Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-17

young charge, SO grateful was she, and so pa
tjent. With her quick eye. she had seen, too,
the .glittering Of the fine diamond through its
faulty setting.
From the moment in which she learned that
Leicester was married, new purpose nerved
| her womans heart. Hitherto she had studied
! only that she might lmproye--now, as she felt
| that life in al its stern reality was opened be-
| fore her, and she must tread alone its winding
and difficult paths, she would sustain herself
She would become distinguished he more than
F.! all, who scorned her love, should acknowledge
her genius 1t Nolld be something worth liv-
I ing for: ave, something worth suffering for, to
sway the great heart of humanity at her will
and with these thoughts she commenced her
studies Midnight always found her ar i'm
wearied student, bending over her books, AMI
dawn never came too soon for her impatient
spirit
Cressy Carol was no: Christian. Sabbath
after Sabbath she followed her teacher to the
village church because the law of the school
demanded it. She listened to the voice of the
pastor as it ascended to Heaven in prayer, but
her spirit never went with it. Religion was
shrouded in mystery and gloom, and so her
poor dcsoate heart, with all its restless, u,Isat-
istied longings, and Inspirations, found naught
TO FIJI it, save the feyer.sh dream of ambition.
School life with Cressy Carol was over and
she was again at home -Four years had given
grace and beauty to her figure, and her face
was radiant with health and intellect.
" Can this be poor Cressy?" she often asked
herself when size glanced in her mirror. There
was a heavy mass Of glossy hair folded smooth
" away from broad white brow, there were
large deep eyes, full of intense life and thought,
there were finely dips, quiyering at every
emotion, and speaking Of highly sensitive ma
ture. Indeed it was not strange that Cressy
should ask herself that question when she gaz-
ed upon her noble beauty.
Mrs Carol was really proud Of her adopted
daughter, and Cressys proposal, made soon af-
ter her return, TO go South az goyerness, met
with firm refusal = No indeed, no indeed"
said Mrs Carol, " ROW You are to be my own
child-rny compan;on-I shall depend upon you
for my happiness, hencefcrth" and Cressy was
more than contented.
new star had appeared in the literary
world, whose praises were On every tongue. A
simple unpretending volume, that found its way
at once to every centre table, contained all that
was known OF its author Who could the gift
ed one be-he who had thus won place in
many hearts? Was it man There was
power enough, and strength too, and yet there
were delicate breathngs Of woman's life scat
tered like dew drops on every page, that none
but woman could have written
Cressy Carol listened as the world thus con-
jectured, with a fond, quiet smile The book
was her own
And now that her dream of long years was
realized, was she happy. Was she happy even
when as its acknowledged author she was feted
I +l,,, olI 81.
land Answer hours of midnight watching,
when sleep refuses to kiss those burning eyes;
w.,en thnv gaze upward seeking to pierce thro'
the mysterious starS-and never satisfied rest
ed again on The cold earth
Ia the Summer succeeding the appearance Of
her book, Cressy visited with Mrs Carol
celebrated watering-place. A strange multi
tudc We're gathered there, and Cressy with her
keen eve and knowledge Of character, loved to
watch them, in their eager pursuit Of pleasure
One evening Mrs Carol was sitting with
Cressy by an open window, at distance from
tue gay groups of people who were collected in
the spacious drawing room, when little child
glided towards them, and laid on Cressys fold
ed hands bunch of tlowers-heart's ease and
forget-me-not Cressy looked down on the lit
tie one kindly, but her head, covered with long,
Thank you," she said, in low sweet tone
Slowly the child raised her head, until her eyes,
bluer than the forgetme-nots rested full and
fearless on her face 1t was o strange thrill
that went to Cressy's heart with that confding
glance
what is your name p she asked laying her
hand on the soft hair.
"Nellie Leicester whispered the child. Il
an here with papa
And whore is your mamma ?" cnquircd
Cressy, controlling her emotion, though her
check was white and her lip quivered.
Mamma is in Heaven" was the almost
whispered reply, as the blue eyes wererevcrent-
ly raised InTolGntarily Crcssy drew the littlo
motherlcSs one closer to her, and threw her arm
caressingly around her slight figure, and the
child, quite content, stood without speaking,
stroking with her soft hand, the head Of har
new friend until her quick ear caught tho
sound Of & familiar footstep
" II is papa" she cried ioyfuIiy, and bound
cd away. Cressy gazcd earnestly after her
She saw her approach a tail, elegant looking
man m who st gto96ed anI lifted her in his arms
and in an instant her heart told her that it was
leicester Greasy was no longer Crcssy, but
Mss Carol, and had not lived the last SIX
years IL VAN, Ihe keeneSt eye couId not have
detected the slightest change Of expression Oh
her noble face, when at the entrcatjes Of his
child, Nj Leicester suffered her to lead him
Quite up to the two ladies' Mrs Carol aross
with smile and an oltstretchcd, friadly hand
she had evidently met him before Then she
presented him TO Miss Carol
Il never mentioned Mr. Leicester to vo1 |
think, my DEAR" she said, " / had the pleasure
Of meeting him at -, two years since, be-
fore you returned from school," and apparent
ly without effort, she directed the conversation
to him, while Nellie stood beside Cressy, play
ing with the flowers that still lay on her hands.
aNellie is not WELL" said her father anxious