The true Democrat., 1857-03-03
J A N E DIxO N.
CHAP ER l

l lie long dark tram swept down the avenue through the lne of trees. There was he hearse To mourning couch: it would have been superiiuouS to employ them, iOi the church stood within sight Ut the avenue gates The doctors, the clergymen, the bearers with their heavy burden the mourners and the followers all were on foot, and the dreary autumn wind, wh.stllng through the trees, scattered the fall ing leaves over them Tn showers. Ihat burden! stood at one oi the u'per windows, convul,ed with grief, to 1t was all that remained of my revered and darling mother. 1 was young to be left in he world without her, for my fifteenth birthday had just come round.
 They were back so soou-as it seemed to me. The visitors remained down stairs, but my father came in search of me- He sat down on the sofa, and drew me to him: his eyes were red and swollen, and his face was pale. "Jane." he whispered, drawing me to his breast, |" "henceiorth we must be all to each other''
 It was in my mothers dressing room, where 1 had wandered to watch that departing train. As my head rested where he had placed it. my eyes fell on pair of fur slippers, which she had used to slip on when her feet were cold, and which must have been overlooked when Charlotte put away her things after all was over. These familiar objects of every day life brought our loss more iorcbly nome to me, and cried out in my desoat!on-" Oh, papa! if could but have died with her. !"
 Hush. hush, my child. Foryou time will arise with healing on its wiug''
 How long we sat there, and how hopelesSly ewept, cannot tell That day appears, even now, 50 iull oi misery, that l care not to recall 1t. Ay, and for many, many days after that, 1 know that we both shed bitter tears apart, il not together.
 We must have some one to supply-in a measure-her place to you" my father said to me, when few weeks had gone by. " l cIn- not part with you for school-"
 "Sc ool '" Interrupted. "Oh, papa! why cam ot the masters continue 10 come to me as usua?"
 "I do no speak particularly of your studies, Jane; but you must have d companion here one to train and guide you. Il could but find judicious governssS-"
 "Oh, Iara," l again pleaded, n excitement, "not a governe,s Anything but that.'
 Be calm, ane, ahd reasonable. tell you, more companion than governess. It |, not well for you tu live on here alone. The neigh bors, hear, are already casting reproacheS to me that am careless of your interests Your mother would counsel it; let that reconcile you to it,
 Living at the other end of Taversham, more than mile away, for our village was long and struggling. were some relatives of my dear mamma's- her aunt. old Mrs. Rupert, and two daughters never liked them; even as child knew they were selfish aud insi' cere. They were of good family, always boasting of their connection with the kuperts at the Hall. There was qutea colony of Ruperts in and about Te- rersham; all very proud, and very poor, save the family at the tiall-they were rich enough When Jane Wall married my father they said she had lowered herself. because she was con- nected with the RupertS, and he, and his la. ther before him, had made his money in bu. sineSs.
 We went to call upon old Mrs. Rupert, and told her it was decided that should have 8 governess. She spoke much against il, and Beisey and Louisa abused governesses to my hearts content They assured my father there was not a governess ih the three kingdoms but would snap him up and marry him, if she go' the chance; and il was decided, on the spur o that unlucky moment, that Louisa Rupert should take up her residence with us. and De to me in the light of mother. 1 did not like the proposal in the abstract, but it was more pa latable than that of the governess and urged it. Not that she needed urging
 She came to the house the next week, with all her luggage She must have been ther about eight-and thirty, a little younger than my dear mamma She began by being indulgen aud deferent to me-alwavs talking of me, al ways prasing me up to papa more than liked