The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-01-11
Rifbmnnh Q;spatfb,
MY GODMOTfiERS STORY.
IN TWO CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER ,.-tcoxrixrsD.)

~n,, S aw.nin~ ,hranrh. a.. indeed. she often
did. Her father held book mp before his face
hut he did not turn the pages, an0 once, when
1 haouened TO change n seat, caught that
.ame loving. despairing look fixed upon his
dnrshter. As she sat there at the instrument.
her little hands sometimes flying over the
keys, but ofsener lingering over some sweet,
sad strain with passionate pa;hos never
heard eQuaIled. l remarked that she kept
playing Scotch airs. Captain Cameron's favor
lie ones, as il she CARD for no others. Once
her father asked her for one OF Beethoven's
adagios, of which he was very fond. She
said she would look for il Immediately; but
che went on as If speli-bound. improvislng
wild, waiting variations, and then returning
10 dwell again on the simple melodies 50 dear.
" associated, till bedtime came
my Maggie" said MIR. Moore, my own
child, you do not care for your poor father,
and will not play one tune for him.
20, papa, how thonghtlessI have been, Let
me play 1t now
mo, darling, it is too late. No; il is best -
1t is--bes, as il is. Give all the young heart
TO happiness, my own Maggie. God IN hea,
her to his heart with con, ulsiye energy
which seemed to shock her, and confirmed my
WORT suspicious.
That night, as I sat up rather late in my
own room, there came a low tap at my door,
and Biddy, the Irish house maid, entered, 10
my surprise, with an air Of profoundest mys-
terry.
mistress goin' 70 be " I'd ye agin this nght.'
"No Biddy. Miss Moore seemed tired, and
wished me goodnight at the door of her own
room"
"Sure. thin. ma am, I'll be after spakin' 4
word wild yourself this same blessed night;
for may / never sin, but there's sOrro" and
hear ,break to the fore. and pity IL is for the
sweet young mistress, The cratur, and she SO
young and iiiigani, glory be 10 God. y
"What is the matter, Biddy - said l, not
without q vague dread, the faithful Irish
woman was weird-iooklng with her brown
and knr knat tHrt
ewes set close together like those of a monkey.
"Faix, thin, ma am, and it's myself does not
know, barriu' THAT The master-and he as civil
agintleman as ever was-is gone clean out o.
hands above her head, swaylng herself TO and
fro in her agitation.
"Why do you think so What has happen
ed What do you mean p inquired.
"Sure, ma'am, and it's easy to see it by look
In on his face, let alone his ways. They've
been talking long enough in the hall, but
niver let on that TUX any notice to any soul
alive but yourself. Sure aud he's taken all
the plate out of James keepin, till the
poor boy has not a spone to spare, and daren't
ask for another for his life; and jist this
evening, when was fixIn' his dressin groom,
and muvn' seine lump OF big parcel that he
brought with him from London, if he didn't
come in and rate At me till was like to drop
with the lear; that used 10 be the Ga-
contest gintleman, says he'd have none OF my
pryin' ways; and what had l TO do to be
loOkin' into that parcel; and no servant OF his
should leave their rooms till six O'Clock, or
he'd turn them off at an hours notice, and
that il was after settin' the house on fire |
would be. Sure and he shook like AN ;ispin.
the cratur; and he's wasted, wasted, till ne s
no bigger than good listed turf. And what's
to become of the swate young mistress with
the trouble u Wnrra, Wurra! Aud the
warm hearted creature threw her apron over
her face and sobbed again l comtorted her
as we'll as l could, but though, anx'ously
over her and my own impressions, and did
not fall asleep till a late hour
The next morning was bright and beauttuli
but the pools in the gravel walk Showed that
there had been heavy rain in the night. Now
the sun was shining gaily, and the robins
brave little song came in with the perfume OF
the clematis as / opened the window. How
foolish seemed Biddy's croakings and my own
apprehensions of the night before!
