The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-02-16

prodigality quite undreamed of by the in
habitants of a colder cline, nature had
showered her most exquisite floral gifts
everywhere. Trees loaded with sweet
smelling flowers, their intense colors vie.
ing with the foliage of richer green, from
out of which they smiled tall cactus
plants, with crimson, goblet.shaped bios.
SONS; lilies, gorgeous in the quecnly
unfolding Of form and color everything
rich, lavish, wonderful met our eyes, feas.
ted to fulness with this tropical luxuri-
| ance.
"That is my house." said my new friend
pointing to low-roofed cottage, surroun-
ded by a wide verandah, from whose
clinging viues sweet odors were flung upon
the soft atmosphere--but from the moment
the words were uttered his g.niality de.
parted
Within the cottage enclosure were
walks, bowers and fountains. Chaste
statuary was dispersed over the grounds
with most charming effect. The house
seemed almost fairy structure rising in
the midst of flowers and foliage. And
the man who sat beside me, whose smile
mounted no higher than his lips-the
dreamy, far.looking discomfort in his eye
growing every moment more perceptible
was the owner of this Eden.like home.
We were met on the threshold by q
lovely child of some eleven summers.
Her hair hung in curls. Her eyes par
ticularly lustrous yet mournful in beauty,
and on the young brow seemed to see
e something's shadow CT sadness-an
unchildike quiet, as she greeted my new
friend.
Dressed In pure white, she glided in be.
fore us, and to her was left the duty of
entertaining me; while Mr.. c., excusing
himself ip the remark, that sickness nee.
essarily called him away, for half hour
or 20, left the room.
"Is your mother very unwell p I ask.
ed of the little girl, who. with those
shadow.flled eyes of hers, was regarding
me gently, but attentively.
"Yes sir, mamma has been sick long
time" replied she, dropping her eyes, while
her lips trembled
did you come from America 2" she
asked timidly, after long silence
"Yes, my dear. Do you know anything
Of that country?" I returned, growing
more and more pleased with her expires.
sive face.
"Only that mamma came from there,
and think" she added. hesitatingly,
"tbat I did, But Mr.. G. will never let
me talk about it."
"Are you then not the little daughter
Of Mr. C?" asked, somewhat astonished.
II am my mothers daughter" answer.
ed the child, with grave dignity in one
SO young-and minute after she arose
and quietly left the room
l sat watching her white robes fitting
through tho long shady walk opposite my
window, and knew that the child brooded
over some dark sorrow for her eyes were
filed with tears.
Why was it, l questioned myself that
painful thoughts took possession of me as
l sat there Pit seemed as if | were so.
journing in an enchanted spot and that
some horror was suddenly to break upon
me,
AT my side, nearly covering beautiful
table of letter-wood. were several costly
gift books. 7 took them up carefully, for
I have a reverence for books-and turning
to the hy-eafot splendidly bound copy of
Shakespeare, read
ITO Mary Frances F., from her
devoted husband-Henry E. r."
A thrill of surprise and anguish ran
from vein to vein. My thoughts seemed
paralyzed. The truth had burst upon me
with such ruddenness that the blood rush.
ed with shock to my heart.
knew Henry Z. r, had known
him intimately for years. He was a
friend, toward whom all my sympathies
had been drawn, for he had seen such sor.
row as makes the heart grow old before
its time.
His wife, whom he loved, had deserted
him.-She had taken with her his only
child. She, had desolated household
and forgetting honor, shame, everything
that pertains to virtue and to God, had
fed from the country with the man whose
arts had won her wanton love.
How could remain under this roof
that nov seemed accursed2 How meet
the destroyer of virtue-the fend who
had revelled in such conquest 2