Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-12-11
SARAH PERCIvAL;
Ok,
The bride of the .EHouse OF GoId.v

On the afternoon of the funeral, when the
dead body that had been for three days solemn
izing the aspect of the great house was laid
in its last long homess little party assembled in
4 the ibrary, to hear the reading OF the will. It
was all over now-the funeral services the tears
the prayers-and nothing remained bnt for
the living 10 divide the spoil a harsh saving
lit may be-. and yet, with one exception, the
group that had assembled in that little room jus
Z titled IT.
{. BY thesfre.place stately and magnificent in
her deep mourning, sat Mrs: Pereiyai, leaning
her double chin upon her hand and gazing
steadily into the burning Goals Att little dis
lance sat her daughter, playing carelessly with
her Ewateh-chain, and wishing with all her heart
that tile tifesotne fuss was over. fs-ssss< 5as53
4 Sarah Pcrciyal made one of the group. For
her aunt was keenly alive to what the world
might say, and thought her presence on this oc-l
a caSion, one of the family, would silence any
remarks that,might be made when her change
of situation became known. She sat beside the
4 window, looking drearily out upon the familiar
landscape SO soon to belelt behind. But no one
!! spoketo her. Even DIR. Warton, the worthy
reStorer ofSt. Peters church, where Mrs. Perci-
val sat out the appointed time every Sunday
forenoon and afternoon, only glanced toward
her now and then from the depths of his easy
chair, and decided that 1t was useless TO take
any notice of such timid, frightened thing
Perhaps, could the worthy Doctor have read
that young heart, and known, the bold plans.
that young brain WAS iorning,r he would have
had reason to change his quickly formed opin-
ion.5 - a7i4u -8y y - II
The solemn silence of the room was broken
by the fussy little lawyer, who, having broken
the seals of the ealien cabinet, and taken the
important will therefrom, adjusted his spccta-
cles and began to read To Sarah, it was like "a
message from the dead.J Tho mind that had
framed, and the hand that had executed, were
gone-whither2 She listened like one in
dream to the enumeration of the houses, bank
stock, etc, owned by tiIe deceased till the sound
other own name made her start and look up
Suddenly. So-she was not mistaken. The
lawyer was reading in his dry, business like
voice -f.i..-.,szssF sVas
And give and devise 10 my dear niece, Sa-i
rah Stanton Perciyal; the sum of five hundred
dollars, as slight token of the interest have
always felt in my dead brothers child" .i' si
That was all she heard. Some dry business
Etechncalities followed with which she had no
concern. But leaning her head upon her hands,
she fed her hungry sonl upon those few words
of affection--the first She had heard addressed
to her since her father died.
She was reused from her pleasant reverie By.
the cold voice of her aunt, who stood beside her,
And looking up she saw that the reading of the
will was over, and that the party had brokennp
andwere standing near the fire. MY
We'll, Miss Pereiyal, congratulate you with
all my heart !" said the widow tapping heriightsi
| ly upon the shoulder with her plnmed fam
Through the kindness of your uncle, yon will
1 be spared that disagreeablc apprenticeship we.
| We're speaking Of i trust you are sincerely
grateful. aa@'li 4iid.p
20 trust am said Sarah in low voice. But
she could not speak the thanks she felt to the
iportly figure in black, who could well afford TO
spare the paltry sum of five hundred dollars
! from her thousands, and who felt rather glad in
her heart that the bequest had been made, Since
it would sound so well when DIR. Warton and
the lawyer spoke of it, as they would be sure to
do. So the girl was silent, and her aunt called
her mentally extremely ungrateful. 1t seemed
| TO be fated that these two women should never
understand each other, even i'll the slightest nc
| ton Of their lives. 2 49, lls7s
DIR. Warrior now BUSTED up, and took both Of
Sarah's hands in his warm grasp.
y give yoh joy. young LADY, ! give you !ioyl''
he exclaimed. ny, you are quite an heiress
my dearl And what viii, the fortune aud the
pretty face, our young men sill liayeto look out
| for their hearts, 79s Il ~ p 81
81 am afraid you will make Miss Percival
vain, doctor, said her aunt, with Sneer. ''Sa-
rah, my dear, you must not let his tlattery turn
your head. M .5.ls a' + ,,., se
MADAM, Ilassurc you ammo flatterer,n said
! the doctor, with his hand upon his heart .sbut
when beauty, talent and grace are before me,
should be less than man If did not speak the
| truth ri, ~ - assfg39N .iS55l n = 81
| His sweeping bow included the three ladies
II
/ she was not quite proof against a delicately-
worded compliment, even then. That simple
speech secured the worthy doctor many pleas
ant dinner and little lady's gift. Taking his
arm, she swept out from the library to the par
lor, followed BY her daughter. And the young
''helress' was left to her own reflections
CHAPTER III.
s4'Carriage, MANI Cab, mains fIreia cab,
4 E1St Methodist Astorl Metropolitan Interna-
tionall Western Hotel 'f $50 n
4 Such was the welcome that awaited Sarah
Percival as she descended from the cars, on the
evening of her arrival in New York. Bewider-
ed with the noise and confusion, she shrank tim
idly behind burly old gentleman, who had
been one of her fellowpassehge and waited
TIL, the tumnlt should subside. Her face burn
cd with embarrassment and distress, and in her
whole attitude so much OF timidity and uncer-
tainty was displayed, thatia chorus of hackmen
surrounded her, thrust their tickets in her face
i In her agony she would have taken them all,
had it not been for a tall fine looking man, with
the gallant, open aspect of sailor, who had been
attracted blythe evident uepidation OF the young
girl and the selfish rudeness of those who sur
/ rounded her, ~
He came and stood beside her, and asked -
/ Can be of any assistance to you, young la
dy. l am perfect stranger to you know, but
at the same time, il you will trust me, / shall
very happy to help YOU" 80
Now Sarah had read and heard much of the
danger that always awaits D too contiding heart,
and yet, with her first glance into that kind,
frank face, all her lessons were forgotten, and
she moved nearer to him instinctiyely, like a
frightened child about to CHIN protection.
slf it isnot too much trouble, Il shall be very
glad if you will assist me In getting carriage
7 18th the creates: pleasure, was the reply
rs there any particular hotel you wish to go
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 kind friend, Cwhon,
she supposed, from his dress. to be sailor,)
turned to co. B .