Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-12-18
CHAPTER III.

Carriage, nam Cab nam Ire
cab ?-St Nicholas Aston Metropolitan
International Western Hotel !"-
Such was the welcome that awaited Sarah
Percival, as she descended from the cars, on
the evening of her arrival in New York. Be-
wildered with the noise and confusion, she
shrank timidly behind burly old gentleman,
who had been one of her fellow passengers,
and waited till the tumult should subside.
Her face burned with embarrassment and
distress, and in her whole attitude so much of
timidity and uncertainty was displayed, that
chorus Of hackmen surrounded her, and
thrust their tickets in her face. In her agony
she would have taken them all, had it not
been for tall, fine looking man, with the gal
liant, open aspect of a sailor, who had been
attracted by the evident trepidation of the
young girl, and the selfish .ddepess of those
who surrounded her.
He came and stood beside her and ask
ed
"Can be of any assistance to you, young
lady. am perfect stranger to you know,
but at the same time, if you will trust me,
shall be very happy to help YOU"
Now Sarah had read and heard much OF
the danger that always awaits too confiding
heart, and yet with her first glance into that
kind, frank face, all her lessons were forgot
ten, and she moved nearer to him instructive
ly, like frightened child about to claim pro-
lection.
eff it's not too much trouble / shall be
very glad if you will assist me in getting a
carriage"
with the greatest pleasure" was the re-
ply. sis there any particular hotel you wish
to go to! d"
Sarah produced her little card, blushing
for the humble direction as she did so. A
carriage was soon obtained, her baggage was
strapped upon the boot and Sarah's kind
friend, (whom she supposed from his dress,
to be salor,) turned to go.
81 must bid you good night believe" he
said, looking little serious. al trust you
will reach your home safely"
He held out his hand. Without the least
hesitation Sarah laid hars in it, ard felt a lit
tie heartache as it was released from the firm
clasp. Such meetings and partings often
thrill us with sense Of pain for which we
cannot account, and the faces that have BEAM
ed upon us for moment in kindness, and
then vanished-never on earth to return
again, are sometimes remembered long after
more familiar ones have faded from the tab
lets of memory. And thus it was that the
dreams of Sarah Percival on the first night
of her city life were haunted by vision of
q graceful figure, with curls of iair hair,
cling'ng to the mast of q sinking vessel-and
thus that Rose Neville, captain of the good
ship Snow Squall," wondered little now
and then, as he walked towards his hotel, if
ever in his Life he should meet the young
girl ne had befriended, again.
The home, under the shelter OF whose
roof these first dreams Of Sarah Perclval
were dreamed, was humble one enough.
II was O small wooden tenement, on mar
now and dirty street, owned and inhabited
by Clearly old Scotch woman, who had |
been servant in the house of Mr.. Richard |
Percivaps father, in her younger days. She
was greatly rejoiced at the young girls I'M
expected advent and hustled around to make
her guest comfortable, talking all the while
of Mr.. Richard and Mr. Frank, in a way
that brought tears to her listeners eyes. lt
seemed SO strange to hear this woman, tot
tering on the verge of the grave, relating lit
tie anecdotes of the boyish days of the two
brothers who had gone before her; and Sa-
rah's heart warmed towards her as she told
how brave, and generous, and impulsive her
own father was in his youth.
"Mr. Richard was more quiet and cautious
and Mr.. Frank forever in disgrace" said the
old laid, warmly; "but for ell that" he had
a smile that would do your heart good, and
a way with him that would charm a bird from
a tree.'
"Mrs. Bryce, do look like my father Z"
asked Sarah, suddenly.