severe warning
which sounded very much like threat To
sell the Hall when she became Of age. and
never dare 20 intrude herself among the
members of family which d. >owncd her as
disgrace After Mrs Hilbert had written
this letter, she read as was her daiiv wont.
the lesson Of the lav. 1t chanccd to be the
history of the Maglalenc, her sins and her
pardon. But she made no comment upon it.
though Paul and JcSsy locked at each other
the girls pale eyes full of tears. and the
Youths cheek crimson.
Months and years rolled by; and jacobs
name was never mentioned, neither was his
sin, neither were his good works. The beau
tiful old hall was still shut up, until E>tclla
should be of age. and the donations and sub
scriptions were punctuallv RENTED; Betty
Thornc writing all the letters in the name of
Masters IIcircss.
There was a certain yearly allowance
made bv Jacob 10 certain widow with five
children, a Mrs. Malahidc, rclict of Captain
Malahidc of the Fourth Engineers. She was
an Everett Miss Grace Everett - who had
cloped one day with scampish young officer
with nothing but his pay, and who had con-
scqucntly been dsinhcritcd by her father
She was the youngest. and and had been the
darling but she had lost herself now, they
said and so, not wholly dead to, she was
partially cxrommunicatcd by the family. ia
cob, as the head of the house, since his ia
Tiers death. had always given Mrs. MaIaldc
an allowance, with the consent of Mrs Iiil,-
matter of pride rather than love, that an Ev-
crctt should not starvc. But for themselves
Grace had married a poor man, and an un-
converted one, and what claim had shc there
fore, on them? So, the archlcacon drove
his prancing bays, and Mrs. Hilbert bought
her Lyons vclvctS, and both said that Mrs.
Malahdc was only too fortunate in having
such devoted brother as Jacob, and that her
sins had mcrited her suferings. This was
the allowance which Jacob had desired in his
will should be continued until EstcIa was of
age, but which she was then free to diScon-
tnue or keep up as she liked.
Mrs. Hilbert had not remembered this
clause when she refused to accept the trust
! confilcd to her Perhaps if she had, she
would have acted differently, from family in
tercsts. For the Evcrc:ts dared not, for the
sake Of the worlds opinion, wholly desert a
sister OF the house; and if Jacobs five hun
r drcd year were Withdrawn they must either
support Grace themselves or suffer an addi-
, X:..>.l cax,a:lu donralafion In her nnvnrfv -