Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-12-12
EVENING STAR.
RAH PERCIV
Or, The Bride Of the " House Of 9eld.r
BY MRS. CAROLINE INGRAHAa.

Ofi The Bride OF the House oil Sold.n
BY MRS. CAROLINE INGRAHAM.
CHAPTER
1t was a cold, raw, November day. The air
was piercing, and furry of snow, that had
fallen since morning, gave an aspect of mex
pressible dreariness to the mountain scenery
around the little village of Montespan, which
boasted only one "great house" This was the
residence of n retired city merchant, whose
lines had "fallen in pleasant 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
bis family His carriage, his horses, his great
dinner parties, at which his elegantly dressed
and hammered wife greeted her city guests
with the dignity of a queen-his house and
grounds-nay, 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 to Kate Percival-the only child and
rightful heiress of all this splendor, who had
passed most of her life in New York-to dance
well, sing well, dress well, and coquet with a
grace, were al 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 a younger
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 ten
derness she had always known. That prayer
was heard, but never answered. For Richard
Percival, a 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 Rumor bad
pronounced the lady beautiful and fascina-
ting, and Mrs. Percival trembled in her soul,
when she looked at the healthful, animated,
face Of the little Sarah, and saw in her brown
hair and large dark eyes, promise OF that
! ioveliness Tat had won the fathers heart.
The high spirited Sarah chafed inwardly
at many a look of dislike and many a taunt
from the wife Of her benefactor, but the world
was wide and cruel, and while her uncle was
tactly kind to her, she dreaded to begin the
battle, from which, she felt even then, she
could never come out quite unscathed. But
while she waited the inexOrable hand OF Fate
was stretched forth to lead her out into the
W0liQ from WHICH SDe snEduby oDU 1<SeN4uJ
accomplished that which she herself might
never had the courage to undertake.
In the very prime Of life-strong, healthful
and hearty, her uncle, the head Of the family,
was suddenly cut down. OF the gallant host,
tho induIgent husband, the gallant man of
business, nothing remained but a cold, motion
less body. with a shrouded face, lying quietly
in one Of the great chambers of the great
house The servants passed that door with
suspended breath and a quickened tresd; the
widow in the solitude of her own room wonder
iuc is her mourning would become 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 par
lors, wishing herself back in the gay boarding
school she had left; and in the whole house,
of all who bad aouriahed on his bounty, and
shared the shelter Of his roof, only one real
mourner remained, and that was the daughter
OF his deceased brother, to whom IN life he
had never given a caress or a word OF praise
A cold, measured voice pronounced Sarah'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 Percivalo"
she asked, in freezing voice; " why are you
not in your room? It is cold enough here to"
she stopped short, glanced at the corpse, and
shivered slightly.
- did not nina tQo COlu, 10
see him once more,' said Sarah, dashing away
the tears, and rising to go.
"You will pardon me, Miss Percival, if
6na no occasion for this violent display of grief
on your part
"Madam!"
"Oh! don't look at me in that way" said
the lady, drawing herself up in a stately man
ner " hate hypocrisy, Miss Percival; hate
all crocodile tears" If she dsd not exactly
add the words, and L hate you," her looks
showed it, and Sarah felt it SO
Madam she said, Indignantly, " l am at
a loss to know what You mean. have nothing
to gain or lose by my tears for my uncle 5
death"
81 am aware of that, but did not know that
you might be, was the sarcastic reply; your
uncle'S fortune ia, Of course, all wil!ed TO his
rightful heirs"
Sarah looked from her arrogant face to that
of the corpse, before she dared to venture a
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 wronged me-" she said, with
dignity, "yet cannot feel angry here. The
presence of the dead is surely enough to sOOthe
the living"
Mrs Percival cast u glance Of fear toward
} the unconscious body of her husband, and ia
king Sarah by the arm, led her to her dress
ing room, and shut the door.
" Now Sarah, if you please, we will sit down
here and talk of your future" said the selfish
old iceberg, in cold and unfeeling voice.
She seated herself on the sofa and motioned
the girl to her side. A silence of some mo-
ments ensued 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.
"Well," said the lady, leaning towards her,
with an indulgent smile.
81 cannot talk of anything l am ignorant
of. was the ambiguous reply. My future
is mystery to me-"
If you prefer staying here, of course we
will try to accommodate you But must tell
you that neither Miss Percival or myself pur-
pose remaining here long after the funeral.
She will return to her school and rshall trav-
el-so you will have no one left but the SER
wants for company
The proffer of home was seemingly made
in a kind way, but all the proud blood of the
Percivals rushed to Sarah cheek at the COW
ert impertinence of the speaker.
81 thank you, Madam" she answered stiff
fly, "but will not intrude upon your hos