The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-02-19
WHOLE NUN BER 295
CHAPTER II.

T heard soft rap at my door, and
little May entered. She, too bad been
crying, and when she saw traces of tears
on my face, she came gently up to me,
and crept into my lap.
"Do you love father, too ~ she ask
ed, in her frank simple manner.
"Yes, darling, l love him." | answer
ed, "and l want to love you all, and be
loved by you-now he hae gone, am
very sad and lonely. Will you not love
me, May ?"
| The child kissed me gravely, but did
not reply to the question. .. ,'.-
"Aunt Jane sent me to call you to
dinner" she said, slipping from my
arms.
When we had finished this lonely
meal, and the children and Jane bad
gone up stairs TO the afternoon lessons,
l visited one or two rooms which had at
tracted my observation the day before:
One was the attic chamber, where had
noticed heap Of old packages which l
wished to examine. In one corner stood
a pile of old pictures, some soiled, some
With broken frames, but which on exam
inaion l found worthy to be rubbed up
and newly framed. One especially won
my admiration. 1t was the portrait Of
a young and beautiful woman. The soft
auburn hair and hazel eyes we're lovely,
thought not expressive of any great en-
ergy or depth Of character, were iault-
lcssly regular. r.
l heard some one passing in the ball,
and opened the door to ask some ques-
tions about these pictures. 1t was Eli
len.
"Are you busy, Ellen ;" l asked, elf
not, l wish you would come here mo-
ment."
Ellen look surprised, but followed me
without any reply.
want to know something about
these pictures. Some of them are very
fine, aud it seems to me strange that
they should hang way up here out of
sight"
"Tbey got injured" said Ellen, "aud
Aunt Jane did not have time to get them
mended.' .... -a
"Here is beautiful landscape" I
said. ...... .g
knew, by the quick dilatipg of 81
lens hazel eyes as she looked at the
picture. that she could appreciate its ex-
oellence and l regretted that she had
been SO long debarred the privilege OF
cultivating her naturally artistic taste.
l resolved to help her to make up the
lost time. BE-.
Nov here is one in'which am still
more Interested" said taking up the
portrait "Who is this Ellen :"
Ellen started and then the color rush
ed to her cheeks, as sbe answered, in
low voice, 1t if my mother"
had suspected as much. The re-
semblance was striking between the Pic
tured face and little Harry. ...E.
"Is this the way that you preserve
your mothers portrait I asked. ~.
: "Aunt Jane put it away before" .
"Before l came, Ellen !" ,.3 .t'l
"Yes,n was the brief reply. l1.I.
Well, l shall take better care Of it
in future. l am not come to stand be-
tween you and your mother, Ellen. I
wish you to love and homer her memory
above all others. 1 shall try to make
you wiser and happier than ever, instead
of gloomy and sad. a.i .s 49, O.,
There was slight quiver about E!lens
firm lip, as she turned and left the room.
I began to feel encouraged. '.J 'r- .ya.
That evening I had 6re made in tho
parlor, the piano was unlocked, and
took my music from my trunks. 40 'ne
cleaning, before there was any lignt 10
The room save that of the tremuleus fre-
light / sat dowt to play. They wero
al there: Jane at crotcbet work in .
oorner and the children seated silently
about the fire., ...... ',
7 found the piano an excellent iostru-
ment and after playing a variation, which
drew sigh from the depths Of Miss Jane q
bosom, and shout Of delight from my 2,
littl, Harry, I began 10 sing II vss 6
.sJa