True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-06-27
q. Raglan, Editor and Proprietor


never known of my engagement to Regi-
nald Percy, and knowing that he was my
cousin, he often mentioned him. One cold
winter morning, just after my nineteenth
birthday, he and Mrs. Hamilton were my
guests at breakfast The Doctor looked
over the morning paper and hand it care
lessly to me. My eye CHANGED to glance
down the column headed Questionable
Intelligence" and this paragraph met my
eye: "There is, we believe, a better foun-
dation than rumors generally can boast,
for the report we mentioned yesterday of
the engagement of Sir Reginald Percy Of
Percy Hall, to the belle of the past year,
the beautiful Miss lllsley."
By long practice I had acquired great
self-control, but it required strong effort
to speak in my usual tone. put down
the paper, and remarked very calmly
$50 Grisi sings tonight"
eyes, and you will go at last, hope"
and Mrs. Hamilton glanced inquiringly up
from her toast and coffee.
eyes, Isa," added the Doctor, "you
surely ought, for your cousin Reginald will
be there Of course with his new fancce.
We have the use of certain nobleman's s
private box just now, and as it happens to
command good view of General lllsley's,
you can see and not be seen if that's any
inducement for you"
"Thank you," l said, with forced
smile, 81 believe that even I, hermit as
you call me, have spice of such wo-
manly weakness as curiosity, so | will
prove it by accepting your invitation"
That afternoon, when Barbara had fast
ened my dress, sent her downstairs. l
wished to look well for the sake of my
guardiaA, and 1 resolved to wear some Of
my mothers jewels. I had unlocked the
ebony casket and was looking over the or
namcnts, when my eye CHANGED to fall on
the paper containing the notice of Regi-
nald's engagement-my hands trembled
and the casket fell to the floor. The jew
els rolled out upon the carpet, and as |
raised the casket, l perceived that the jar
had loosened secret spring, which l should
have noticed long before had examined
it as carefully as my father evidently ex-
pected. 1t revealed a false bottom, be-
meath which there we're some folded pa
pers. The first I opened was certificate
of marriage between Grenville Hutchin.
son and Inez Gaspare. l sank upon my
knees, and my checks were bathed in the
first happy tears l had shed since the fear.
full day on which my father died. "Thanb
God, thank God" was the burden of my
cry-"Thank God that she was innocent,
my sweet, beautiful mother" |"
An hour had passed before could com.
mand myielf sufficiently to examine the
remaining papers. The first l read was q
long letter from my mother. The hand
was peculiarly light and graceful, she had
evidently been educated with great care.
1t seemed that my father had doubted hel
truth, and relentlessly cast her from him
She had full proofs of the falsity Of his
suspicious, but she was too proud, in her
injured innocence, to adduce them. She
wrote the letter from time to time, during
a lingering illness, to be sent to him after
her death, with her child two years old
1t was very sweet and touching. She
spoke as gently as possible Of the story Of
her wrongs, and then she said-"I have
told you all this, my husband, that when
am dead you may stand over my grave
with loving heart; that you may say tc
yourself-'She was my own true wife,
and that looking in the deep eyes of oul
baby you may take her trustingly to you
heart, and love her for the sake of YOU
poor Inez." There was no word Of re
proach in it. She quite acquitted him Of
blame, and loved him to the last. Perhaps
this was the very reason he blamed him
self with such unsparing rigor.
The remaining paper was letter to me
from that beloved father 1t was evident
ly written but few days before he conf
ded the casket to my charge. The char
acters were 30 hurried as to be almost il
legible, and it was blotted here and there
with tears. He told me that my mother
was the daughter Of a noble family; tina
: he had seen her in her fresh beauty anc
girlish innocence, and learned to love hel
as few ever love. His passion was return
ed with all the warmth of her Southern
temperament. They we're married secret
ly, but lawfully, and not a single cloud OBJ
! scured the first two years of their weddet
life. When I was year old, however
he was led by the ingenious contrivance
of an arch-fend to doubt her truth. III
! left her, without even seeking an explana
ton, which he saw no possibility OF he
being able to give. He loved her too fond
ly even then to take her child from her
He pictured in few vivid sentences tn
agony of that last time he looked upo
her living face. lie came home and stol
, into her room for farewell look. She Ia
} there sleepine. with her child's head upo