Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1859-10-27
0brilliuo EoOe Story.
THE RUNAWAY MATCH,
A STORY IN FIVE PARTS
lC0ntiHued-
CLARA ELLIOT.
BIZ HEsTE. HALLIwELL


We were-I. sitting Hester Haliwell, of
the Halliwell House Retreat, and the rest
iii the drawingroom Ole Sunday after
noon in tue Christmas holidays. Lucy,
who was suffering from one of her accule
headaches, was near the fire, in my dear
old mothers arm chair (now very grand,
our young ladies had worked a handsome
covering Tor it, and my eldest niece, Ma
ry Goring. was In Lucy's place at the end
ot the taOIe, cutting up oranges for the
children. Mary was eighteen now, slen-
der graceful girl; far more beautiful than
her Inflated mother had been.
There's such pretty carriage at the
gate, auntie, cried little John Goring. who
was standing at the window.
Not at our gate. l said; for we rarely
had visitors On a Sunday. Nevertheless
turned in my chair and looked out.
1t certainly was at our gate. A low,
stylish landau, with gitteriny silver orna-
ments ON the horses harness. a lady In
purple velvet and furs was in 1t, and the
footman was ringing at the gate. Up
came susan, DIR. Goring's old servant. and
handed me card. saying that the lady
wished to know if she could speak with
me.
Give it to Miss Goring l said 10 Susan,
for my glasses were not then at hand, and
my eye sight is not very Clever at small
reading just now What does i. say Ma
ry?
L,dy Elliot, answered Mary. reading
from the card.
Who is Lady Elliot? exclaimed Lucy.
What can she want with us? Some mistake,
perhaps.
Shall show her up here, ma am asked
Susan.
Yes, L suppose so. But-wilh these
cakes and oranges and glasses about--and
the children! Show her into the dining
room Susan.
followed Susan down stairs, and the
lady came in. \ pale delicate woman,
with hair quite gray. though she did lot
look much past for,y.
You have a young lady at school, a
Miss Beal, she began. sitting down, away
from the fire, and removing the sable fur
from her neck.
Oh, yss, ma'am. [ answered, dear
girl she is. She has been with us five
years But she is not here to-day; she is
spending week with some relatives at
the West-end Captain and Mrs. Beal are
In India.
The relatives she is with are friends OF
mine, returned my visitor, and have
heard So pleasing an account of your es-
tablishment, of the comforts you young la
dies enjoy. and the care bestowed on them,
that have been induced to think of pIa-
cling my daughter with you.
l am sure, ma am, We feel much obliged
to you, Sid. If you should see ft to
entrust US with the young lady. we will
do everything in Our power for her happi-
ness and welfare.
She requires peculiar care; more care
and attention than othars. But for extra
trouble should Of course expect to give
extra remuneration.
Is she not in good health?
Very good health, robust health; but
Lady Elliot suddenly stopped. and then
went on hnrriedly--the subject is natural
ly painful one TO me. and when l allude
to it am apt to become agitaled.
] looked at her in astonishment. Her
pale cheeks had turned crimson, hei breath
was laboree, and her hand, as she played
with the fur boa she held was moving
nervously. vas iu doubt what | ought
to say, SO Isat silent
The fact is, her mind is not quite right
Her inteliects--
Oh, ma am! Interrupted, speaking in
the surprise of the moment, quicker than
l ought 10 have done. do not pain yourself
by saying more. fear, if the poor young
lady is like that, it would not be possible tc
receive her here
She is not insane, answered Lady Elliot
you must not think have mistaken your
house for an asylum, but as she is silly
some days she is so rational that stran.
ger would not observe anything to be the
matter with her, will learn her lesson, and
sew. practice. for. by dint of perseverance,
we have managed to teach her little mu.
sic. Other days she will be childish and
silly; but can assure you there is no mad
ness, no insanity; ii is only weakness O
intellect? Z/.1It
How old is she?
She IS sixteeu. The medical men hav,
recently suggested that were she placed
at school with other young ladies', theil
companionship and example might tend t
brighten her intellects. My husband il