Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-15

"aHucfea 1iScODeOlaIeiy up Huu uOWh TUG
handsome parlors, wishing herself back in the
gay boarding school she had left; and in the
whole house. OF all who bad fonrished 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 cares or word OF /
praise.
A cold, measured voice pronounced Sarahs
name, and looking up with sudden start, she
saw her aunt standing beside Der gazing down |
upon the corpse with collected air.
What are you doing here, Miss Percivalf
she asked, in freezing voice. why are you |
not in your room7 1t Is cold enough here to,
she stopped short, glanced at the corpse and
shivered slightly.
i 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 lind
no occasion for this violent display OF grief on
your part
'Madaml,
''Ohl don't look at me in that way" said the la
dy, drawing herself up in stately manner IL
bate hypocrisy, Miss Percivs-I hate all crocodile
tears" II she did not exactly add these words
and bste you, her looks showed it, and Sarah
felt it so.
Madam she said, Indignantly, q am at r loss to
know what you mean. have nothing to gain or
lose by my tears for my uncle's death
Il am aware Of that, but did not know that you
might be- was the sarcastic reply. Your uncle 8
fortune u.s. of course all willed to his rghtu heirs
Sarah looked from her arrogant face to that OF
the corpse before she dared to venture reply.
What would the dead man have said to CONVEX
saton like this held over him before be was laid in
his cofinS
'You have wronged me- she said with dignity
wet cannot feel angry here. The presence OF
the dead is surely enough to soOthe the living
Mrs. Percival cast glance OF fear toward the
unconscious body of her husband, and taking Sa-
rah by the arm, led her to her dressing room, and
shut the door.
Now, Sarah, If you please, we will sit down here
and talk Of your lutGre,' said the selfish old ice
berg, in cold and unieeling voice.
She seated herself on the sofa and motiOnsd the
girl to her side silence Of some moments en-
sued. At last Sarah looking up from the floor,
found those dark eyes bent upon her with deep
scrutiny, as if they would read her very thoughts.
"Wen, said the lady, leaning towards her, with
an indulgent smile.
cannot talk of anything 1 am ignorant Of was
the ambiguous reply. My future is a mystery TO
me-
If you prefer staying here, of course we will try
to accommodate you But must tell you that
neither Miss Percival nor myself purpose remain
ing here long after the funeral She will return to
her schoel and shall trave-so you will have no
one left but the servants for company. !
The proffer of home was seemingly made in
kind way, but all the PROUD blood Of the Percivals
rushed to Sarah'scheek, at the covert impertnence
of the speaker.
Il thank you, madam she answered, stifly, but
will not intrude upon your hospitality any longer
will make arrangements for q future home and
remove TO it at once
Mrs, Pefcival elevated her eyebrows supercilious'
ly.
'And pray what DO you intend doing, if | may
be SO mpertinent as to ask? Doubtless you are
aware that in this plain everyday world OF ours,
one must either labor or be possessed OF sufficient
property to support herseliv
'0f course-and l. being without the property,
must of course work. was the spirited reply
can DO it, Madam-it may strange and hard
at first, but shall learn after time. And He
who temDers the wind to the shOrn lamb will aid
me-
Very good! very good
Mrs Percival had not the slightest objection to
such arrangement, provided she was not called
upon to uulooSe the strings OF her purse In the
cause.
She sat few moments apparently in deep
thought and then turning to Sarah remarked,
You are probably aware that city like New
York is a dangerous place for girl as young
but checked herself and said inexperienced in
stead. 'Why do you not go into some quiet cOun-
try place and try and support Yourself by teaching
school or something of that kindS This is almost
the only respectable situation in which young
girl can establish herself now a-days, Miss Perciva
4 never should make good teacher-I have
not patience aud don't like children either, said
Sarah.
Not like children? Dear me, how very shock
ing!" and the lady applied richly chased vnai-
grete to her nose as if she would forget the very
idea.
That is'-stammered Sarah, feeling as if she
had committed some great crime-I should not
like them around me so constantly. And have
made up my mind to try aud find some sewing to
do in the city.
"A seamsrress! A young lady who has the good
fortune to be connected with my family
you mistake-it is not yOurs-but my own,
said Sarah, with flashing eyes.
The lady waved her hand imperiously, and went
! on
1T makes little difference A young lady who
! has been brought up in my house to turn sewing
GIRL 1t is a disgrace and a shame! If you persist
/ in this determination, Miss Percival you must not
expect me 10 counCenance you in any way. As a
! teacher might have received you into my house
indeed, | think you might have assisted Kate
in her music or something of that kind, for you
really play very well, you know-but a sewing
! girl-faugh!
| You need not say any more,' said Sarah, rising
/ from her seat with angry air. "YOu may rest
| assured that whatever | am, I shall never intrude
upon you The name of Percivsl cannot shske
! off, do not wish to, because IL my dear
fathers But it never bring US nearer to each
| other, Madam. You need not proclaim the re-
latiousbip that exists between US, aud you may
rest assured shall not. Bnt-mark nv words
| Mrs. Perciva-if there is any virtue in honest eff
! fort and untiring zeal, you will one day be sorry
| for what you have now said-you will one day be
sorry that YOU were not kinder to the homeless or
| phan--you will one day be proud to own me-snd
in that day, Mrs. Percival, will not acknowledge
you'
She turned to leave the room, but the lady called
| her back Perhaps, ss she looked upon the proud
face OF the girl and met her kindlng glance, some
prophetic fancy dimly Swallowed forth what she
| Was one day TO be. At last her voice was kinder
when she spoke sgan.
You are TOO quick ten pered, Sarah was only
showing you these things in worldly light OF
course / shall always feel deep Interest in you,
aud be willing to aid you il / can, but don't you
see for yourself that the lcOrid goes-(and We
! SD have to make sacrifices to the world when we
| live in il, you kuow)-don't you see that would
| never do for me to acknowledge q seamstress as
| reatiyel And ks,e-wby it might ruin the child s
| prospects entirely, you knowl No rich, influential
man would ever marry her-forgive me for saying
it-ifh was known that she had a cousin who pur
sued such an extraordiuary-to call it nothing
worse-mode OF he,'
The young girls patience was fast falling her. II
/ was her fret conflict with hard, worldly nature,
and'she sighed heavily, wondering if all the worlds
| people were Ike this,
| IT is useless to proloug this conversation,
think, she said, after a short pause. You say
! you are willing to assist me, Win you do so noWP
| '0h, certainly. Though really my daughter is
so very e1Irayagant and her school bill so large,