Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-06-04


kind of business am perfect hand at 1t,
and after have made my arrangements you
will think so too.''
The girl sat weeping; 1t appeared as II the
first paroxysm of grief was over and that her
feelings had settled down to a sullen sadness.
The miserable old hag continued with
voice that never quivered from nervous ex-
citement, "You had better make yourself
contented with my Accommodations, for 1t Will
be easier to bring yourself down peg or two,
to suit the circumstances surrounding you,
than to incur my dislleasure; which, you
may rest assured, will add nothing to your
future happiness"
A dark scowl played over the demons face
as she uttered this sarcastic sentence. From
appearance, every spark of humanity had left
this detestable being, and nothing now re-
mained in her miserable composition but the
worst features of depraved and degenerated
human nature.
AT length the girl assumed courage enough
to speak, but her tones were even more sup
plant than before.
" Madam said she, ''forwhat purpose have
been brought to this place and placed under
have committed no crime
that ought to be imprisoned. All my life
has been spent in endeavoring to support my
only parent-my mother. Even now she
needs my attention to sooth and comfort her
in her declining age. But, Oh where am | !
why am brought to this place p
g You have been brought here" said Mrs.
Bachelor in one of the mildest tones she could
assume, ''for particular purpose, my child,
and you may rest assured that no harm shall
befall either you or your mother-she has
been properly cared for, and it is my business
to see that you have all that you desire"
'.Who is it takes the liberty to provide for
us without asking our eonsentf" Inquired
the girl with little more assurance.
'sIt is a gentleman" replied Mrs. Bachel-
or twhois very much interestedin your well
fare-one who believes you to be something
superior in point of intellect and beauty to
the mass of poor girls who stand high in the
estimation of the world-one upon whom for
tune has lavished her favors in unaccustom-
ed prodigality."
The fearful fact began to develope itself to
the girl when she answered: Yes one upon
whom fortune had wasted her precious gifts,
no doubt" .i 1a
Impertinent Miss desire none of your
insinuations, nor will tolerate them. George
Raymond is one of the genteelest young men i'll
our Borough, deserves no censure, particular
ly from such little mink as you are think
he must have mistaken his person when he
chose you as fit subject on whom to bestow
his bounty" I.si,t
At the mention of George Raymond's name
a cold shudder ran ever the girl-she became
pale as death and the tears which had coursed
down those pale cheeks few moments before
forsook their channel.
'0h my God l' she exclaimed, "has it
come to this--am in the folds of the human
viper to he stung at his leisure-with no hand
to help me, no friendly protector save Him
above. Would to Heaven had Il brother to
shield me from the grasp of this man."
Her lips quivered as she pronounced these
broken sentences--a paleness more ashy than
before spread itself over her face and she fell
back senseless upon the floor. s.-.s.s...t ~
The old hag raised her from her fainting
position with no very gentle hand and placed
her on an old straw bed that lay in one corner
ofthe room, and retired from the apartment,
muttering as she went "She'l recover with
out the use of fsmelling salts, I'll warrant her"
How very sensitively does innocence recoil
from the dreaded touch of the contaminator |
Providence, in his inscrutable wisdom, has
placed i'm the bosom of purity an instinct
which apprehends danger exc the first visible
shadow makes its appearance
Ida Strickland-for such she was we have
heard conversng with this old procuress-had
scarcely heard the name of George Raymond
uttered beforesthe whole truth flashed across
her mind with all the dangers consequent up
on such u developement. A thousand dread
full forebodings pictured to her fancy the
dangers with which she was actually sur
rounded and the fadingo of the last hope from
her mind was tho signal for overcome nature
to relieve itself of all worldly consciousness.
When she recovered from the swoon into
which she had fallen, and fully realized her
condition, she became more calm; mild
serenity played over her pale cheeks. But
still, in that calm serenity might have been
seen, without much effort, that the mind,
which seldom lays inits accustomed duty was
doing its work. e.. Tri iAay r
She thought of the scenes of her early
childhood-of the fqnd caressess of her par
ents, before the hand Of misfortune had scat
tered to the winds their substance, and lastly
thecondition of her mother. The old procuress
had told her that she was " cared fol" and If
such were the case she must have been saved
from the burning ruins Of their humble habi-
tation. That, in measure, relieved her
mind from the appalling idea OF an untimely
death to onefor whom she had toiled, and
over whose bed OF aflliction she had watched
with sleepless eyes many weary night.
While her mind was cogitating over things
of this kind her ear caught the sound of voices
In vulgar conversation. Oaths were as frequ-
emily used as milder language and sometimes
she fancied She heard her name MENTIONED
She thought pen;hanee there might be some
opportunity for her escape if she made an ap
peal to these rude men,. They might be hon
est, or at least possess some OF the traits of
character common with the lower order of
animalsAsome little OF the good mingled with
all their eyil.au sa. i.... ...-. .'.s4,il
With this intention she crept noiselessly to
the stairs and leaned forward in listening at
titude. The talk of the persons below grew
louder and more boisterous, while occasionally
might be heard, in a kind of double terror,
the voice of Mrs. Bachelor i,,ls..
While yet she leaned, with open ear, to
catch a sound that might lead her to hope
that some kind spirit might be found among
the rude persons who employ such profane
language in their common conversation. A
grating sound was heard below, and by
the accession of voices it was soon apparant
that they had received a number of recruits
to their numbers. Among the persons, who
had Just entered it was very evident, by the
voices that one was a female. At the distance
Ida remained from the door that entered the
apartment, where the conversation was con-
Quoted, she could hear only the voices, with
out understanding their general import.
Once more she took courage and crept close
to the door. She almost fancied she heard the
beating of her palpitating heart as she placed
her ear to a. crack that inyitingly gaped to
admit the sonnd. With breathless anxiety
did she wait till the jingling of the glasses
should begin. However, this suspense did
not continue long before the well known voice
of Mrs. Bachelor commenced the conversation.
I" Tom, you and Mary conduct things in a
proper manner Imust confess had no notion
Won wonld have as little trouble as YOU had.