The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-05-07
CHATTER ".

Frank Benfield stood beside a couch, on
which lay extended the figure of his sister,
on the evening succeeding the day last
mentioned. He had been suddenly recall
ed in consequence of the dangerous illness
OF his mother, whose cries, in the height of
delirium, from an adjoining room, pierced
his heart, though they failed to bring anv
expression into the face of the marble form
on which he gazed; for Mary was past all
earthly emotion-she was dead.
Days passed, and still Hester raved on,
watched and cared for by the husband she
had loved so dearly, and the son she had
so wronged. At length change came,
which they hoped might be for the better
-hrst gmmering of reason, then grad.
ual recognition Of those about ber; but the
mental shock, joined TO great bodily pros.
tration, on learning that her daughter was
dead, which they had tried in vain bv every
gentle fiction, TO keep from her knowledge,
was too great for the little strength remain.
ing; and though her mind continued clear,
II became evident 10 them th.. her days
were numbered.
Ii was during one Of these latter days,
that, calling Doctor Thornton aud her son TO
her side, she with much pain and difficulty
revealed to them likewise the secret which
had burned in her heart SO long, and re-
counted to Frank all the incidents with
which the reader is already acquainted.
Il do not know, my son, whether your
father sill lives. ! may he going down TO
the grave TO find he has preceded me there
and if SO, then the reparaion | arden,y
wish TO make Won will be all too late. Give
me my desk. See she said, taking n small
volume of Milton from it, "this is the only
thing ! have 10 give you to all your search
the writing on the fly.leaf is his. He
bought the book shortly after we were mar
rled, IN the town in which for few weeks
he resided with me-" aud Frank read on
The page to which she pointed, George
Madon Asegh," 10th Dec, IS"
at was thirteen years, in September last,
since saw or heard of him. This also,
Frank, wish to give you; take it to Lady
Helen AlIenby, and tell her the dying bless
ing OF the woman she once succorei is hers"
and she placed in his hand the card which
Lady Helen Maldon had given her SO many
years before.
said, striving to raise herself in bed: III he
is found, they would satisfy him, if he at
all doubted. Husband, dearest, help me-"
and while Doctor Thornton supported her
in his arms, with trembling hand She
traced the following words:
GEORGE AsLEIGn: ! am on my death
bed--a few hours, and the hand which
writes these lines will be motiouless for
evermore. II you still lse they will be
given 10 you by our son. Do not start;
what say is true, although, when last we
met, fearful that desire TO night him might
weigh more with you than the wish Won
expressed 10 repair the injury done TO me,
was tempted to conceal his existence. En-
closed is the certificate of his birth The
last request of his mother is that you will
do him the justice which she has so wick
edly withheld. That God may pardon me,
and forgive you, is the earnest PRAYER Of
"llEsrER'
Her peace was made with all, and in the
sombre twilight, with the gentle loving
heart Of old restored to her, Hester was
passing away. "Hark! did you not hear a
voice calling mel 1t is my Mary's. see
her now; she is going to bear me upwards
on her bosom. Dearest husband, NAV not
slay-kiss me, and let me depart. Frank,
my dear dutiful son, forgive me; let me
clasp you once more" and in that close en-
brace her last sigh was breathed.
Not many weeks after the events we
have narrated, Frank BenfeId presented
himself at General Allenby's TO give his
mothers message to Lady Helen, and en-.
treat her TO put off his dismissal until he
had had time to make inquiry respecting
his father. The only clue he possessed was
so slight, thSi how TO follow il had been a
matter Of anxious thought lie had deter.
mined 20 consult his kind friend the gener.
nj; and as he drove to the house the thought
struck him that Maldon, which was one of
hiS fathers names, had also been Lady
Helen's-lhat 1t was at any rate strange
coincidence, il it should lead to nothing
and Madon was not very common name.
Lady Helen received him coldly enough,
though her glance softened when she no.
ticed his dress OF deep mourning, ard learnt