The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-03-18


almost home !'' exclaimed::Captain Fleming,
rousing himself to look through the carriage
window. The words sent thrill through me,
and looked eagerly out through the twilight
shadows to the house we were approaching. 1t
was large, and stood at distance from the vii
lage street, and It seemed to me in rather des-
olate situation. Creatures swing their branch
es over the gateway, and, as we rode between
them, the wind made sighing sound among
the leaves. But the lighted lower windows
shone cheerfully in the darkness, seeming by
their brightness to welcome me home.
Jane Fleming, my husbands sister, who had
been his housekeeper since his wife's death,
came to the door to meet us. The moment her
cold fingers touched mine felt that there
would be no sympathy between us, and when we
had entered the lighted parlor, and had scru
tinzed her face, was sure Of it. Without a
word she stood beside me, while took off my
bonnet and gloves /; she carried them away, then
as silently walked into the room again, leading
the three children, and left me, leaving the chill
of her presence upon me.
! The three ran into their fathers arms, and
embraced him affectlonately, and as he caressed
them in return, perceived that their was a
fountain of warmth in his heart, which, could
reach it, would be enough to shield me from
cold and darkness forever. This show of pas
sionate fondness made me glad and going to his
side, tried to win the notice of the children to
myself.
"It is your new mother" said he, "She has
come to take care Of you when ash gone to sea
again. Ellen and May go to your mother"
| May, pretty blue-eyed child of ten came
shyly towards me, and kissed my cheek; but
Ellen, the eldest merely gave me her hand. Ell
len seemed to have imbibed something of her
aunt's icy manner for she sat aioofand watched
ME coldly. The little boy lifted his head from
his fathers shoulder, and seeing that May stood
by me unharmed, ventured to approach me.
Come to me Harry !" said Miss Fleming
with frown.
Was his name Earry? caught him in my
arms and held him closely, so that he could not
escape to his jealous aunt ; and ] thought in my
heart | would make him like the Harry had
lost. In an instant the feeling that was
stranger vanished, my heart had warmed toward
the little auhurn head that nestled in my arms.
My husband looked pleased and smiled, giving
his eistera gratied look and I observed the
shadow of smile on her lips, but it faded again
90 ha ela \ l. 4.
nine, Miss Jane rose and led the children to
their chambers. ] hade them GOOD night as
they went out, but / noticed that Ellen made
no answer n..
The next morning made business of going
over the house and examining it's conveniences.
The first step upon the broad gloomy staircase
chilled me and when, after visiting every room,
sat down in the parlor again, was almost
discouraged Such a dreary, disordered house
| never saw. In every chamber, the curtains
hung over the windows like shrouds, and the
air was cold and damp as dungeon. There
was dust on the walls, on the windows, on the
furniture; there was gloom in every corner
The parlor which might have been delightful
room, seemed like a sepulchre. The furniture
as we'll as the books were covered with canvass
A book case stood in recess, and a locked pia-
no was by the opposite wall l asked little
May who had kept close by me all morning,
why this was SO. '
AUNT Jane doesn't like music" she said,
'and she keeps the bookcase locked, because
she says we must not read books until we are
older"
"And why is the furniture all covered p
"The parlor is scarcely ever opened" answer
May; "Aunt Jane wants to keep it nice"
"Well May" said Ego and ask Aunt Jane
for the keys of the bookcase. I want to see the
books"
She ran quickly, and returned, followed by
Miss Jane, who delivered up the key to me with
dubious kind of grace. aa.
I hope you will lock the bookcase when you
have examined the books, a'an," said She
81 don't allow the children to spend their time
in light reading"
"What are they now reading ?'' asked.
"They learn their lessons" ," she replied shortly
She disappeared, and opened the bookcase,
which found to containa most excellent selec-
ton of books. The best poets, the best histori-
ans, the best novellists and biographers, were
there, making library small, but of rich value
1t was the first really pleasant thing had found
in my new home and / sat an hour or two,
glancing over one volume after another and re-
arranging them on the shelves.
Suddenly Miss Jane looked in, and in mo-
ment her face was pale with indignation, for
there sat little May on the carpet, buried in a
charming old English annual. Miss Jane took
two steps forward, and snatching the book out
Of the child's hand, threw it on the table, then
led her by the shoulder out OF the room. was
mute with amazement at this rough government
at first; then sprapg upand would have fol-
lowed her, had not the fear of an outbreak re-
strained me.
Selfish creature !" exclaimed, 'you are:try-
ing to make these children like yourself; ruin
ing them for all good or happiness in life In
Ellen's sullenness and coldness see the fruit of
your labor. Was Arthur Fleming blind when
he left his children in your keeping n ''.''a' '
| saw no more of the children until dinner.
when, by questioning, learned that they had
been studying all the morning with Miss FIem-
ing. / informed her that should sit with
them in the afternoon, as wished to SEQ what
progress they we're making. The look with
which she received this announcement plainly
indicated that should be an unwelcomc LISTEN