The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-19
dare as much as any one. In this case, it was

dare as much as any one. In this case, it was
not"
"But wanted these flowers"
"Not so much as you wanted to have your
own way, Eleanor, or you would have come
back, and let me have gone after Them" he
said, looking me gravely in the face, until felt
my cheeks redden with modification that he
should read my heart thus for l knew it was
the truth, and / said, angrily, as turned away
from his glance
~ don't know what right you have to think
about it at all"
He did not reply, and so we walked home in
and beauty, and slyly threw them away long
before we reached home.
This person is now my master for the year
to come. How will it be between us 4? | can
see my conduct in truer light now, thanks to
the truly feminine influence of your mother, than
did in those days; but, alas, am far from
perfect, and he, of course, faultless. Margaret,
l hate perfect people, don't you?
There was one good result from this visit.
Ny father got such realizing sense of my
shortcomings, on the score of feminine accom-
plishments, from the lectures of the motherly
Mrs Summerfeid, that on our return he made
immediate arrangements for sending me away
to school. have never met the Summerfelds
lily went to Boston, where "my guardian d"
holds an office in some banking institution.
NV father had business with that bank-saw
the gentleman often during the last years of his
life, and choose to select him as the guardian
of my fortune and myself. Possibly, he may
not accept the trust, for his memory OF me
must make the prospect of my becoming an In
mate of his house anything but desirable. We're
in a merry mood, could laugh at the picture
of the excellent Susannah's face which my fam
cy conjures up; but, then, she would submit to
martyrdom without a question, II her brother
willed it.
Mr.. Brown has come in with the letters, and
here is one for me, post-marked "BoSton." This
decides my fate.
All, "the boy was father to the man." listen,
Margaretk
any dear Miss Southmayd: accept the
trust confded to me by your late honored father,
and, while both my sister and myself sincerely
sympathize with you in this great sorrow, l
would add that nothing, save the respect feel
for the dying wish of so sincere and honest a
man, would induce me to accept an offer l feel
so poorly qualified to ELL.
"You have probably heard your father speak
of his old friend, Miss Huldah Page, with whom
he boarded in his boyish days. My sister Re
becca proposes visiting her in a few weeks, and
the old lady has written, inviting you also to
spend a few weeks with her. Without presu-
ming to advise, 1 would say, if you find it con-
venient or agreeable to make this arrangement,
my sister will be happy to meet you, and accom-
pany you to this place, where We will strive to
do what we can to make life pleasant to you.
We wait your decision.
Very truly, your friend,
T. SUMMERFIELD."
Is not that cool, Margaret? He is very care
full to assure me that respect for my father alone
induces him to accept the trust. He might
have spared himself the trouble, for every line
in the note declares it. He may rest assured
that the feeling is mutual; nothing but respect
for my father would ever induce me to endure
/ him.
| But 1 forgot the old woman's letter. Here
it is, short and sensible, written in great round
text, with hourishing DIS and the old fashioned
SIS. / shall go. My way henceforth lies through
the Valley Of Humiliation, and there is no Wis
dom in standing shivering upon the edge. She
is tiresome old soul enough, l warrant.
Good night. ELEANOR.