Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-12-13
EV ENING STAR,
SARAH ERCIVAL:
Or, The Bride of the - House of Gold.'
BY MRS. CAROLINE iNGRAHAN.
CONTINUED from our last

MRS. CAROLINE tNGRAHAN.
CONTINUED from, our last
CHAPTER IL.
On the afternoon of the funeral, when the
dead body that had been for three days SOL
emnizipg the aspect Of the "great house" was
laid in its last long home, little party as
sembled in the library to hear the reading Of
the will. 1t was all over now-the funeral
services, the tears, the prayers-and nothing
remained but for the living to divide the spoil.
harsh saying, it may be /; and yet, with one
exception, the group that had assembled in
that little room justified it.
By the FIRE place, stately and magnificent in
her deep mourning, sat Mrs Perciyal, leaning
her double chin upon her hand, and gazing
steadily into the burning Goals. At little
distance sat her daughter, playing carclessly
with her watch chain, and wishing with all her
heart that the tiresome fuss was over.
Sarah Percival made one Of the group. For
her aunt was keenly alive to what the world
might say, and thought her presence on this
occasion as one of the family would silence any
remarks that might be made when her change
of situation became known. She sat beside
the window, looking drearily out upon the
familiar landscape, so soon to be left behind.
But no one spoke to her Even DR. Warton,
the worthy rector of St. Peters church, where
Mrs Percival sat out the appointed timeevery
Sunday, forenoon and afternoon, only glanced
toward her now and then from the depths Of
his easy chair, and decided that it 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 forming, he would
have had reason to change his quickly formed
| opinion.
The solemn silence Of the room was broken
! by the fussy little lawyer, who, having broken
the seals of the osken cabinet, and taken the
| important will therefrom, adjusted his specta-
| cles and began to read. To Sarah it was like
| a message from the dead. The mind that had
| framed and the hand that had executed were
gone-whither' She listened, like one in a
| dream, to the enumeration Of the houses, bank
stock, etc owned by the deceased, till tho
| sound of her own name made her start and
| look up suddenly. No-she was not mistaken.
| The lawyer was reading in his dry, business
| like voice
"And 1 give and devise to my dear niece,
Sarah Stanton Percival, the sum of five hun
| dred dollars, as a slight token Of the interest
L have always taken in my dead brothers
child.
That was all she heard Some dry business
technicaities followed, with which she had no
concern Butleaning her head upon her hands,
she fed her hungry soul upon those few words
! of affection, the. first she had hoard 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
If the will was over, and that the party had
broken up and were standing near the fire.
well, Miss Percival, l congratulate you
with all my heart" said the widow, tapping
her lightly upon the shoulder with her plumed
fan. Through the kindness of your uncle,
you will be spared that disagreeable appren
liceship we were speaking Of TRUST you are
sincerely grateful"
Il trust am,n said Sarah in low voice
But she could not speak the thanks she felt, to
the portly figure in black, who could well af-
ford to spare the paltry sum OF i've hundred
dollars from her thousands, and who felt
rather glad in her heart that the bequest had
been made since il would sound SO we'll when
DR.. Warton and the lawyer spoke of 1t, as
they would be sure to do. So the girl was ST.
lent, and her aunt called her, mentally, ex-
tremely ungrateful. 1t seemed to be fated
that these two women should never understand
each other, even in the slightest action of their
lives.
DR. Warton now hustled up, and took both
Of Sarah hands In his warm grasp
low" he exclaimed "Why, you are quite
an heiress, my dear! And what with the for
tune and the pretty face, our young men will
have to look out for their hearts
81 am afraid you will make Miss Percival
vain, DOCTOR" said her aunt, with sneer.
" Sarah, my dear, you must not let his Hattie
~ turn your head.
MADAM, assure you l am no fiatterer,' .
said the doctor, with his hand upon his heart;
| but when beauty, talent and grace are be-
fore me, I should be less than man If did
not speak the truth"
His sweeping bow included the three ladies
as he spoke Mrs Percival colored and smiled
she was not quite proof against delicate
ly-worded compliment, even then. That SIM
pie speech secured the worthy doctor many a
pleasant dinner and little lady's gift. Taking
his arm, she swept out from the library to the
| parlor, followed by her daughter. And the
young " "heiress" was lelt 10 her own renee
tions.
"Csrriage, ma'am? Cab ma am? Ire a
| cab st Nicholas Astor Metropolitan
| International, Western Hotel ~
Such was the welcome that awaited Sarah
| Perciyal as she descended from the cars, on
! the evening of her arrival in New York. Be-
wildered with the noise and confusion, she
| shrank tinidly behind burly old gentleman,
| who had been one Of her fsllow-passengers
| and waited till the tumult should subside.
| distress, and in her whole attitude so much OF
| timidity and uncertainty was displayed, that
| a 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 gallant,
open aspect Of a sailor, who had been attract
| ed by the evident trepidatiOn of the young
girl, and the selfish rudeness of those who
| surrounded her.
He came and stood beside her, and asked
| "Can l be Of any assistance to you, young
| lady. 1 am perfect stranger to you know
but as 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-confdinl
heart, and yet, with her first glance into tina
kind, frank face, all her lessons were forgot
ten, and she moved hearer to him instructive
ly, like a frightened child about to claim pro
lection.
"If it is not too much trouble. shall b
very glad if you will assist me In getting
carriage"
with the greatest of pleasure was tn