Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-02-17
CHAPTER |.

CHAPTER |.
IALwAYs hated Marion Iilsley. Itmight
have been because she was beautiful, and
s,et, | hardly think so. As child | was
neither mean nor envious. | was twelve
'years old when | saw her first. Ny moth
S,r died long before | was old enough to
remember her | lived alone with my
iather and his retinue of servants, in a
arge, rambling, irregular house, at the
West end of London. 1t had belonged to
he Hutchinson family for many generations,
nd there was legend that good Queen
less hal at one time honored it by her
presence, and passed night in that very
Dom, which [ called my own. It was
,ither that nv father brought Marion Ills
ey, one Sunday in early June. Since my
mothers death we had seen no company.
Agloom had settled upon my fathers mind,
which no persuasions of his friends could
induce him even to endeavor to shake off.
never remembered to have been outside
IF Hntchinson-house, and the park-like in
Iosure which surrounded it. From one
ide Of the house | could see public park,
It that time a favorite resort for the nurses
II aristocratic families, with their young
.harges. had spent hour after hour Of
lusy idleness, in watching these young
masters and misses from the window, and
peculating upon their characters and oc-
3upations. One day my father entered
slle room while was thus engaged.
Well, Isa," he said pleasantly, what
do you find in this prospect so amusing p
made no answer, for my mind was bu
sy with an idea which had Just occurred
to me for the first time.
Papa" | said at length, sam I Z
child ?"
"a child What question! Wei
yes, Isa, suppose you would be called SC
though there's nothing very chill-like abou
you, certainly"
:. Well, papa, want You should brin,
me child, real child. | want to Sc
her and talk to her. VIII you promise
papa!"
He smiled. Yes will promise.
| ought to have thought of this before. Yo
have never in your life spoken to any on
of your own age. You must have CON
! panon.
The next morning he led Marion Illsle
into my presence. General lllsley was on
Of his earliest friends, and had been easil
prevailed upon to consent that his daugl
! ter and her maid should spend fortnigl
at Neutrality-suspicious.. Thought when 81
entered, chnging to my fathers hand, tn;
], she was the most graceful vision my ev,
j had ever beheld. There were portraits
i the Hutchinson picture gallery of wome
4 magnificent in yelyets and diamonds
J, sweet young girls in the first blush al
). bloom Of their loveliness, but nothing hs
: so fair as thisvision ofthe morning, foodir
the old rambling house with its sunshin
She had light graceful figure; tiny, ;
J most fairy-like feet and hands; profnsit
4 of golden ringlets; clear red and whi
e complexion; delicate and regular featur,
: and eyes so brightly, deeply blue, they ma
II YOU think Of no hing but the untroubl
Q sky of the far-off heaven. But aside fro
: its exquisite grace, and the perfection
her personal loyeliness, there was to /
o nothing charming about her. Her vol
w StS low anu SUI, Oub OhCiC was SDiilStlli
y hollow and insincere in its intonatio
= Her manners, it seemed to me, child as
d was, were unnatural and affected. S
Is glanced with kind of polite surprise
: the quaint, oaken carvings, and moth7eat
E. tapestry of my fayorite apartment. ]
lei father saw her look, and answered it.
N This is Isa's den,' he said. pleasant
e. "She has strange fancy for the old roc
in because Queen Elizabeth is reputed OF
r to have passed a night here. Isa, 10
N cannot you came forward anil give y,
l. new friend welcome. This is Miss Mar
s Illsley."
G. / advanced to meet her. She langui
on extended her hand, and remarked,
ds q am very happy to see You, 4
re Hutchinson. Your father was SO gooc
to insist upon my coming. but mamma
les it was quite contrary to etiquette for m,