Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-12-28

the l,uder winil that was driven
through his heart.
The girl clung to him and shudder-
ed. II was the first thing that arous-
ed him.
Don't be frightened. hs said sooth-
ingly: we are almost home. | think.
from your description. Your mother
and were old acquaintances.
They were walking on again. She
looked up in unspeakable surprise. -
Ii you please tell me your name?
Wilton Hughes. Did your mother
ever speak oft?
Oh. yes. | am so gladl How very
strangel She left letter for youIthe
very day she died, and told me to
be sure aud keep il ill | found you -
Here we are at home. You win come
in. Mr.. Hughes, and get the letter.
He did not answer her. but he fol-
lowed the light footsteps into the
dark brown house.
The girl entered the parlor. IL
was plainly but decently furnished
An old but pleasant looking woman
sat by the small cylinder stove, and a
lamp was burning on the table
Lena. | have been so worried about
you. said the old woman. and then
stopped suddenly on seeing the stran-
ger.
Ii is mothers old friend. Mr..
Hughes. You remember. Mrs Ma
son, said Lena, as she ushered the
gentleman into the parlor.
Mrs. Mason received him with rap
turous delight. Blu. as Lena threw
off her bonnet. aud cameinto the light,
he could only think OF her. The large
hazel brown eyes. the fair. pure fea-
lures. were so like those he early low
ed, that he longed to draw the sewing
! girl to his heart, and rain down kisses
upon them. Lena's father had be-
queathed his hair and lashes their
thick darkness, and give0~the proud
curve to her lips in their reposc; but
in all else she was like her mother.
Wilton's eyes followed the girl MS
she left the room, md he vainly tried
to answer Mrs. Mason's inquiries with
monosyllables.
In n moment Lena returned and
laid the letter in his hand. How
it shook as he opened it. There were
but .ew words, traced evidently by
a faltering hand. So ran the letter:
"MY Beloved WILroS: ] am dying
to-day: few must be the words / can
say TO you. Ten years ago, holding
my fathers dying hand in mine, !
learned all We were both the VIC
Tins. Thank God your heart was MS
true as my own. Wilton. my child Is
fatherless and motherless. and have
none with whom to leave her. | give
her to you. though know not where
you are. whether married or single,
for have never heard from you since
81 can hardly see these lines, and l
know the darkness that Is coming over
them is death. Tomorrow l shall be
at home. and when this comes to you.
you will take care OF Lena, for the
! sake of MARY"
Wilton read this letter through; and
then the proud man leaned his arms
upon the table and burying his head
there, sobbed like child. unmindful
OF his fearful listeners.
| cannot tell all which took place
that evening in Mrs. Mason's little
. parlor; but Wilton Hughes had risen
to leave. he put aside Lena's thick
curIs. and looking her in the face.
! said very tenderlv:
My child. never 90 out to another
days sewing. Your mother has Civ
en- you TO me. | will take care Of
you.
A month had passed.
7 What is the reason that Wilton
q never stays ut home nowadays? said
Mrs. Hill to her dull but very stately
+. husband on one Of those unfrequeni
: evenings which they were passing TO.
gether. He used to be at home quite
I too much, thought; but now we new
p er get glimpse Of him I'LL eleven.--
{ Do. Charles. hand me that magazine
! Perhaps he is out courling; ha. Sa
rah? suggested the gentleman rs he
: passed the pamphlet to his wife.
o Nonsense; it's nothing Of that kind
J replied the lady quickly. for she hae
no great happiness in her husband
e discriminating faculties. I'D give hin
{ n lecture, for leaving me so. but ther
;, what good would it do?
If Mrs. Hill could have known the
q new life which the heat Of her brother
e bad been living for the last month
|. and il she could have looked into Mrs
n Mason's little parlor that evening. !
, would have greatly modified her re
marks.
70 Wilton Hughes had passed his eve
4. nings with Lena Arnold, and his sou
!? had drunk again ofthe golden goblc
Z; Of his youth.
G Lena was so child like. SO unalfect
!. ed, that It was a joy to the world
l. weary man to be with her.
h lie might have been married year
e before, but his sisters vainness AN
frivolity had sickened his heart Of thei
!? sex; and then they would never leay
a him alone. but they were always try
Ie ing to palm off some wouan upon hin
70 as false and vain as themselves
A. But, Lenal She had taken hin
: back to the dream Of his youth, ant
k. he sat watching her tonight az sh
Of stood by the table, her graceful hea'
s. leaning over the drawing he ha'
m brought her. her dark eyes berminI
! bright through their long heavy lash
ID es.
N Lena, said he at last, will you com
70 70 and sit down by me, for have some
thing to say to you?
" She came with smile, half curious
y half confding. for Lena had learned I
know Wilton very well during tina
y month.
IN Lena. said he, striking the littl
10 hand ba hal taken in his and loalyin