The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-04-25

i late; and every one said II was the best thin
: he could do, great as would be every body
loss. His sister Tabitha alone objected o
y the score Of Jesuits. However, Jacob wen
! -discharging all his servants, and shuttin
|. up the beautiful old Hall. To the intnit
! surprise Of every body, he openly and un
{ blushingly took from the neighboring villag
certain Betty Thorne, q fine, handsome
Roman-looking woman, a farmers sister
aged about forty. And Betty Thornc travel
ed with him in his own carriage.
Five years passed away, and Jacobs let
ters became rarer and more rare. He wrot
ever in the same depressed condition o
, mind; spoke often of "Good Betty Thorne
who had been such blessed comfort Il
him." and hinted vaguely at some unforgiv
r en- sin. Then for two years more, no letter.
came, even in answer to business inquiries
and all trace Of the traveller was lost. Hi
very bankers did not know his address, and
4 I" Sardinia "left wide margins. Mrs. Hib'
bert one day grew quite warm when she
spoke of his neglect with Paul and Jessie,
her two children; almost agreeing that
Paul, poor child-who by the way, was
thrce-and-twenty, destined for the church,
but preferring the army, and so making q
compromise by studying for the bar-that
Paul should 60 to Italy in search Of his nm
Gle Jacob. But the Jcsuits and Signoras
frightened her. And while there delibea-
tions went on letter came to Mrs. HILBERT
sealed with black, and written with copper
colored ink; which letter was from Betty
Thorne, telling her "that her honored mas
ter had gone to rest the seventh Of this Sep
tember, last past, and that the letter would
tell her gracious madam all about II.
The letter inclosed was from Jacob Ev-
erett himself, revealing the mystery of his
life.
Oh, Anna Fay with your nut brown
hair and quakereyes, and your dove-like
ways, who would have believed that you, 80
good and 80 demurc, with Jacob, the best
man in Green Cove, would have given such
a hostage as that round, red, laughing, low
ing little being-that floweret plucked in a
forest that unauthorized, unsanctifed, un-
lawful little leige-Estella, "star of your
mourning!" God forgive you both. You
sinncd, and you suffered; You fell, and re-
pented; perhaps your burning tears and
your prayers of penitencc and grief may
have efficed the dark record in the Great
Book above. You are both cold in your
tombs now-Heaven's mercy rest on you,
and n'sangels restoreyou! There's
enough in this hard world to cast stones at
YOU both for us we will but water the
flowers on your graves, and pluck up the
weeds, and place heap stone where yc lie,
with "Thcre is JOY among the angels of
God over the sinner that repenteth," "engrav-
en- thereon.
In this letter to his sister, Jacob made
full confession; telling her that shocked
and terrified at his crime, he had sent away
Anna Fay, who refused to marry him as he
wished, and how she had lived in Italy ever
since-he, Jacob, feeling that entire sepaa-
ton, though they loved each other well,
was the only reparation they could make to
Heaven; and how, FIVE years ago she had
died, leaving their child without friend or
protector in the world. How he had then
gone over with Betty Thorne, to whom he
had confded his secret, to guard and educate
his girl; which he had done carefully. He
then ended by appointing abltha guardian
and sole trustee Of his daughter, now seven
teen years of age; for to his child he left
all his property, excepting a generous dona-
ton to Betty Thorne. lie further said that
bequest made so solemnly as this of his
orphan child on his death.bed, would, he was
sure, be regarded rs sacred and that Es-
tella would be nurtured carefully for his
sake. All his usual subscriptions, and
certain yearly allowance, of which VIC shall
have to speak presently, were to becontinucd
until Estella should be Of age, when she
would consult her fathers memory and her
own feelings only. fr
1t took but little time for Mrs. HILBERT to
reflect on her course Of action. Paul and
Jessie, impulsiyc as all young people are,
pleaded instant adoption Of the child, and
of Betty Thorne, too; but Tabitha HILBERT,
wounded in her family pride,in her religious
conscience, and in her worldly ambition, turn
cd coldly to her children, saying, "The girl
who has robbed you and your cousins of
your rightful inheritance /; who is a stain
on an unspotted name, and who damages
our religious character forever, shall never
darkcn my threshold. refuse to act as
guardian or trustee. Entreaty is useless,
Jessie !! am Christian woman and o
mother, and I understand my duties"
So Betty Thorne was written to, and " all
recognition of the unhappy girl " distinct
ly declined coupled with severe warning,
that sounded very Ikea threat, to " sell the
Hall when she became Of age, and never
dare to intrude herself among the members
Of family which disowned her as dis
grace" After Mrs. HILBERT had written
this letter, she read, as was her daily wont,
the lesson Of the day. 1t chanced to be the
history Of the Masdalene, her sins, and her
pardon. But she made no comment, though
Paul and Jessie looked at each othcr--the
girls pale eyes full Of tears, and the youth s
cheek crimson. U fe as.r 30 90.
Months and years rolled by /; and Jacob s
name was never mentioned, neither was his
sin, neither were his good works. m Tho