Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-12-12
SARAH PERCIvAL;
OR.
THE nRIDE OF rnE "moUsE OF GOLD
al !
ny mrs. CAROLINE rssRaHAn,
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.
On the afternoon of the funeral, when the dead
body that had been tor three days solemniLing the
aspect OF the gren, house, WIS laid in its last long
home little party assembled IN the library. to hear
the reading of the will II WAS all over now-the
funeral seryices-tie tears-the prayers-and moth
ing remained but for the living To divide the spoil
harsh saying Il may be, and yet, with one excep-
ton the group that lad assembled in that room
justified II.
By the FIRE place, stately and magnificent in her
deep mourning sat Mrs. Percval, leaning her double
chin upon her hand, and gazing steadily into the
barnng Goals At little distance sat her daughter,
PLAYING careeSsly with her watch-chain, aud wishing
with all her heart that the tresome fuss was over.
Sarah Pereiva made one of the group. For her
aunt was keenly alive to what the world might say
and thought her presence 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 be window, looking drearily out up
on the familiar landscape To be left behind
Bnt no one spoke to her Even DR.. Warrior, the
worthy rector of St Peters church. where Mrs. Per-
civai sat out the appointed time every Sunday fore
uoon and afternoon, only glanced toward her now
and then from the depths of his easy chair and de-
eded that it useless 10 take any notice OF such
timd, 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 opin-
ion.
The solemn silence the room was broken by the
fussy little lawyer Who having broken the seals OF
the oaken cabinet, and taken the important VIII
iherefrom adjusted his specacles and began to read
To Sarah il was like message from the dead. The
mind that had framed, and the hand that had exc
cuted we're gone-whilher She listened like one
in a dream to the enumeration of the honses, bank
stock etc, owned by the deceased, till the sound OF
her own made her start and look up suddenly
No--she was not mistaken. The lawyer was reading
n his dry bu sinesg- like voice.
"And give aud devise to my dear niece, Sarah
Stanton Pereiva the sum of five hundred dollars, rs
slight token of the interest have always felt in my
dead brothers child"
calities followed with which she had no concern. But
leaning her head upon her hands, she fed her hungry
soul upon those few words of aiection-the first she
had heard addressed to her since her father died.
She was aroused from her pleasant reverie by the
cold voice Of her aunt, who stood beside her. And
looking up she that the reading OF the will was
over, and that the party had broken up and were
standing the fire.
well, Miss Percigai | congratulate you with all
my heart sad the widow, tapping ner lightly upon
the shoulder with her plumed fan. Through the kind
of your uncle you will be spared that Disagree
able apprenticeship were speaking Of trust you
sincerely grateful"
II trust am said Sarah in n low voice. But she
coad not speak the thanks she felt to the portly fig
ure in black who could well afford to spare the pal
try Of five hundred dollars from her thousands,
and who felt rather glad in her heart TINT the bequest
had been made since it would sound SO we'll when
DR. Warrior and the lawyer spoke of it, they would
be sure to do. So the girl was silent and her aunt
called her mentally exreu ely ungrateful 1t seemed
to be f1ted that these two wooden should never un-
dersand each other, even in the slightest action OF
their lives.
DR. Warton now hustled up, and took both of Sa-
rahs hands in his warm grasp.
81 give you Joy young lady, give you JOY he