The commonwealth. (Wilmington, Del.) 1858-18??, 1859-03-12

Efheott repeated story. Her husband died,
land the fees of those who settled the es-
tate swallowed all, and the widow and her
orphan child were hurled from afflncnce to
poverty. Then followed wearisome days
An nights, when the mother piled her
Heedl' constantly. till her health failing
she could no longer toll then she remov-
ed to Der present abode, and when every
article of furniture had been sold to salts
fy the demands of hunger, she had that
evening sent her child out to beg bread.
:" 1t is not for myself that ask charity,
for l shall soon be where hunger and cold
are unknown but would that could
dnd some friend to protect my child-one
Who will shield her from temptation, and
guide hss in the path of rectitude, that
Il ST " beeame useful member Of soci-
!, .'..e,sisee, a'.. in tremulous voice.
lisftls Tsssuring her that they should 30
no olonger want for anything, placed
sum Of money in Mrs. Lees hands suffi-
cient for their immediate wants; and, re-
qscstng the woman, who had now kindled
fire, to procure dry clohing for Flora,
left thom, promising to call the next day.
II was towards evening the next day when
HartlY Weston again assembled those rick
ETY. stairs, and, hearing no answer to his
knock for ndmittance, be raised the latch
asd uttered. AL was as silent as the
grave and there, upon the mattrsss, lay
Mrs. Lee, her features rigid in death,
while the beautiful Flora was slumbering
inactently by her side, unconscious that
tbe spirit Of her mother had passed from
eSrth AT this moment, the kind-hearted
physician came in, and was not surprised
olfnl Mrs. Lee dead. He spoke of bis
visit the previous evening, saying that Mrs.
Lee had told him where her husband was
buried, and that it was her wish to be laid
there also. The sound of their voices
awakened Flora, and seeing Hartly, she
! sprapg up, exclaimipg;
a0h, mother hereis Mr.. Hartly You
said yon wanted to see him p
But no answering tone from the moth
er's lips greeted the child when she rea-
lized that she would never again hear that
loved voice, she burst into tears, and rush
ing to Harily, threw her arms around him
and sobbed convulsively. Hartly tried to
sooth her, but without avail, and he left
bet in the care of the woman be had seen
the previous night. As be was passing
out Of the house he heard Flora say 10
broken accents, as she knelt beside her
mothers corpse; als'H.s
40 mother, mother, I've n one to love
me now !"
Hartly stepped back, and laying bis
band gently upon her head, said !" Flora
W sLall SOD her clear, soul }beamipr ewes
'TRN6Ys, hnd 10 an artless tsla6 said :Ee .Ssiii
,you love me 7"
"Yes, L will always love YOU" he re-
Piled and acting from the impulse of the
moment, lie imprinted a kiss upon her pure
brow, and with a strange pulsation of the
heart be followed the physician out intt
the narrow street.
Recently, at the age Of twenty-ore
Hardy Weston had come in possession ol
large estate left him by maternal uu
ole, and it gave him pleasure to relieve ib'
needy. He had given the physician mon
ey to defray the expenses of Mrs. lees
funeral, aud she was buried in Greenwood
beside her husband. Flora had interest
ed Hartly, and he felt that it would b
wrong to leave her with the vulgar herr
where her mother died. Accordingly b
Naesulted bis mother, dwelling long upol
the surprising loveliness of Flora and he
lsrtlsssness, until Mrs. Weston consente'
to take Flora into her family and educat
g her as an adopted daughter. Mrs. Wes
pt ton ordered her carriage, and accompa
ic MED by Hartly, was driven to the home {
g Flora. The fashionable woman shuddere
IS as the carriage drew up before the ding
s. house, and she said +:
y, Charity, is it possible that you woul
r hayem adopt one who has lived in sue
del as this 7" q
"Nother, the child is uncontaminate'
Of and Iam confident that her mother ont
ly moyedin in as good society as you now do
ut said thrtly.
n " "Bd, should it ever be known this WI
a once nsf home, what will people think
ly said MIRA Weston.
p q" do hot care what they think or Sc
'r1 that ohildiis too lovely to be east upon
a cold aud haartless world, ;" said Haitly,
th be, stepped from the carriage.
It. Mrs. Weston did not alight, and Hartl
ag ASH be assembled the stairs, resolved tn
NC 1esseSt mother refuse to adopt Floi
rk you'd place her at school, regardl'
4 = .Sssi e, advice of his friends. Bnt the ro,
Ter was deserted. and from the woman W
ps, occupied the next room, be learned thai
bit richly dressed lady, in handsome c.
the riage, brought Flora from Greenwood
She the day Of her mothers burial, and !
ave quested her, should any one inquire for
ID child 10 tell them that she had a ho
+ TO with friends, where she would want
uch nothing Hartly had not thought OF
her being gone, and unwilling to reliuqu
OWN his BENEVOLENT design, he requested
low woman should she ever learn where FL
ling bad gone to inform him Immediately, 4
f,r she would be well rewarded. When N
one Weston isrned that the child could
s SO be found, she said
up ! am lot sorry; as 1 don't care
most adopt plild of such low psrentage, I
hen, bad | refuIed, you might have made 20
nges self appea foolish by taking her un
faint your pretsAion."
If youcould see the child, you wo
think diligently" flartly replied;
med from that time be never spoke Of Flor
lark bis motheror sister.
Every etart of Hartly to find wi
the Flora had lone was without avail. aud
quad ter few Neks he gave up oil hop
$ toe ever seeing her again. Early tho
o|y lowing Sprias be left New York to m
n Of the toar Of Europe, and he not only v
saul ed its every kiagdom and empire.