The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-22


| cannot tell you, and above all things, as you
value your own peace of mind, do not mention
| the subject to your father. He is proud, and
he has met terrible shock. Let us be salts
fed that he is suffering from the assaults of Bit
ter enemies and false friends, and let us try to
console him, and restore his cheerfulness. You
do not know how great he can be, how capa-
BILE of loving and rewarding by that love, pro-
vided he is reused out of his present-illness /
fear for his health, even for his mind, children,
and l am SO much afraid some unguarded word
OF yours will aggrayate his malady. You must
be exceedingly careful, Rupert-you must make
no illusions to business, nor to our country, e.
pecially to New York. Be always cheerful In
his presence, and if anything, rather avoid him
| than seem to intrude upon him. am 6nr6
that time will cure him, as it cures all other
hurts"
Do you mean that papa's mind is threaten.
ed?" asked Helen, with tender solicitude, and
sort of shudder, while Rupert, with bent brow,
paced up and down the room.
=" No. not exactly that, daughter" said Mrs.
Beale, hastily; but his anxieties have been
so terrible that have more than once feared it
would be the case -
81 know what is the matter" said Rupert,
pausing;" it is something connected with that
forger, Beale Lloyd-is it not, mother-is not
that man a relation of papa's?"
Mrs. Beale, white as ghost, swallowed and
gasped with emotion; then, stretching out i'm
| ploring hands towards her son, as soon as she
could find utterance, she said "Oh, Rupert,
| my son, never, never mention that name any
more, for Gods sake! If you value my peace
of mind, if you do not wish to drive your father
mad, cease to remember even that name, much
less to permit it ever to pass your lips again
1t is banished, a forgotten thing for the sake
OF all that is dear to US in common, never re-.
vive it, never, never, never mention it ["
Rupert looked at her moment, and resum-
ing his walk, murmured: Straugel" but not
In 80 low tone as to escape her ears. She
rose, and, stepping to his side, put her arm pas
sionately about his waist: "Strange, Rupert /
Why yes, everything is strange in this world,
my son. 1t is strange how the grass grows
how the sun shines, how the flowers blossom,
how the fruits ripen. But is it so very strange
my darling son, that your father and I, who
have seen nothing but trouble and sorrow in
the past, are willing and anxious to forget that
past, and Danish it forever from our memories
as an unsightly and painful vision Is it
strange that, coming to this place, and gather
ing our dear and good children to us, we wish
to make anew the experiment of life, and, in
order to do so, endeavor to obliterate from our
memories the fact that cloud ever lowered over
US? 1t is not strange; it is rational, well-con-
ceived, happy"
any dear children" resumed she, after a
pause, :" cannot tell you how happy am in
you, how proud am of you. dared not even
hope for such fond realization of my dreams
as you furnish me. You, Helen, lovely, sweet
tempered, accomplished you, Rupert, noble,
high-minded, brave-what may you not be-
come Surely, we must be happy little while
oh f.aI,
| about to overcome her, and, in accordance with
her custom of selfrestraint, she changed the
| subject, and asked Helen to give her an &C.
| count of their journey from Brussels.
| But, ere the narrative was fairly begun, the
! door again opened, and Mr.. Beale entered the
| room. Helep's quick eye noticed her mothers
| change Of color. But the wife need not HSe
been alarmed, for the banker had made des.
peratexeffort, and for the nonce had banshsd
his "mood." He had wonderful degree sof
selfcontrol, had Beale Lloyd and he felt that
he had not treated his children right, and owed
them some reparation. George had been with
him, he was cean-shaved and his toilette was
made with scrupulous nicely. As he entered,
he glanced around, and said
Il have taken the liberty of coming to see
how my daughter is fixed. Ny business so alb
serbs me that l have had to leave all the ar
engagements to George. l. faith, Helen, l did
not think the scamp had so much good taste.
Well, Rupert, son." added he, extending his
hand to the young man, aud giving him a hearty
grasp, you ought to give me cause for pride.
Wife, was l as good looking as Rupert when /
was at his age?"
Poor Mrs. Beale, she only thought what an
effort these words and this cheerfulness must
cost him.
And Helen, too-why, all the youngsters of
Genoa will be running here, sending bouquets,
and serenading us. Don't blush, child. And
give me the kiss / neglected to take this morn
ing" Helen slung to him for a moment in o
fond embrace, and the tears came into her eyes
as she felt him draw her to him with con-
vulsve movement of the arm. Then he gently
freed himself and, in less lively tone of
voice, said:
| "You will find many things to put up with
in your father, children, but am sure you will
excuse me-my business has been-has-ha.
raised me beyond measure, and at times can
| think OF nothing else-but you must take me as
| you find me and row, Helen, you find me in
| humor for musc-and disposed for a critical
estimate of your skill. The harp? Mol am
not judge-try the piano. And give us 3
| piece Of Memberships they should teach him
accurately in Bruxelles."
Helen went to the piano joyfully, and with
light and skillful hand performed that ex-
| quisite " Marriage March in the " Midsum-
mer Nights Dream" The music merited and
received the applause of Mr.. Beale, who com.
plimented his daughter highly upon the skill of
her touch, and her evident feeling of the senti.
ment of the piece. A brief conversation ensued,
In which the banker seemed to exert all his
powers of being agreeable; and then he rose to
| depart. must to my work AGAR" said he, with
a weary air, pressing his hand across his brow,
Sand need not tell you all to enjoy yourselves
as much as you can, without concern As to my
occupations or abstraction. For while, you
will not see much of me-perhaps the day is
not very distant when may be able to enter
more thoroughly into your amusements. There
is much to be seen in Genoa, and You need not
restrain yourselves. Money and time are at
your command, freely. If, after while, you
wish to visit other parts of the country, Rome,
Florence, Naples, you have only to let me know.
/ will only restrain you in two points. My bust
ness here, and the peculiarities of my situation,
compel me to preserve my incognito, especial.
| ly from our own countrymen. Hence, wish
you, if you can, to appear as natives of some
| other country-either France, or England
| and to answer as few questions as may be.
Also, wish you to have few or no acquaint-
ance. You, Rupert, can of course make asso-
ciates at the cafes and hotels-but invite no
| one here-particularly no women, for they pill
gossip, no matter who they are" So saying,
he left the room, and mother and children
gradually suffered their talk to run along into
| those delightful wales of confidence and love
which follow reunion after long separation.
TX.
DAlberyo di Buona Fede.
In the city Genoa, the taverns and cafes are
French or German, and one finds there SO many
mementoes of the Palais Royale and the Boale-
cardes, that, but for the fruits and the ices, he