The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1856-08-14

lschool, or the united lamentations of
all my kindred at my hard fate in hav-
ing step-mothcr placed over me, could
damp my joy.
At the appointed time I was in our
home, splendid mansion in the upper
part Of New \ ork, fitted up with al
most princely magniicence. myself
had taken especial pride in the adorn-
ing of my mothers room, to the great
disgust of my aunt, who could not un-
derstand my delight at what she consid-
cred a misfortune, second only to the
loss of my own mother At last the
day dawned, which was to bring my
parents to me. The steamer arrived,
and carriage drove up to the door +:
my uncle and a lady alighted, followed
by lady's maid, and a valet de cham
bre; but where was my father?
The lady hardly glanced at me, but
hurried rapidly to her chamber. l had
caught glimpse of her pale, haggard
features as her veil blew aside, and saw
that she was strikingly beautiful but
her utter disregard of me was keen
disappointment l stood motionless
breathless, with a dreadful forebodine
at my heart. grasped my uncle's
arm:
Where is my father p I asked.
He made some evasive reply; but |
would not be put off,
Tell me the worst at once l said
with perfect calmness.
He looked at me a moment compass
sionately.
My poor Eleanor, he is dead -
| | heard no more-I staggered, and
fell PROSTATE on the marble floor.
When | recovered my consciousness,
Fl was in a darkened room surrounded
by attendants, | learned afterwards
that for hours had been in death
like swoon, from which it seemed al
most impossible to arouse me. | knew
only now that | was very weak-I could
not raise my hand from the pillow /; my
mind was blank, | felt no surprise at
my position, 1 remembered nothing, |
felt only that l was very weary. Cne
by one my attendants stole out softly,
and | was left alone with a physician
at length, he too, after bending over
me and watching me narrowly, left me,
and | slept,
When l awoke, I was myself again.
| knew all, but | could not weep. |
lay still with closed eyes, and sad,
sad aching at my heart. There was no
movement in my chamber, nothing
broke the perfect silence yet | felt
that l was not alone. / saw distinctly
a figure at my bedside, half concealed
by the heavy curtains. | felt rather
than knew that it was my father $
wife, and with outstretched arms, |
cried out family, Mothern
That same pale, wondrously bcauti-
full face bent over me, long raven hair
swept my cheek, and | was in her arms
Not word was spoken but from that
moment felt that | was no longer an
orphan, that | was received into her
true mothers heart Even in the
depth of my sorrow, | felt a thrill of
Joy that | had never expericncad-l
was beloved at last
Days passed Mr. father slept under
the clods of the valley, and in a short
time the settlement of his estate took
place. 1t appeared that he had con-
vcrted all his property into money,
and my step-mother's at the same time !;
from papers which she produced, it
appeared also that the most of the
large sum he had thus realized, belong
ed TO his wife, leaving a bare pittance
for me. All his affairs were in the
greatest confusion; but my uncle per-
sisted in believing that my mother had
induced my father to place his vast
fortune in her hands, and that she had
defrauded me He would have had re-
course to the law to decide on some
papers which he considered illegal; but
would not consent. | knew nothing
of business but / did not then, nor
did l ever believe that my mother had
wroneed me. | scorned my uncle's in
situations, and cluug to my dear mo-
ther with all the more. ardor that she