The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-07

hand was placed upon my head; and it has
never since been taken back. / lived only for
him. soiH live, while breathe, only for him,
and for all that he loves. But how little at
hrst thought OF being so loved by him-so lifted
to my Just station before Heaven and men!
" He was an invalid that first winter, lit was
soon after he had sent his bows abroad. / had
been almost reared in sick room, and you
may Judge whether would make a good nurse
to nam, for whose life would have given my
own: But the world, the malicious world,
would not let me rest in my quiet path of duty
and care. Oh! slanderers have black hearts !;
but what can poor slace girl expect! He
heard at last what was whispered abroad and
L could see what turmoil it made in his noble,
upright soul.
- had told him all my history, just as
would have told an elder brother and he be-
ieved it. His promise that should be right
ed went to my heart, somehow, as the other
promises never had done.
was sitting on a low seat by his high
cushioned armchair, one evening, with a bowl
OF fresh goats milk which had brought him,
in my hand.
Put down that h,sl, Oriana,' he said, very
seriously, and tarn towards me. / want to ak
to you.'
81 did so, and seated myself SO that could
watch the lights and shadows of the blazing
sea-coal, in the CRATE, play upon his kind, dear
face
81 have promised you that you shall be free,
he said; rather, / have told you you are free
The purchase / made, in NAME was a mere
farce But, to establish this before the world
will take time and strength hope soon to be
able to begin the work. Meanwhile, dear child,
l must do something for you. This is hardly
a home for you, he said, sadly looking into
the Goals. How would you like to try a few
years of school life p
"' have studied with Mrs. Withers' an
swered, and then stopped, for my heart was
full, and could not say what wanted to.
:" Yet, | cannot bear to send you away from
mel he exclaimed, suddenly changing his
tone, SO tenderly, that it made my full heart
overflow. burst out crying, and dropped my
head on the hand he was holding.
"'I don't want to be sent away!' / cried.
who will protect me, who will love one that
has been slave, be she ever so rightly free
Oh let me stay, and live and die in taking care
of you'll
80 WI you do it, Oriana! = he asked, in a
deep, low voice, that startled me. He lifted me
| to my feet, and held my two hands in his, look
ing with all his soul into my face.
81 cannot, must not tell you all he said that
night. Enough, that he asked me to bless an
old mans heart to be his in soul, as if no
base law had ever made me his in body Equal
as we stood, said he, before God and His
angels, so let US stand before man if | could
Only tOce him, SO young, so warm-hearted,
he said. But l could not bear that doubt
How could | have helped loving him better
than all the world!
II was very thoughtless, know, in the step
| took but followed just where he led me
to the altar, where we were made one before
! Heaven and man!
until then, he had told me very little of
his children and knew so very little of hu-
man nature think he never had understood
Hamilton's peculiar temperament; he had al
ways seemed so placid and yielding to his
mother, and so absorbed in the passion for
music and poetry, which he had inherited from
| her.
! "Alas aler we were married, letter from
Naples came like a thunder-clap upon my life's
Just opening dream 1t brought news of the
death of James; and, what was far more bitter,
| the deep, strong anathema-'ts the only fit
word-of Hamilton, upon the step he had heard
that his father was going to take.
"'1f you can forget her of whom neither you
nor the world were worthy he wrote if you
can take one of base birth-your oacn slare-
into her sacred place. the sacrilege shall never
be sanctioned by the presence of your son
Better be a fugitiye-aye, even uagabond in
! the earth-than witness Of fathers disgrace
| and shame i
"He heard of our marriage; and since that
date, all his fathers letters have been returned,
unsealed and unnoticed
"Oh! it has nearly broken nv poor hus-
bands heart l have wept long nights through,
praying God to let me, in some way, be the
means of restoring that love between them
whose thread | had so nnocently brokeni /"
Kitty pressed the hand she held, and Oriana
gratefully lifted her glistening eyes.
AS to the promise Mr.. Grey had made me-
l must tell you very briefly that it was fulfilled,
| and most triumphantly for me. For not only
found my mothers family in Brazil, but re-
| ceived letters from my aunt in Paris, proving
| to the eyes of the world what the eyes l loved
had never doubted 1t was still necessary to
make some legal investigation into the pur-
chase of my childish self by Mrs. Withers, and
my transfer from one owner to another. My
husband was absent on that business when /
heard of Hamiltons illness, and felt as though
God had called me to come to him I"
"God has indeed led you in strange wayl"
said Laura, reverently. "How like dream
1t must all seem to one in your position; the
wife of wealthy planter, and yourself owning
slaves!"
al! No, dear ladyl" she exclaimed, start
ing from her pillow. "No; you cannot believe
it 1t was the one thing asked before would
take my own freedom, at the beloved hands
| that gave it-that it should not be bought at
the price of my souls happiness. How could
ever bear to own slave. having been one
myself Who is enslaved with better right
and title than l was No; Mr.. Grey and /
have taken VOW to each other and to Heaven
and we are preparing our slaves-his slaves,
mean-for the freedom he means to give them,
as soon as possible!'
"Oriana, you must rest nowl" fell upon
their ears, in the mellow tone of Mr.. Grey, who |
had softly entered in the gathering twilight.
:" am ready noao," said the child-wife, with |
a smile of sweetest trust.
"Kitty where is Kitty?" called Christopher, |
in a loud whisper, as he hustled in from the
hall. If you are going back tonight, you |
her. "The boat is in sight
"Yes-I forgot! that is, will be ready in a |
momentl" and, running up stairs, Kitty |
caught up her bonnet and mantle and few
down again with noiseless step.
"Be careful of the night air, love- suggest.
ed Laura.
Twill" she answered, absently. Then turn
ing, she tossed back her veil, and, laying her
tearwet cheek against her sisters threw both
arms around her neck. Think of Kitty. sis
teri" she whispered; and, turning, was away
in a moment.
"What a tender heart the poor child has.
with all her wilfulness " said Laura, as she
stood watching her down the avenue. But she
is not like herself-not at all. / wonder if she
has been sick-I never asked her. 1t seemed
as though she had been growing old in few
days--more like woman than q giri-dear