Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-10-23

methoFy-A nave lNed 2'oae all my days q
since lost her. Il
50 After am dead Richard Huntley q
will send you this letter, along with Z
copy of my will, and a miniature | had 5
painted of Margaret and myself by /
stealth, while she was with me. The
child may like it. suppose l am not
good enough for my blessing to avail her
much; but she has it, that young girl
whom have never Margaret's
child and mine. die in peace with all
men, even you.
""GmBERT TRUMBULI.'
"There are few lines more IT. the
lawyers hand, to say that he died twenty
four hours after that letter was dictated
and the will is enclosed, by which Eli
nor falls heir TO fifty thousand dollars"
But how he insulted you! / can not
bear that !" exclaimed the wife, her first,
wifely thought a jealous one of her hus-
bands honor.
NAY, Mary, he but spoke the truth.
l have been a selt-deceiver. The judg-
ment of the Lord is visiting me now, and
l see my sin. l killed her-he said tru-
ly-oh Margaret-my child Margaret ("
want to see it, husband-the pic
ture."
Well, here, only don't show II to me.
don't want to see her eyes-poor Mar
garet."
The mother took it from his hand and
looked at it in silence. It was Margaret,
in her youth, her love, her beauty, only
there was an unwonted shade of sadness
in the clear eyes and about the flexible
mouth. Beside her face Gilbert Trum-
bulls was painted-handsome fascina-
ting, briIliant-the face in which Mar
garet's eyes had seen heaven. Mary
Grant looked at the two steadily for a
few moments through her tears, and then
without saying word, holding the pic
ture still in her hand, she went in to Eli
nor
my child" she said, in faltering
tones, " would you like to see your moth
er's picture ?"
A hot flush rose 20 the girls cheek
but she stretched out her hand for the
miniature.
That is your fathers miniature, too
darling. Nay, Elinor, you needn't blush
so to look on them; for, see this, child
here is something worth more to you
, than all the gold that comes with it, your
mothers marriage-certifcate."
Elinor Trumbull cIasped the paper will
f convulsive energy. She looked at it witt
4 eager gaze, reading it over and owe
o again. Then it dropped from her nerve
g less fingers, her eyes shut together, ant
o her stricken heart, for the first time, ut
# tered the wall Of its anguish.
It Oh Walter, Walter" was the loy
i cry which rung helplessIy through tn
! room. Mary Grant knelt beside heI
IT and folded her motherly arms arouu
- her. She was not repulsed. She dre'
is that young head to her old, loving bosor
and Elinor wept there, at last, Ike
a grieved child.
N Oh" she murmured, after a TIM
II might have married bim-I shoul
l not have disgraced him after all. Wh'
l was it you said about gold, grandmOti
IT, er ?"
ld " You have inherited fifty thousar
O. dollars, dear child. Your fathers vi
er came with his letter, and these things
ed have shown you"
i'd His letter my fathers letter! WI
nd don't you give 1t to me 2"
bis Mary Grant put the girl from her, Al
II laid her tenderly back on the loung
Of Then she went out, closing the door b
be hind her"
,ur Father" she said, "EIinor wants
= see that letter. think she has a rig
he to-"
Ids Yes, Mary; take it. Her seeing
a can not make my shame any great'
Leave me alone for while; am Il
nd ing to see my way clear"
me And 20 Mary Grant carried Glib
ret Trumbulrs letter in to bis child. I
,ws girl read II, pausing tenderly over I
she passages where her father wrote Of
her love for her young mother, pressing
cen sheet to her lips where he invoked
ne blessing, dy ng mans blessing, up
ar her. Then folding it up, she put it
her her bosom, and sank back again UP
lit her pillow.
,uld . You are very tired, darling" 81
and her grandmoiber's gentle voice.
4 Of g Yes, yery-baE Oh, 50 ihankful.
nh i such a blessing that this knowlet