Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1859-09-08
S31IIRxD S1Omx.
The Fatal LETTER.
Br ESTHER BERsE

Hvss almost da'k in the little parlor OF
the cottage, which Mr. Mason aud k,. d.u,h.
ter Inhabited. Not that il was 90 y.ry near
pieht, but there we're heavy black cloud. 10
the sky, ybich threatened soon TO open and
pour down deluse Of rain The very air
was heavy and oppressive. aeG the waves
comes rolling slspg the beach, With long sui.
len roar.
Al each Of the front widow. Of the col, =.
tage psrior stood figure shrouded 10 gloom
hr Mason drummed on the window sea, IN
vague, uneasy way seemingly unDisdful Of
the coming storm and everything sbou, hiu
20 inteutly vas be wrapped 10 bis own
thoeghh His daughter stood gazing earn
estiJ out upon the ever. er.dsrkepipg sea, aud
listening TO its sullen roar IL va. the
frighfui pause Of the elements, vhen thew
seem'd gathering strength for come awful
conflict, that the Voice Of Mr. Mason "a.
heard, rendered terribly distinct to his d.ueh
TER by the unnatural calmness that broode 4
over everything except the sea.
'Milly.'
Yes, father, said Milly, With ber eyes
still fixed spon the water
Il do not know what il is said Mr.. Ma,
son, solemnly, but feel as il something
were about to happen ne-somsthine &c.
rious. IL is not often that | sm troubled
With presentimsnts ss l am to-day
'ltis only the effect Of the storm, said Milly,
without changing her position You will
be quite bright aud cheerful when IL is over.
and, fathsr. we'll lsugt At your prsssntin GU,
then"
The father leaned back against the win.
dow. and muttered TO himself: .Sbe does
not knes-bow should shs7 As if twenty
years remorse could bring cheerfulos.s A.
IL could be cheerful with this burning pain
In my heart l Am sn old man nov. and
could Ill bear the speers Of the world but
for her il 'sten times worse Oh Why did
yield 20 'emptstion! why did II" and
he ssuk back with stined Eroan Of anguish.
1t will b lossp cried Miliy. suddenly.
See, father, the small vessel lying near the
shore. They cannot kaov what danger.
Gus c, ast this is
Child, ssid ar Mssou, rising himself,
aud speaking With dsrce energy, not hear
ing or not hsedipg bis daughiyf's remark
Child, il anything should happen 10 me.
secure rs soon ., you eau the papers 10 ny
desk-they are Of great importsoce Through
them you " II learn the secret Of my life
the fatal secrei which has made my life .
burden And, MilIy, you must promise to
carry outmy last wishes, which have trans
fsrrsd to paper aud deposited ia my desk.
Child. will you promise, even though IL
should bring lifelong misery. perhsp, death
upon youl Promise tba, you will not spare
my memory, but do What justice demands
Of you
I a psOnisr. s.s hilly' sls-, .od ,sisna
answer.
And then, ss II the TEMPEST had been
waiting for that ertissl DOmsni to rsiify
the 80 enD prouIse just made, the terrible
calm vas broken, aud then ecesrred QUE OF
the most Sudden aud most terrisc storms
/ which bad ever been known sn the coast be.
fore.
Both father aud daughter closed their re.
! spective windows, but still stood ~ the for
msr positions o. u fascinated by the cub
lnity Of the scess Miily eyes we're fast.
I epsd upon the water whose To- sullen
/ uosns had changed 70 hosrse rOr lds
But IN the gstbsring darkness. n
mol Of the vsvss, tothiog could be sesa Of
J the little vessel, which tsn minutes before
bad caught Millys sttentios.
SuddsDly Der eyes we're bliojsd By .
vivid sbes, of iightoipg sod the nsIt instant
there vas heavy fall upos the soor Slow-
! ly recovering from the effects e the shock
be received. nhly's eyes wandered srouud
the foSp, vbiis . vague saI usds6ned fear
oppressed her.
/ Right spon che foor -heTs he had lailer
\ shes stfsteu by she reiss,les. sss.s.sv.r
of death. right 10 the s,ght Of bis dssxALsr.
vboss gass festeo upOs iHanim sied nas,
D l.. "A. ID A a.. a
bad gloonily fors.oId biz ouB tate Add
ssill the dsughtsf gStsd on aud 90, aad
vs,ehed tbs proceedings Of her nurse ~bo
Vsinly sought 70 restore life 10 ths msss
/ viib . sor' ef fasc,t atioa. the horror n
uhieh 90 sords sso empress BJ.sss.by
shes the nurse bed turned sssy soFFovfsiiy
FROM bsr useless tssk the dsugh,-f cane ~
solutsly nearer 10 the dead, skpse eyes bed
si"ssd % suddenly ssd mysissiassly upon
thisgs o. this usFid. Psrsvsf ssd ever bad
/ the light goss 90, Of those lovisx eyes
forever aud ever sas the palss s'iilsd ssI
ths vssfy hssr 81 rect. People bed skis-
Dersd tAn be bsd bees q hard, stsfs, s,eo
cruel man lie nigkt have bess % 10
tks vorld. but 20 bh Bofthisss child be
vas ever kisd
The Expresses q NE deed asa's f.ss
rsmisdsd Mihy q h.y sd pssaias She
ksif hseisd tbst tbs vbits Iips moved 80 Il
- f0fn she cords she hsd - .stsIy spskss
--'Prooiss that yeu r.ll bot sysse M
memory bo, 90 vbst jsstiss dsmsbds of you
BsIfss hour after hiliy vss sssssd 81 hss
fathers desk Sssdisf ever sad ever srsis,
vish hsr sAi's face ssd eospssssss 10 .
letter addressed v herself is Der father .