When went down. Margaret was sitting al
the breakfast-table alone.
"Papa is later than usual, this morning"
she said. 81 fancy he has lain down tor 4 lit
tie nap after his early dip. We will begin
break fast; he does not like to have his move
ment noticed
Accordingly We began, and then the post
bag was brought in. 1t SO happened that both
Margaret and had two three letters that
morning, and they occupied our attention
long, So that when the French clGck on the
mantel-pipce struck ten, We We're startled 10
nnd how the time had passed.
Margaret sprang up. II must go and look
after papa
few minutes more. and then she returned,
pale as dealh.
"ae is not in his room / never knew him
80 late for breakfast before
"The morning is So fine, he mas been tempt
ed TO take "A long walk said /; but my own
heart was beating fast.
81 shall 60 aEd meet him. she said.
"Dear girl, yon are hardly able to stand -
And, then, in what direction has Mr. Moore
gone May he not have had an early cup OF
tea, and have taken ride to EideTsley
She "ang the bell. flames, did you see my
father inis morning. ;"
The man looked anxious. "No, ma'am: my
master mas gone out of late before any Of Us
were up. l generally hear the nail door shut
when he comes back; l did not hear ii THIS
morning"
While he was speaking l caught sight OF
Biddy's face AT the door-a very banshee OF
doom and horror, and understood from her
rapid glance and gesture that she wished 10
speak to me alone.
"MargareI, my love-" l said, Eve will go
together and meet Mr.. Moore Nay dear
not so-your shawl, your bonnet; he would
be annoyed If he met us thus And led her
to her room.
B'ddy was waiting for me in mine. "It's all
over,' she said; "he master is drowned
Sure and SAID there was Leartbreak AT hand.
There's all his clothes in a heap on The river
bank. One OF the boys on the farm came
along that way and SAW tbim aud touid the
gardener, and myself met him like a mailman
running to see!''
20, Biddy, we must try and break it gently
to Miss Moore-the shock Will kill her. o
perhaps there Is SOIuc
must 20 TO hers
JUST then, Margaret came in, pale as marble,
ana her teeth chatiering.
II cannot wait" she said 'come with me al
once Gomez
"Where shall we 60, my darling!'
"To The RIVER" she gasEed
80 blessed Mother OF God, she knows it,
then T. sobbed poor Biddy.
With one sharp cry, Margaret Ieaped out OF
my mas and fell on the floor. / hoped that
she had tainted; but hers was one of those
strong natures to which such transient relief
il seldom allowed. In few moments she
whispered as she lay and shivered there
"rhe cramp, the cramp!" l was thankful fer
those words; for remembering Mr.. Moore's
manner of the night before, darker fear had
crossed my own mind A few minutes more
and the poor girl had staggered TO her feet.
"Where is he l must see him.
/ told her all l knew. She insisted upon
going to the river. How we reached it, never
knew. ! said it had rained hard in the night,
ana tn river that morning was very full--oh,
very full, very black, very rapid! Once
seized with cramp, the slight delicate man |
would be rolled along with the current |
swept round that curve, borne within Ike |
and carried out To sea. There We're many now
gathering around; they were pushing off a |
boat; they were talking OF dragging the river. |
margaret wanted TO remain there, but had
ner carried home. She could not stand and
her eyes were closed, but She was conscious; l
knew that by her moanihg
Inc bsdy was not found; with the river so |
s"oilen, IL was hardly likely TO he so. Blu.
DAY after day there was the search the shud. |
derink hope hat II might not be in vain or |
rather the terror either way. Captain Came
ron rode over daily TO inquire Tor Margaret
For more than a week, never LETT her room, |
never, therefore, saw him but when did sn
the agony of anxiety with which hc w ru ny nv |
hand while asking for her, gave me a firmer
conviction OF the reality of his attachment
than all his previous assiduities had done
w hen ten O8YS uasSfu nd t,at To-