The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-29

more, OF late years she had seen him SO seldom,
and at such irregular intervals, that she had lost
the habit of studying or taking note of his
moods. He stood apart from her--she, lorn
and crushed woman he, q great and mighty
man of the world, whose concerns and interests
transcribed her comprehension. What did she
know about speculation-about business Per-
haps this frown upon his brow, this languid
step, this weary, distraught manner, instead Of
being the result of mental agony, may actually
be the consequence of the preoccupation of en-
crossing affairs, and so her expressions of SYM
patty and attempts at alienation may prove
really an impeachment and an annoyance. Feel
ing thus upon the subject, as undoubtedly Mrs.
Beale did, it was impossible that Helen could
find anything like an intelligent coadjutor in
her PROSTATE and heart weary mother.
On the other hand, Rupert's very impetuosity
and the lack of prudential restraint, which char
acterized him, made the young lady fear to call
upon her brother. Fiery, proud, impatient,
Rupert was already beginning to make himself
unhappy with the contemplation of what he con-
sdered his wrongs" He was of age, man,
and yet his father took no notice of him, gave
him nothing to do, admitted him to none of the
secrets of his family and business, and treated
him, in every respect, as if he were the merest
child, yet needing to steady his unequal steps
by clinging to the nurses skirts Was it right,
was it just could he be expected to bestow
his respect and love where he was thus neglect
ed and despised? So Rupert Stunned the
palace with great assiduity, and confined his
exertions to visiting aboard an English man of
war in the harbor, and to playing billiards in
the saloon of the Cafe Greco, where he speedi-
ly acquired considerable fondness for Ponch
q PAmericaine and other fiery preparations of
French brandy and Jamaica rum, to which
L., a.,
and appropriate names.
Thus reduced to her own unassisted efforts,
Helen confessed to herself with strong feel
ing of detection, that her task was most diff
cult one. Yet, more urgent than these difficult
ties, by far, was the necessity to do something
for her father, whose condition, she could see,
was becoming every day more and more de-
plorable, without her being able either to con-
ceive the cause, or to invent remedy. The
transient CLEAN of cheerfulness which had sur
prised and delighted her ON the day after her ar.
rival had only died away to be succeeded by a
gloom thrice as dark. He would keep himself
hid from their eyes for days together, and, when
he did join the family circle, at meals or
other times, haggard, unshorn, morose, silent,
there was a wildness in his eye, and tremor
| about his lip, and pleating of his brow, which
shocked her far more than his continued alb
| from her fears the inevitable tendency of this
state of things towards madness. And she was
haunted by continual dread lest even now
| there were times when he lost his mind-at-
tacks of delirium, which he was as yet able to
conceal from the observation of the family.
Could this be the dreadful secret which OPP
pressed his life and robbed her poor mother of
all spirit and energy? And, for moment,
her excited Imagination reverted to that horri-
BILE picture of Rochester's mad wife in the novel
OF" Jane Eyre" until she fairly shuddered at
the dreadful associations it called up.
| Helen's mind was in this state, harassed by
shadowy doubts, haunted by dreadful suspi
cions, and a prey to gloomy fears, when she re-
ceived visit from George, whose kindly So
,lcitude for his marster's" well-being was at
once so untiring and so intelligent, that it made
him the masterspirit of the scene. Miss Beale
was in her parlor at the time of his visit, and
gave him kindly welcome, having a sort of
prescience that he was to be- in some sort, the
| guide and governor of her actions. George
seated himself and, twisting his cap in his
hands, looked at her for moment, almost sad.
| ly. Then he drew strong breath, and spoke.
TO BE CONTINUED.