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

! ever you saw"
Il will go to Mrs Grey's at once, if you
! think my room will be in readiness. I should
like this afternoon to get domicilated in
The honest inn-kceper, rather puzzled at the
| long word, comprehended the intention of his
guest, and replied as nothing was ever out of
order at Mrs. Grey's, she would be just as rea-
| dy to see him at one time as another :" so af
ter an early dinner, the young man, followed By
a boy with whecIborrow on which were piled
his trunks and boxes, found his way to his new
| home
! 1t was 4 pleasant place outwardv large,
two storied white house, with a piazza at one
side, and long windows opening on q we'll kept
garden. \ stout Irish girl met the young man
at the door, and showed him his room-a plea
SAINT, airy apartment just over the piazza, and
looking out, too, upon the garden walks
Mrs Grey will be happy to see Mr. Leces
ter in the parlor, when he'll be pleased to come
| down." she remarked as she left him, and after
! taking his books from the boxes, and partly ar-
ranging them upon the book shelves, he descend
/ ed the stairs and rapping gently, pushed open
| the parlor door
! Mrs. Grey rose to receive him as he entered,
and even touched his hand with her cold fingers;
but the glance Of her eye was chilling and heart
less.
My daughter Helen she said, turning to a
young girl, who came forward with warm smile,
/ and held out her hand frankly to the stranger,
who grasped it very cordially, for he felt at
once there was a bond OF sympathy between
them.
Helen Grey was very pretty young creature,
with soft brown eyes and hair, a delicate pear
" complexion and charm Of manner which
was quite Irresistible.
Fred Leicester forgot his new position of
school-maSter-he laid aside his dignity and be-
come again young man of the world, intent
on pleasing this fresh, beautiful wild flower, and
making an all important, agreeable first impress
sion upon Mrs. Grey; and at ten o'clock that
evening he retired to his room quite confident
that he had done both.
As soon as he had said good night"-He-
| len took a lamp, and stopped TO kiss her mo-
| ther, as was her won't but Mrs Grey would
not let her 90 50 easily; she wanted to talk
awhile about Mr. Leicester. He was a real
gentleman, and it was evident he came from q
good family, he was acquainted with the Beech
crs at c., and she should enquire about
his connexions Of them, At all events he was
very handsome, and great acquisition to the
village society, and so good night.
Cressy Bird was alone i'll her @arret cham
Der. 1t was cold, very cold there, but what did
she care for that-what did any one care, whc
there she was chilled through and through; or
not! 1t was nothing to anybody.
She was nothing to anybody on the whole
earth. Supperle>s, but not hungry-there she
sat looking wistIully out into the cloudy night
No moonlight, no starlight to bring Heaven
near to her deso!atc Sprit-thc wind howled
liercely around the corner Of the house, and
the rain drops clattered on the window pane.
There was light shining from the window,
Just beneath hcrs-it was in Mr. LciccStcrs
room.
" lie looked at me very kindly to-day, but
he didn't speak to me-he thinks | am too
naughty and homely. Sam johnson toid him
| was real ugly, | heard hinl, and now | won't
speak to the master, not word lie wouldn't
care anything about me if | did-noboly does
only to hate me- Oh, father, dear, dear faith
cr, if | could only just hear YOU say my little
Cressv," once more | would be glad to die "
With the last words trembling on her thin, pas
sionate lips CrcSsy threw herself on the little
low bed in the corner, and moaned herself to
sccp-not the deep quiet siumber OF child
hood-it was very long since the Young orphan
had known such an one Her slunibers were
vexed by dreams, and her restless frame over
taxed daily by work too heavy for her, gained
but little rcfrcshIncnt Mt night
Crcssy's mother died while she was yet too
Young to feel the loss, and her father after suf
fcrin@ eight long years from an incurable dis
case, followed her During all this period the
child was left to the care of woman, VINO how
ever faithful she was to supply the physical
wants of her young charge, knew nothing Of
her mental wants, and was unable to satisfy
them, had she known them
With passionate temper, which would listen
to none but the voice OF love, and with a proud
" sensitive heart, little CresSy was cast upon
the tender mercy of Mrs Grey, whose husband
had been a cousin Of her father. The wreck of
a large fortune she brought with her, but this
was little needed by her cold, hcartlcss rela-
tive, who by every word and look, strove to
make the little girl feel, oh how bitterly! that
she was an unwelcome burden. Her small hands,
quite unused to labor, were taught servlie
lessons, and her feet at night were too OF
ten wcaricd by the constant strain upon them.
Little had she TO do now with childhod's plea
sures-little did she know Of Childho0d'S fresh
ness and grace.
Helen was not unkind to CresSy, who was on
" wear Younger than herself. Her temper
was too sweet to admit of unkindneSs, but she
was thoughtless She did not feel how pre-
cious smile would be TO the deSolate heart,
which by its turbulent beating was fast becom-
ing calous She thought, in fact very little
about Cressy, one or another--they were rare
" together for Cressy never came to the table
at meal times until the rest OF the family had
left it-and Mrs Grey took care TO keep them
apart at other times. Thus these two young
spirits moved in their separate orbits under the
same roof, neither comforting or receiving plea
sure from the other.
Cressy was allowed the privilege OF attend
ing school every afternoon, and herein she found