Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-02-04

4
eyes, while her lips trembled.
" Did you come from American she
asked timidly, after long silence.
Yes, my dear. Do YOU know any
thing of that country?" I returned
growing more and more pleased with her
expressive face.
''Only that mamma came from there,
and I think" she added hositatingly,
that did But Mr.. G. viii never let
me talk about it,"
Are you then not the little daughter
of Mr.. C.?' l asked somewhat aston
ished
liam my mothers daughtcr,' an
swercd the child, with a grave dignity
in one so young and minute after she
arose and quietly left the room.
sat watching her white robes fitting
through the long shady walk opposite
my window, and knew that the child
brooked over some dark sorrow, for her
eyes were filled with tears
Why was it, I questioned myself, that
painful thought took possession of me as
I sat there? [ seemed as if l were So
journing in an enchanted spot, and that
some horror was suddenly to break upon
me.
At my side, nearly covering a beauti-
4 full table of letter-wood, were several
costly gift books. l took them up care
fully, for ] have a reverence for books,
and turning to the fy-leafof a splendid
ly bound copy Of Shakespeare, read
ITO Mary Francis =, from her
devoted husband, Henry Il. F."
A thrill of surprise and anguish ran
from vein to vein My thoughts seemed
/ raralyzed The truth had burst upon
me with such suddenness that the blood
rushed with a shock to my heart
| knew Henry II. p, had known
him intimately for years He was &
friend towards whom all my sympathies
had been drawn, for he had seen sucl
sorrow as makes the heart grow old be.
fore its time.
His wife, whom he loved. had desert.
ell him. She had taken with her his onl,
child. She had desolated a household
and forgetting honor, shame, everything
that pertains to virtue and to God, hat
fed from the country with the man who's
arts had won her wanton love
How could remain under this roo
that now seemed accursed? How NEE
the destroyer Of virtue-the fend VIII,
had revealed in such a conquest
could only think Of the evil the,
had doue-not what they might suffer
through the fortunes of rcmorse. Itwa
sometime before the seducer came int
the room where | still sat with the child
, determined to meet him once more befor
left the room
Oh! how guilty, how heart strickel
his appearance. Remorso sat on hi
forehead looked out from his eyes
spoke when he was silent.
" VIII you come to dinner? 2" he asked
l hesitated Should I partake of hi
hospitality; the hospitality of one 0
those fiends in human shape whose step
took hold on hell? knew his guilt
why delay to declare it? Why not a
once, in burning words, upbraid him 70
his villiany, and fec as from Il pcstienc
his sin-cursed house? The man notice.
my hesitation, lie could not, Of course
interpret its cause. As he repeated hi
request, the look Of distress excited
feeling of pity, which, for the moment
slightly disarmed my resentment, and
under the influence Of this feeling, al
most unconsciously | passed into the di
ning-room
81 am sorry little Nolly's NAMING
q was glad he did not use the sacso,
name Of wife)-"is not able to sit dow
with US" he said. cit is many month
since we have had her presence at on
meals She is suffering from the effect
Of slow fever, induced by the climate,
be added grayely, as he motioned me
scat before lth.
The table glittored with silyer-plato
Obedient servants brought, on the mos
costly servers, dolicaeies such as | ha,
never seoa before
But the skeleton sat at the feastl
/ could not talk, save in mouosylables
My host ate hastily-almost earelessly-
waiting upon me with many abrup
! starts and apologies
Wine came. He drank freely. 500
! he sent the little girl and servants iron
the room, and seemed striving to nery
himself to conversation.
" You are from --- city, ] believe,
be said neryoaely.
/ answered an affirmative.
a." Did you ever know gentleman ther
! by the name Of II. T.. F-W
, " ] knew him, sir" ] said sternly
} looking the man steadily in the face
land know him also ruined, heart
, broken man"
With an ejaculation Of anguish he pu
his handkerchief to bis eyes. 1t Womb
have seemed hypocritcal, but the suffer
ing on his face was unmistakable.
4" Perhaps you have suspected then
q he began in a quiyering voice.
Not calmly, but with the words Of al
accuser ! told him what ! had seen, an,
, thought aud felt
Sir" said he, in tones which ] shall
r never forget, "if / have sinned, God il
Heaven knows | have suffered and i
in Els bereavement lie has cursed me
that curse is fearfully fulfilled! Poo
Mary is dying--she has been dying fo
months, and / have known it. 1t ha
been for me TO see the falling step-tht
| dimming eye; it is for me, now. to SEQ
the terrible struggles Of her nearly worr
out frame; it is for me to listen TO hei
language Of remorso, that sometimes al