Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-12-18
SARAH PERCIV AL;
THE BRIDE OF THE HOUSE OF GOLD
Br MRS. cARoLINE rNoRAHAM.

span, which boosted only one great house"
This was the residence of retired city
merchant, whose lines had "fallen in pleas
ant places" and who had made his home
perfect dream of beauty. The inhabitants
of the village looked up with the greatest
respect TO esquire PerciVal" and his family.
His carriage, his horses, his great dinner par
ties, at which his elegantly dressed and man.
nered wife greeted her city guests with the
dignity Of q1een--his house and grounds
may, even the diamond ring and pin he
wore, were objects of wonder and curiosity,
to the simple folk who deemed themselves
highly honored by his sojourn among them.
AS for Kate Percival--the only child and
rightful heiress Of this splendor, who had
passed most Of her life in New York-to
dance we'll, sing well, dress well. and coquet
with grace, were all the things that she
cared for.
While Kate had been absent from her pa
rents, another had been growing up IN the
house-though not as a daughter to them.
Sarah Percival was the daughter of young
er brother of the family, who, dying poor
and unfortunate, left his only child to the
care Of his brother Richard, with the earnest
prayer that she might never miss the love
and tenderness she had always known. That
prayer was heard, but never answered. For
Richard Percival, cold, hard, ambitious
man, could not be expected TO pet and fondle
the lonely child, and his stately wife looked
upon her as an interloper who might one
day interfere with the plans and projects OF
her darling Kate.
OF the mother of this child nothing was
known. Mr.. Richard Percival only shook
his head when any one made inquiries about
her, and muttered something about "poor
Frank" and an unfortunate marriage" Ru-
NOR had pronounced the lady beautiful and
fascinating, and Mrs. Percival trembled in
her soul when she looked at the heathful,
animated face of the little Sarah, and saw in
her brown hair and large dark eyes prom
Use of that loveliness that had won the faith
er's heart.
The high-spirited Sarah chafed inwardly
at many look of dislike and many a taunt
from the wife of her beneiactor, but the
world was wide aud cruel, and while her
uncle was tacitly kind to her, she dreaded to
begin the battle, from which, she felt, even
then, she could never come out quite un-
scathed. But while she waited, the inexor-
able hand of Fate was stretched forth to
lead her out into that world from which she
shrank, and Destiny accomplished that which
she herself might never have had the cour-
age to undertake.
In the very prime of lifs-strong, health
ful and hearty, her uncle, the head of the
family, was suddenly cut down. Of the gal
liant host, the indulgent husband, the dash
ing man of business, nothing remained but a
cold, motionless body, with shrouded face,
lying quietly in one of the great chambers oil
the great house. The servants passed that
door with suspended breath and guickensd
tread-the widow in the solitude of her own
room wondered if her mourning would be-
come her. and if the will of the dead man
had left her mistress OF the whole fortune
the daughter wandered disconsolately up and
down the handsome parlors, wishing herself
back in the gay boarding school she had left;
and in the whole house of all who had -four
ished on his bounty and shared the shelter OF
his roof, only one real mourner remained, and
that was the daughter of his dead brother, to
whom in life he had never given a caress OF
word of praise.
A cold, measured voice pronounced Sa-
rah's name, and looking up with sudden
start, she saw her aunt standing beside her
gazing down upon the corpse with collected
air.
"What are you doing here, Miss Perez.
val ?'' she asked, in freezing voice. why
are you not in your room 1t is cold enough
here to-" she stopped Short glanced at the
corpse ard shivered slightly.
81 did not mind the cold only wanted
to see him once more" said Sarah, dashing
away the tears, and rising to go.
"You will pardon me, Miss Percival, if
find no occasion for this violent display oil
grief on your part"
MADAM !"
"Oh don't look at me in that way" said
the lady, drawing herself up in stately
manner. 81 hate hypocrisy. Miss Percival-
l hate all crocodile tears" If she did not ex.
actly add the words, 81 hate you," her looks
showed it, and Sarah felt it so.
Madam" she said, indignantly, al am al
loss to know what you mean. / have
nothing to gain or lose by my tears for my un
cle's death"
"I am aware of that, but did not know
that you might be-" was the sarcastic reply
Your uncle's fortune is, of course, all will
ed 10 his rlgntful helrS."
Sarah looked from her arrogant face to tina
of the corpse before she dared to venture
reply. What would the dead man have SAID
to conversation like this, held over him be.
fore he was laid in his coffin?
"You have wroDgsd me-" she said, with
dignity" yet cannot feel angry here. The
presence of the dead is surely enough tc
soothe the living"
Mrs. Percival cast glance of fear toward
the unconscious body of her husband, and
taking Sarah by the arm, led her TO her dres.
sing room and shut the door.
"Now, Sarah, if you please, we will sill
down here and talk Of your future" said the
selfish old iceberg, in cold and unfeeline
voice.
She seated herself on the sofa and motion
mements ensued. At last Sarah looking ur
from the floor, found those dark eyes bent
upon her with deep scrutiny, as if they
would read her very thoughts.
"Well," said the lady, leaning towards her
with an indulgent smile.
81 cannot talk of anything ] am ignorant
of" was the ambiguous reply. my future
is mystery TO me-"
"lf you prefer staying here, of course we
will try and accommodate you. But must
tell you that neither Miss Percival nor nv.
self purpose remaining here long after..the fu-
reral. She will return to her school and |
shall travel-so you will have no one left but
the servants for company"
The prefer of home was seemingly made
in kind way, but all the proud blood of the
Percivals rushed to Sarah's cheek, at the COW
ert impertinence of the speaker.
al thank you, Madam" she answered,
stifly, "but will not intrude upon your hos
pitality and longer. l will make arrange
ments for a future home and remove to it at
once.D
Mrs. Percival elevated her eyebrows super
ciliously.
"And pray what do you intend doing. if |
may be SO impertinent as to ask? Doubtless
you are aware that in this plain, every day
world of ours, one must either labor or be
possessed of sufficient property to support
herself ?"