The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-09-08
Twu Splendid Sturie5.
EMMA STANL.Y !;
THE DISCARDED DAUGHTER.
ny FLORA AUSTIN.
CHAPTER |.

"Emma, will you still persist in en-
couraging the visits Of Gerald Mont
come, when tell you that from child
hood, you have been betrothed to
Ralph Edgeton."
"Father, do not speak so harshly to
your only child. do not love Mr.
Edgeton, and will never marry a
man for whom | entertain no other
sentiment, than respect, and esteem.
Besides, he loves another, but by his
fathers cruel will, he is held in the
same bondage that am. Betrothed
in childhood, by our parents, who
knew not whether we were fitted for
each other, oh, father it is unnatural.
Do have pity upon me, and retract
your determination
And as she concluded her adjura-
ton, Emma Stanly raised her hands
supplicatingly to the stern.looking
man, who stood before her.
For one moment he paused. and it
was evident he wavered, as he con.
templated his beautiful child, the sole
pledge of his buried wi(e's affection.
But again his brow cloudcd, and his
eve hardened, as he exclaimed, ,"Never!
never! 1t has been my cherished
plan for years, and now | will not see
all my hopes dashed to the ground ty
schoolgirls whim. Marry Ralph
Edgcton, or discard you forever =
But you asserted that. he loved anoth-
er-how do you know it,
Father, | have seen it in the glanccs
he bestowed upon the object OF his at
rcction. Her name must remain sa-
| cred, as he knows not, have discov'
cred his secret but think you, | would
be so mean as to dash his and my own
hopes forever? No cannot do it
If you will it, much as it will grievr
my heart though it will wiring tears
of agony from me. and though | toll
night and day for my bread, | will go
will leave you forever, rather than
marry one do not love, and who
looks upon me, as a barrier placed
upon his happiness
But it must not be do not discard
me, for my dead mather's sake, con.
iurc YOU. Twill see Gerald Mont
come no more, but cannot wed Ralph
Edgeton y
"Thcn, ungrateful child! unworthy
of a fathers protection ! hear me
curse you forever May Heavens
blight
Hold p burst forth from the ashen
ips of the girl, while her eye was
fixed with proud determination upon
her parent, and her hand was raised
with the majesty of a Pythcness.
"Dare not profane the sacred dwell
ing place, of my sainted mother, who
methinks even now, looks down with
pity upon her child. Let not a curse
breathe from your lips. 90, forcv,
err And she turned and left the
room with a firm, unyielding step.
"My curse 60 with you!" shouted
the exasperated man, as his noble
child quilted his presence. disown
you forever" !" And he paced the
room in paroxysm Of rage. Rage
against the devoted girl, who had re.
fused to make another unhappy, who
had refused to make herself misera-
BILE for life. The self.willcd man was
blind to all reason. A curse some
times reverts upon the head of him
who utters it.
When Emma left her fathers pres.
ence. she retired to her own room.-
Tears unbidden, would start to her
eyes tears that she was not ashamed
of, for she was to leave the home ol
her childhood, where her mother had
died. and to each familiar thing
clung fond remembrances of olden
times. To these she was TO bid fare
well Estranged from home and ior
what7
| She could not bear to dwell upon