St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-02-12


: feeling of restraint crept over eac
member of the family, which was S
strong as to keep all silent an
thoughtful.
! CHAPTER II.
Mason Grant was merchant e1
gagged in an extensive business wit
the South and West. He lived in yer
handsome style, and was thought t
be possessed of considerable wealth
Of his character as a man, little nee
be said. 1t will be enough to remark
that he had his share of selfshness
and that just in the degree that tli
prevailed, was he disregardful of al
who could not, in some way or other
minister to the qualification of his rul
ing ends in life. His wife was low
er of the world-fond of effect, ant
desirous to be thought parsonage o1
consideration. She was, besides this
more deeply selfish than her husband
SO selfish, that even her love of fash
iOnablc cclat was often overshadowcd
by it.
They had two daughters. In the
preceding chapter, the family of Mr.
Grant was briefly introduced. The
old man, in whom the reader has doubt
less felt more interest than in any Of
the rest, is brother of Mrs. Grant
named Joseph Markland.
Mr.. Markland married at a very ear
ly age, one of the most beautiful ac
complished, and lovely women in Phil
adelphia. She died in three months
He never married again. At that
time his sister, or rather halfsister,
now Mrs. Grant, was but child. A
twin-stster named Anna, had married
few years previous, contrary to the
wishes of her friends, young man OF
excellent character, but moving in a
circle below that of her family. In
censed at her conduct, her father and
step-mother, and even her brother.
treated her with harshness and neg
lect-and absolutely refused to notice
her husband in any way. A high-spir-
tied woman, she could not brook this.
Deeply attached to the man she had
married, and justly SO, she resented as
an indiGnity the contempt manifested
for him, and cut herself off from all in
tercourse with her family. She lived
with her husband in Philadelphia some
time, when they removed to the West
For years her family made no inqui
ries after her when they did so, all
efforts to find her proved fruitless. 1t
was ascertaincd that she had gone to
Cincinnati. But that was all that
could be learned. After the lapse OF
ten or fifteen years, it was generally
conceded that she was not living. At
the death of her father his will direct
ed the investment Of fifty thousand
dollars for the benefit of her children,
should it be found that any were liv-
ing. At the expiration of certain
period, should no issue be discovered,
the property was to pass over to the
children of Mary, his second, and only
remaining daughter One of the eX-
ecutors under this will was his son Jo-
seph, and the other, Mr.. Grant, the
husband Of Mary.
Through the influence of Grant,
whose interest, or, at least those of
his two daughters, were too deeply in
vOlved in the peculiar provisions of
his father-in-law's will, no advertise
ment for the children of Anna had been
made, although old Mr. Markland had
been dead for number of years. The
management of the estate had been
left pretty much in the hands of Mr..
Grant, by Joseph Markland, the cock
ecutor, whose advancedage made him
willing to be freed as much as possi-
bic from the cares of business. His
own fortune, accumulated by trade,
was very large. 1t is true, that he
had frequently urged upon his broth
er-in-law, the propriety of advertising
for the children of Anna, and the lat
ter had as often promised that he
would do so forthwith. But still the
public notice had not yet appeared
After tea, Mr. Grant, his wife, and
Mr.. Markland were alone, the girls
having something to employ them in
their own rooms. But few words
passed between them, for none SEEM
ed inclined to talk. Mrs. Grant, es-
pecially, was very thoughtful. Some
thing seemed to press upon and dis
turb her mind. Her brother was like
wise i'll an absent mood. Both sat
musing, with their eyes upon the floor,
while Mr.. Grant occupied himself with
book. This had continued for near
ly an hour, during which time not a
word had been spoken. AT the end of
this period, Mr. Markland said, look
ing towards his brother-in-law,
II believe, Mason, there has been
no advertisement yet made for Annals
children" #...a.. ..
Mrs. Grant started at this, while the
blood rose quickly to her face. She
turned herself partly away from the
light to conceal the effect of her broth
er's unexpected remark. .3I t-..
"No, that is true. l have neglect
ed to attend to it. But it shall be
done," replied Mr.. Grant. Ha
so you have been saying for the
last fourteen years, and only year
remains for their discovery, should my
sister have left any children. l am to
| blame for not having seen to this my