New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-08-22
NUMBER 145.

|
phasis to render novel or newspaper intelli-
4 gible to the jaded listener. About three years
ned thus passed, when her mistress died rather
suddenly, and the pretty protege found herself
/ provided for to the extent Of fifty pounds, and a
mourning ring, to be worn as memento of the
deceased lady's virtues and munifcence.
Thus portioned with rich beauty, vain pre-
tence and fifty pounds in cash, Fanny Bennett,
after fruitless attempt to procure another 81
tuation as 60 companion" returned to fret away
her youth with yexation and disgust amidst the
meanness and monotony Of her fathers poor
home and its drudging duties, as she had
learned to consider them. Changed in temper,
putfed up with pride, impatient of her humble
| position, the young morning of Fanny BENEFITS
| life seemed already darkened with the prophetic
shadow of a sinister catastrophe, if / might be-
lieve the pretendedly careless postscriptum of .
letter addressed to me at Bristol-where / was
| at the time on a visit to relatively my
father. had never limited serious thought
regarding her to him OF any one else, but he
had long since, notwithstanding, as clearly dis
cerned as he strongly disappro7ed the feeling
| towards the beautiful maiden which had seemed
to grow with my life in constantly increasing
strength and yirility. From my earliest recol-
lection had dreamt dreams associated with
Fanny Bennett, and my fathers intelligence
producing directly contrary effect to what he
intended. invented an excuse for Fastening
home at once, though with what precise purpose
| hardly knew myself. Whatever itmight have
proved, no opportunity was afforded me of put
ting it in action, for the very day before reached
Blue Anchor, Fanny Bennett left it with a
Lieutenant Denyir-a young and dashing gen
tleman, of attractive exterior-to be married.
the village folk reported, with a sneer and a
litter, at Bath. The stranger, who was passing
q few days at Blue Anchor, had CHANGED to
meet her about a fortnight after her return
home, and the result just related had ensued
1t seemed to have taken no one by surprise
neither did her return, after about two years
absence, i'll, detected, her beauty dimmed by
grief and disappointment. accompanied by a
young child, her son She had not, it seemed
lived with her husband, as she persisted in
calling Mr. Denvir, for more than six or seven
months. since when she had dwelt in Obscure
lodgings in London, barely supported by occa-
sional remittances from Mr.. Denvir. These
ceased for some time before her return home
and a letter reached her purporting to be sub
scribed by solicitor, but merely dated London
May 10, 1886, by which she was informed thai
g the gentleman" from whom the allowance she
had received was derived, having died rather
suddenly, it would necessarily be discontinued
l wrote, at her fathers request, to the war office
to ascertain the fact of his decease; and cut,
! official reply informed me that if had consulted
an army list should have seen that no Theodore
|. Denvir held a commission in Her Majesty's SER
vice. This was decisive, and no further doubt
remained of the nature Of the villainous artifict
to which, aided by her own rash folly, Fanny
Bennett had fallen a victim. L
} Fallen thus low from the imaginary height
! she had attained, the future of the young wift
!, and inother-there was no doubt, we ascer
J tanned. that the ceremony of marriage had beer
performed between her and fellow calling
himself Lieutenant Denvir-seemed dreary
! and well-high hopeless one; and Mrs. Vain
wright, who, wha tever her other qualities, haG
a large share of woman's sympathy and com
passion left her in charge of Laburnum Villa
at fair salary and liberal board wages, ant
3 Joel, till the final disposal of the property, wa
confirmed in his office of gate keeper Nothing
Of Fanny Bennett or Denvir, came to my know
: ledge till four or five months subsequent to Mrs
1 WainwrighJs departure. 1t was o deliciou
8 afternoon; the tide was out, and had bee
for some time strolling about on the broad sand
!, of Bridgewater Bay, chewing the end Of sWee
' and bitter fancy, the latter flavor, as rernem
n ber, strongly predominating, when Joel Barton
q whom | had observed busy about pleasur
boat. in which he frequently accommodated tn
d lodgers at Laburnum Villa with a row or sail
. came rapidly, and With seeming purpose, to
e wards me- His face, as he abruptly stol PEE
/, and intently reconnoitered my countenance
r wore, it struck me, peculiarly malicious, or, q
, all events, mocking, as we'll as its usual indie
: cisive, wayering expression. 81 have been
# Master Holford,' he began, ssshoving the boa
b out towards low water mark, so that she ma
!, float soon after the tide rises; our housekeepe
o and Mr.. Churston are going out together for
: sail--not for the first time, either.
d 't Your housekeeper and Mr. Churston p
q tartly rejoined, vexed that I could not conce;
: the hot blood which instantly made my cal
$ tingle, my eyes flash, and my cheeks feel lii
d burning Goals. What is that to me'"
/ Joel laughed, and | was about to make som
d fierce and therefore foolish reply, when he sal,
+, with quick seriousness of tone: sc | always
n with them, Master Holford, always. Do ye
J. know he added, peering with his dark, unce
y tain eyes close in my face; '' Do you know th
/ only yesterday, when they were out togethe
IS the little boy Theodore would have been drown,
y but for me9 Mr.. Churston let him fall owe
1s board into the water, by accident, of cours
ID you khow, entirely accidents and Joel laugh
le again with bitter, mocking hilarity, incompr
y hensible to me. g fancy our housekeeper vi
lie be married again soon,'' he presently adde
,e finding made no answer,
m married again." L blurted OUT s'
OF duped again, you mean
u eyes duped again. that's it Master molfor
l. but not quite like as before-Mr. Churston
it rich and respectable. Lawyer Page, of Bridg
nd water, answers for that And see, Master Ht
TO ford.' he added, with abrubt yehemence, ss Fo
I'D ish Joey, as they call him, will soon be ri
er and respectable, too-look heren'
e. He extrieated, as he was speaking, a cany
lis bag from his trowsers' pocket, containing, pt
ly haps, a dozen sovereigns, emptied it into
ce hand. and contemplated his riches with fiel
er exultation. :" For saving Master" he {
ce claimed, as soon as he could withdraw his f,
n cinated glare from the gold" Mr. Ghursto
n reward for saving Theodore-ha ! ha tho !! he
it Before could say word, the restless hun
de back started off, and strobe away some thir
lis or forty yards. He then stopped abrupt
". paused as if in doubt for q minute. hurried ba
me where | stood, and said--ss Mistress Fan
of hates, detests, loathes this man as she nigh
on spotted toad ! never heard her say SO; bu
ed know it for all that. | observe many thiI
fe- that wise men don't, foolish as | am"
on "What, then, is to induce her to marry him
Ter 'sThe fear of poverty, the dread of want, !
nj for herself, but for her boy; that she may e
ds live to see him pine for the lack of food
house is sold, and we have had warning
IL leave"
nj "Well, Joel,'' l replied, ssI can do nothi
1 | in the matter, and it's useless, therefore,
to worry ourselves by dwelling upon it. An
lte fernal business, | admit, though not exac
n yours or mine'
M The wild erratic intellect of Joel-who, | v
an convinced, had been drinking, though, to
OF him justice, this was not an ordinary vic,
yer his-seemed to determinedly steady and c.
Is centrate itself as l spoke, and after q sli,
en- hesitation he said-ts I know unu hattar nj