The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-10-04

blazing FIRE glowed redly In the CRATE made 1t
warm and coy. Meta was there too. for
Mr.. CLAY had laid down strict orders, and now
she wore as costly robes as Miss Lena did,
and was provided with books and teachers
Meta was reading richly bound book
Eliza Cooks Poems. For she in her loneli-
ness had found deep love for all that was
beautiful, and poetry to her was as stars are
to mariners far out on the painless sea. Net
ia had altered much in two months.
There was soft light in her eve, a rosy
flush on her cheek, and the wearied, toil-worn
look had vanished, but smile on her lips was
ALWAYS sad.
Mrs Clay, in a brocade dressing robe, was
living on sofa reading Uncle Toms Cabin,
and weeping over the misfortunes of Eliza
for Mrs CLAY had one of those peculiarly for
med heads which could sympathize with all
popular sorrows
Lena sat in richly cushioned rocking chair,
busy with her zephyr, worsted and velvet.
But she soon threw them down petulently
excaming, There, do nothing more
until have two more skeins of that partcu-
lar scarlet. and two more of that light azure.
What shall l do? l ought to finish it for the
Ladies' Fair
L don't know what you will do! Where
did YOU select?' asked the mother, looking up
from her reading.
AT one of further shops on Broadway re-
piled Lena L must have some more imme
dately, some way.
You will have to go. Annetta' said Mrs
Clay, the girls are all busy down stairs and
cannot be spared. and Lena's health is too
delicate to think of going out In such stormy
weather. and the wors,ed must be had imme
diatcly.
Meta shuddered as she shut her enhancing
book and looked out on the cheerless street.
and up at the leaden sky from which the rain
came steadily down, and not one female Pc
destrian to be the street. oh, it
rains SO fast, and it will be such hard walking,
mother, replied she.
Nonsense, it is nothing for stout. healthy
girl like you, said Mrs. Clay, without looking
from her book.
Why not wait until papa comes; he will
get them for you,' said Netta pleadingly.
You indolent thing' exclaimed Lena i'm
periousy. Go get them quick; Icannot wait
till night. Don't sit there hesitating.'
Meta cast shivering glance at the stormy
sky-but she knew it would be useless to re-
monsta,e, for her father was not there. AS
she rose. Mrs. Clay handed her thin bro
cha shawl and common bonnet. Netta
glanced at them and said, oh don't send me
out SO thinly clad. L is very cold. Let me
wear my cloak
Hush, girl, to humor you would take half
nv husband income.
Il wonder papa does half much for her as
he does,' said Lena.
He is my own papa, said Meta. calmly.
and he loves me as much as he does those he
shelters his roof.
Mrs. Clay sprang to her feet in passion,
exclaiming. Y on saucy thing! How dare
you speak dsres spectfully of me or Lena! Go
on your errand Immediately and the thinly
clad motherless girl was sent out into the rain
to perform trlfling errand which required her
to 60 to the other end of Broadway. and the
step mother and step-siser sat in their luxuri-
Gus boudoir, reveling in sumptuous elegancy.
Mr.. CLAY passed out of his rich store on
Broadway, and walked alone hastily along
the pavement, thickly and warmly clad in his
heavy overcoat and fur cap. a large umbrel-
la shielding him from the binding seet and
rain. As he passed lofty dwelling with high
marble steps, he heard moan strangely low
and plaintive. and he murmured-'Some poor
beggar girl, | suppose; pity for girl out in
this storm.
The low means and sobs rose up and fell
on his ears. He stood irresolnte The wind
blew the rain and sleet harshlv in his face
He thought of the warm, pleasant sitting
room at home with its soft carpet and Grim
son curtains. aud velvet lounges. and cush
ioned rocking chairs. He thought of the
warm kiss with which Meta would meet him
Then like startling voices bidding him turn
back, came those plaintive moans and in .
moment he stood by the marble steps of the
lofty dwelling.
The girl was half sheltered by an umbrel
la; beneath he caught bright gieam of gor
geous cashmere. Who could lie moaning on
those marble steps robed in such rich materi
ais? He hastily tore the umbrella from The
clasp of the red. stiffened fingers: but the girl
slender thing. lay with her face down OF
the cold wet marble. She did not see the mar
by her side. but moaned on, and Mr. Clay
could hear her faint. childish voice saving
%, papa. come and take me home; l shall di,
here in this cold rain
Oh, why in those low touching tones wa
there familiar sound household tone whicl
, thrilled Albert Clay's heart with a vague. in
, distint sense of pain9 In a moment, tn
shivering. childish form clasped in hi
arms Then the pale, wet face with its faint
: white features, met his gaze. 1t wa. his owl
daughter Meta For moment all was din
before his eyes. and the strong man sank faint
| " the marble steps where his child ha
lain in cold agony Then he saw the parce
: Of worsted lying on the pavement, and h
, comprehended tali. and he was nerved aeair
As he clasped Meta to his heart she opene
, her blue eyes upon him, and as they rested o
the saddened face bending tenderly over bel
she murmured fainsly-'Is it you. papa G
. am SO glad that you have come TO take m
: home. Take me home to rramma-my any,
r mamma and tiny arm was clasped tight
: about his neck, and golden head rested cor
, fdingly in his bosom. Meta WAS unconsc
Gus.
. The father went swiftly on, merely pausin
!. to order physician, He hastily went up II
] steps of his mansion, entered without rims