The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-02-19
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WESTERLY r l., THURSDAY. FEB UARY 49, 1857.

I coffin, and all my love and hope were
long turied with him. Not that | be-
came >ad AMI misantllropc. No /; life
and duty were not dead and, looking
forward, saw that there was yet much
for me to do, perhaps suffer; SO plan
ted swcetbrier and riolets on Harry $
grave, and then went out to act and
strive With the rest Of the striving world.
About year after my brothers S death
| met Arthur Fleming. | had been so
shut out from the world by Harry's
sickness that had no lovers, and very
few friends, aud l hardly believed
could ever again fee an interest in any
one but Arthur Flemipg's kind, gen.
ial manner and delicate attentions warm
ed my heart to new life. Unconscious
ly, my whole heart, all the more ardent
for its long stiffness, was given to this
new friend 1t was with bitter disap-
pointment that ] learned he had already
been once married, for could not bear
the thought of.a rivol, living or dead
yet | loved him; and when he ask,d me
to become a mother to biz motherlcss
children, | accepted his hand, feeling
sure that would win from him in time
an affection as deep aud steadfost as my
own. His house was lonely, his chill
dren pool Iy protected, aud he needed a
wife. 4 bad been recommended to him
as one who would keep his house in Or
der, and be a suitable companion for his
ch ldrcn; after brief acquaintance be
had proposed in due form.
" Almost home ~ exclaimed Captain
Fleming, ruusing himself TO look out Of
the carriage window. The word sent Il
thrill through me, and look d eagerly
out, through The twilight shadows, to
the house we we,e approaching. 1t was
large, aud looked at II distance from the
village street, and it seemed to me in IA
rather desolatc situation Great trees
swing their branches over the gateway
and as we rode between them, the wIud
made Il sighug sound among the leaves.
But the nghtcd lower windows shone
checitully III the dalkuGss, seeming 10y
their brightness to welcome me to my
new home. rr.. .r .. III. "
Jane Fleming, my husbands sister,
who had been bis housckeeprr since his
wlte'S death, came to the docs to meet
us. The moment her cold fingers touch
I'd mine | knew there would be no sym
pahy between US; and when we had
entered the lighted paIlor, aud | had
SCI utlulz,d her face, | was sure Of it
Without word she stood beside me,
while took off my bonnet aud gloves
she carried them away, then as silently
walked into the room again, leading the
tLrce children. l ieel now the chill of
her pi escuce upon me.
TIE three ran into their fathers arms
and embraced him affectionately, and
as he carrcsstd them in return, | per.
ceived that there was fountain Of
warmth in his heart which, could
reach it, would be enough to shield me
from cold and darkness Tor ever. This
show of passionate toudness Giade me
glad, and going to his side, l tried to
win the notice OF the children to my,
self. ,.
"It is your new mother" said be-
'' She has come to take care Of you when
| am gone to sea again. Ellen and May
90 to your mother " '' '' u'..
May, pretty, blue eyed child often,
came silly towards me, and kissed my
cheek, but Ellen the eldest, merely gave
me her hand, Ellen seemed tt have
lmbibsd something Of her auut's icy
manner, for she sat aloof and watched
me coldly. The little boy now lifted
his head from bis fathers shoulded, and
seeing that May stood by me unharmed,
to approach mo- .v.y..-L.,l
."Coue to me Harry |" said Miss
Fleming, with frown.
Was his name Harry J l caught
him to my arms and held him closely,
so that he could not escape to bis jeal-
Gus aunt aud thought in my secret
heart, that would make him like the
Harry l bad lost. lit t.
1n an instant the feeling that I was q
stranger had vanished, my heart bad
vanished, my bearrt had warmed SO to-