The true Democrat., 1857-03-03
CHAPTER IT

l Aeds lHueeu WeII on, ana mere were changes Tn our house. My great aunt Rupert was dead, and M ss Betsey had come to live with Us. suppose she paid scmething but these detail, We're not spoken to me. It seemed that the chief business of her life was to make mischief about me. l had not a will of my own: she contradIcted and thwarted me with indi ference almost contempt. She exercised supreme au thorlty, and l Was reLar led in the house as a mere cipher She had gainel completely the ear oi my father To appeal to him. in the domestic blckerlngs which often arose. was worse than useless, so far as l was concerned. for he always took the part of his wife. She had contrved to imbue him with spirit Of re- sentiment, or of dissatis faction, towards me, so that happen what would, I was in the wrong The servants were fresh, except Charlotte, and Mrs. Dixon was looked upon as their sole mis tress: was scarcely regarded as my fathers daughter. And there were young children in our house now, who certainly did not contri- bute to its peace and comfort. For these three children, only one additional servant was en- gagged, so that our former orderly mode of liv- ing was broken into. Whether my farther's income, fixed one, would not really allow greater expense, or whether Mrs Dixon went upon the saving plan from choice could not tell. know that l was much stinted and could not dress as l used to- The servants grumbled and said they had too much work Charlotte especially; upon which Mrs. Dixon sad she might leave, but Charlotte chose to re- man on. On. mlne was all unhappy life Do- mestlc discOrd and discomfort where formerly all was so regular and peaceful humiatiug sights cast daily upon me; innocent visits of social intercourse refused to me! The children were allowed no time for visiting Mrs Dixon sad, and was expected to attend them quite as much as any servant. Save Charlotte there were none around to care for me or speak to me pleasant word, and my spirit was almost broken. In my twenty second year, felt like worn-o out woman, Caring little for life
 But where was Lionel? An! for all these years he had never noticed me by letter or mes sage; had never given token that those loving words of promise spoken on his departure were really meant. had long ago ceased to regard them as real and striven to school my poor. credulous, disappointed heart to the evident truth. Lionel was no longer in London. Soon after his arrival there, news came that he had got into something, some office;'' and the Ru- perts, from Sir Act@on down to Mrs Dixon, looked very blue and dumb, and finally discard ed him from their memories. To speak of Lionel Rupert after this would have been high treason. Three years subsequently, on the breaking out of the war with Russia we heard that he had gone to the east, ill the comnissa- riat department.
 And the war went on. and old Sir Acteon died and his son. Sir Otway, came into power at the Hall. The second and only remaining son, Charles, was with his regiment in the Cri- mea.
 We were sitting one day in the dining room. (what was now little better than nursery,) l with the youngest child an infant, on my lap, as 1 often had, when Mir. Wall, distant rea- tion of mammals, entered, Don't disturb your selves," he said: "I have only stepped in for a moment to tell you the sad news. suppose you cannot have heard it yet. never met with anything so mournful in the whole course of my life. You mnst prepare yourselves, ladies, for have two deaths to tell you of'
 Miss Betsey reached out for the smelling salts, but the rest of Us sat quiet
 Sir Otway got into row this morning. He was out early, crossing his grounds, and found some men with game. He accosted them, and they said they had bought 1t, but he said it was his-as 1t no doubt was. An altercation ensu- ed. They were insoent, and Sir Otway was fiery. Young blood will be young blood and Sir Otway had his fathers nasty temper. They came to plowS, or close upon II, aud when DIT Otway reached the Hall he was in fearful state of excitement. There lay letter, just arrived from the east, with black seal, mourning edges official look, and all the rest of it. Poor Sir Otway opened it, and, in the act of reading its contents, fell dead"
 Mrs Dixon screamed. "How very shock. ing!" exclaimed my father. "Is he really dead?''
 :" He is really and truly dead,'' replied MT Wall "Died as he was falling. Not an houi ago.'
 "Tell the servants to close the shutters" sob. bed Miss Betsey, hysterically. "Our poor cou sin!n