Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-09-23

sometimes became discouraged, and regretted
that since she could not conquer her, she had
not rather endeavored to manage her by art.
full flattery and pretended Affection but the
time for that had long since gone by.
Surely Mrs. Rathburn might have been sat.
is6ed Her work was apparent enough
Annie from a gladstone, warm hearted impul-
sive, generous child, had become a proud.
cold, unsocial, unsympathizing girl Of eight
tcon
There was one warm place in Annies heart
yet, however, and her little-half brother, Will
lie. had crept into it.. He was only six years
old, and had been an invalid almost from his
birth-a little, helpless cripple He was the
only one Of the children who resembled her
father in features or disposition and beaut-
ful was the affection subsisting between An
ME and this child he depending almost en-
tirely upon her for his pleasurcs-she ever
tenderly ministcring unto him 1t was the
wonder Of the family, that Of them all, Willie
cared most for cold, quiet Annie, and was
ever happy when she was with him. But it
was only when alone with him that Annie
manifested the least tenderness but then
ah well might he persist in saying, che kHeo
sister Annie loved him."
Lilly, the youngest child, was four years
old. Eva just bursting into womanhood, and
Edith Hartley a few months older than An
ME.
Both Edith and Eva were radiantly beaut-
full, strongly resembling their mother in foa-
ture as well as in mind The former was
vain, selfish, and unfeeling but she seemed
so apparently amiable and artless. and was so
brilliant. and could render herself so agree
able, it was difficult at first to read her true
character Eva was less artful and was kind
and pleasant enough when her wishes were
not thwarted. but ll-tempered and unreason-
able otherwise. 1t may well be believed,
that with their mothers example and train
ing. they did not assist in making Annie's
home pleasanter to her.
Annie's position was scarcely altered by her
fathers death. three years before our story
opens lie was an easy. unsuspicious man,
and his wife had long swayed him completely
by her superior art aud stronger will He
trusted her completely; and before his DEATH
made no separate provision for his children /;
but, by his will, both they and his considera-
bic property, were left to her sole guardian
ship.
Now as before, Annie was treated as one
apart from the family. In the frequent iami-
ly consultations. she was never consulted -
All their arrangements were made without
the slightest reference to her wishes OF con-
venience. She was in every way made to
feel her isolation. Now, as before, there was
a silent contest going on between her step
mother and herself-she struggling bravely
though quietly for her rights the former, to
withhold them. The contest was unequal !;
but, if Annie was sometimes apparently sub
dued. she was never conquered.
There was an additional reason why Annie
was unwilling % return home this particular
day She expected to find there Mrs Loo
throp, an old and valued friend Of her faith
er's, who had written three weeks before,
that she was coming to make them a long vis-
it and that on her return, she would invite
one Of the young ladies to make an indefinite
ly long visit
The widest hopes had been raised in Mrs
Rathburn's bosom by the reception of this
letter. for Mrs. Lothrop was possessed of an
enormous fortune, without single relative in
the world-savc great-nephew, who was all
so heir to a large property, much as any
reasonable man need wish to have. Her
grandson and destined heir had died three
years before. What so probable, then, as
that she was about to choose an heress to
her wealth, and had thoughts it was prop
cr she should think - OF the children of her
most valued friend She certainly must have
some particular object in proposing this visit
at this time, when she had never visited them
before, though often urged to do so. Mrs.
Rathburn had never seen her
Thus Mrs Rathburn reasoned; and she de-
termned that either Edith or Eva should be
the future heiress.
Great were the preparations made for the
expected guests-for Mrs. Lothrops nephew,
Mr.. Kirkwood, was to accompany her, and
many the hints given to Edith and Eva con-
cerning their bearing to both-for Mrs. Rath-
burn had her designs on both aunt aud ne
phew,
From childhood Annie had heard of Mrs /.
Lothrop. She had been charmed with the
various stories told of her great-heartedness
and eccentricty, and cherished the most ex
allied opinion of her character; but much as /
she would have liked to see and know her un- I
der other circumstances, the knowledge of her
stop-mother's designs made her apprehond
that tie visit would be productive of too much /
and modification to herself. in
her step-mother's fear that she might find fa
vor in the eyes Of her fathers friend, to de- .
sire it.
Slowly, therefore, she assembled the steps
The trunks yet in the hall, the unusual bus
tie that prevailed, and confused murmuring of
voices, admonished her that the expected .
guests had arrived.
When she entered the parlor a short time
after, Mrs. Rathburn said This is Annie"
in a tone that told her at once that she had
been the subject Of previous conversation
and she knew full well that whatever her step
mother might have had to say about herself
could not have been to her advantage.
The rare smile seldom seen on Annie's face,
which had lighted it at the anticipation of see
ins her fathers friend, faded away at this
somethtpg in her mothers tone but still, with
more eordiality than she was wont to show,
she advanced to the lady. What was her as
constituent when she perceived her to be the
who had accosted her in the street.
With start, and a bright smile of recogni-
ton, she held out her hand. With mortif-
cation she saw that the lady either did not or
would not recognize her Her hand was just
touched, not taken, and brief enquiry made
after her health in a business-like tone, to
which Annie, instantly relapsing into even
more than her usual iciness of manner, repli-
cd laconically, almost haughtily. Her step
mothers glance sought Mrs. Lothrop with an
expression which said "You see it is as
ia ,rn,, ~