Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-01-22

the memory of that gentle mother who little
dreamed OF such life as this for the child on
whom her looks rested with equal love and
pride. Would that her care and tenderness
had been less Would that had died then !
Alas mothers know not when they soothe
Their infants TO rest and still their murmurs
with murmurS OF love, how often they are pre-
serving them for trial. for guilt, for unspeaka-
BILE misery
l was an only child. / have little TO say of
my earlier life /; its history would he merely an
account OF affection and care lavshed bv fond
parents on an idolized son, the one hope of their
proud family, the bearer of their ancient name.
These years may pass over.
Unclouded sunshine streamed in nv path
until my mother died | mourned her as sons
do sometimes mourn that utterly rreparable
loss. Darkness fell upon my home the day
she died. My father never held up his head
again and on the day that became of age
day often fondly and proudly anticipated by
those who never lived to see it was an or
phan.
| do not mean to offer it as the slightest ex-
tenuatloh of my crime that | was left alone.
ungnided, master of a princeIy fortune and free
TO make what use of it | pleased and it is a
EO>IbioH VI tTlal anu temptation.
believe | passed well through the ordinary
trials OF such lot Dissipation had no charms
for me and whilst | associated with many
whose tastes and pursuits were too often of a
class to be condemned and Stunned. can still
look back on that period of my life without
Self-reprOach.
Amongst my many acquaintances had one
friend-cne true friend. We had been at school
and college together we had travelled togeth-
er, and the tie between us seemed drawn more
closely by the fact that he also stood alone in
the world. He had lost both his parents iu
his childhood
About three years after MY fathers death,
Henry Mortimer was again going to travel
Tie wished ME TO join hun, but | declined -
Home seemed 10 have claims upon INV time at
the moment, and | resolved to devote myself
TO the Improvement Of my estate aud the vel
fare Of my tenantry
One year elapsed and Henry Mortimer wrote
10 tell me he was married that he had mar
rlcd al Italian. and intended returning home
immediately. HIS estate was situated in dis
tant county, and he asked me 10 90 there TO
overlook the necessary preparations for the re-
ception of his wife and himself at home, aud
10 meet them there on their return
l gladly repaired 70 Castle Mortimer at his
request carefully followed his many direc-
tionS with regard to beautfying the house for
his young brides reception. pleased myself
by deviSlng various arrangements in the gar
deus aud grounds calculated TO please her eve
aud taste superintendent the re-furnshing
of her private suite of apartments, which Nor
timer had desired should be done in the most
4 ~ >;,.l;,
his service during the short period that was to
elapSe before his return, and | have remem-
bered since that time with some little sur
prise bow exclusively my mind was filled with
thoughts of him and his wishes, and how few
thoughts even of natural curiosity travelled
towards the companion he was bringing with
him.
1t was on glorious simmer evening that
they returned Mortimer had particularly de-
sired that there should be no demonstration on
her arrival from his tenautry, aud | awaited
their coming alone.
Whist | am writing these words, the tenn
pest Is still roaring round nv dwelling-the
waves are still furiously dasing against the
rockS-the same Voice is borne bv every blast
TO my ear-the same strife is raging still in nav
bosom, and yet | can bow down ms head, and
closing my eyes can lose for I moment the
senSe OF al! present thingS-,he warfare of the
world wtaou.-the torture of the world with
in aud | can stand as stood that night and
feel rs | felt that night, when my glance first
rested on Carlotta Mortimer. | can see still
the sunny SH!ile with which She greeted me as
her husbands chosen friend | can hear still
her Joyous eXciamat:uus - she gazei for the
first time Oa the beauties of her English home
! eau see >t.l the cl'ld-like delight with which
sac passed from dover 10 dover whilst She ex-
claimed Mlth Indignation against the false tra-
veeTS WHO had spoken of cold England. whose
cherries breath could never tcapt forth the
fragrance OF flower | can see the gIau,
with which she turIed 10 her fond husband as
he bade her welcome 10 her home and | eau
hear still the words with which he told me that
until also found hfe-companion must make
Castle Mortimer my home, aud thus complete
his happiness.
The Influences of that evening are on me
now The red sunset is streaming on the old
trees of the park the breath of summer is
whispering among the leaves the stiffness
aud beauty of the house rest on everything.
lluger for one momentum that repoSe 1t S
the closing hour of that portion of my life
which will bear dwelling upon. From that
scene in nv memory l turn back to the real
scene of the present hour. From that peace
and innocence 10 the guilt and woe which so
soon followed
did make Castle Mortimer my home. Nor
timer was much occupied at first with business
matters. and staid at his earnest request 10
prevent Cariotta wearyiug Of the solitude in
strange country TO which she would otherwise
have been consigned.
do not intend TO dwell upon these months.
do not Intend here TO detail the steps which
insenSibly led to frighiful crime / could not
DO so if | would. know not now how the pur-
est soul that ever was breathed upon by Hea-
ven became canabie of admitting evil. She