The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-02-08
lime" replied She dropping her eyes, while

more and more pleased with her expressive
face. HH
"Only that mamma came from there
and think" she added, hesitatingly, tha
/ did. But Mr.. G. will never let me tall
about it.
"Are you then not the little daughter o
Mr.. C.f' I asked somewhat astonished.
81 am my mothers daughter" answered
the little child, with grave dignity in on
so ycung-and minute after she arose
and quietly left the room.
/ sat watching her white robes fitting
through the long shady walk opposite my
window, and knew that the child broodet
over some dark sorrow, for her eyes were
filled with tears.
Why was it questioned myself, that
painful thoughts took possession Of me as
sat there? IL seemed as if were sojourn,
ing in an enchanted spot, and that some
horror was suddenly to break upon me.
At my eide, nearly covering beautiful
table Of letter. wood, were several costly gift
books. i took them up carefully, for l
have reverence for books--and turning to
the fly leaf of splendidly bound copy Of
Shakespeare, read
A thrill of surprise and anguish ran from
vein to vein. Ny thoughts seemed paral-
ysed. The truth had burst upon me with
such suddenncss that the blood rushed with
a shock to my heart.
/ knew Henry Z. F., had known
him intimately for years. He was friend,
towards whom all my sympathies had been
drawn, for he had seen such sorrow rs
makes the heart grow old before its time.
His wife, whom he loved, had deserted
him. She had taken with her his only
child. She had desolated a household |;
and forgetting honor, shame, every thing
that pertains to virtue and to God, had He'd
from the country with the man whose arts
had won her wanton love.
How could remain under this roof that
now seemed accurscdi How meet the de-
stroyer' of virtue-the fend who had revcl.
led in such a conquest!
/ could only think Of the evil they had
donc---not what they might suffer through
the tortures Of remorse. 1t was some time
before the seduoer came into the room
where I still sat with the child, determined
to meet him once moro before l left the
house.
Oh how guilty how heart-stricken his
appcarancel Remorse sat on his forehead
looked out from his cyes-spokc when
he was silent.
"Will you como to dinnorg" he asked.
I hesihted. Should I p,rtake of his
hospitality; the hospitality Of one Of those
fends in human shape whose steps take
hold on hell? knew his gult--why de.
lay to declare it9 Why not at once, in
burning words, upbraid him for bis villany
and flee as from a pcstilencc his sincursed
house! The man noticed my hesitation.
He could not, of course, interpret its cause.
As he repeated his request, the look Of dis
trcss upon his face excited feeling Of pity,
which, for the moment, slightly disarmed
my resentment, and, under the influence OF
this feeling, almost unconsciously passed
into the dining room.
81 am sorry little Nelly's mamma"-N
was glad he did not dare TO use the sacred
name Of wife)--"is not able to sit down
with US" he said. at is many months
since We have had her presence at our
meals. She is sufft ring from the effects Of
slow fever induced by the climate" he a..
ded, gravcly, rs he motioncd me to seat
before him.
The table glttered with silver plate.--
Obcdient servants, brought on the most
costly servers, delicacies such as J had new
or seen before.
But, the skeleton sat at the feast
could not talk, save in rnonosylables,--
Ny host ate hastily-almost carelcssly--
waiting upon me with many abrupt starts
and apologies.
Wine came. He drank freely. Soon
he sent the little girl and the servants from
the room, and seemed striving to nerve
himself to conversation.
''You are from - city, / believe" he
said nervously.
answered an affirmative.
"Did you ever know gentleman there
by the name-of-H. E. F-r
81 knew him, SIR" l said sternly, look
ing the man steadily in the face, "and /
know him also as a ruined, heart broken
man."
With an ejaculation of anguish he put
his handkerchief to his eyes. It would
have seemed hypocritical, but the suffering
on his face was unmstakable.
"Perhapc you have suspected then"-he
began in a quivering voice.
Not calmly, but with the words of an
accuser, told him what / had seen, and
thought, and felt.
"Sir," said he, in tones which I shall
never forget, 'ff l have sinned, God in
Heaven knows have suffered and il in
F's bereavment he has cursed me, that curse
is fearfully fulfilled Poor Mary is dying
has been dying for months and l have
known it. II has been for me to see the |
failing step, the dimming eye; it is for me,
now, to see the terrible struggles of her
nearly worn out frame; it is for me to lis
ten to her language Of rcmorsc, that some
times almost drives me mad. Yes, mad
-mad--madp y he said, in frenzy, rising
and crossing the floor with, long, hasty
strides. Then burying his face in his
hands, he exclaimed, "Too lat too late
have repentedp There was long pause,
and continued moro calmly, "No human
means can now restore my poor companion.