The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-09-19

ever she was pleased or excited, the softes'
and most beautiful rose tint. Her mouth
ripe and red, disclosed pearly teeth; hei
eyes so dark and lustrous, and the glossy
masses of her raven hair completed beauty o.
that dark and regal style which has few
types among the Saxon daughters of oui
fair isle.
My task-a labor of love, truly-it was tc
train this beautiful, gifted and impulsive
creature into a noble womanhood, and thank
God, since know that he has ordered all
things well, that success crowned my efforts
Esther grew in beauty and in worth each
day. She was my pride and JOY. She
opened new uses for life that had had few
worthy employments and few pleasures. |
thanked God for her daily, and never more
frequently than when the time approached
for Sherrard's return, and | thought with
what JOY should present his beautiful ward
to him.
My step-mother died the year before Sher-
rard's return, and Esther and | were living
together at Elmwood, which was now holly
mine, when he came. Esther had but pit
tance, and it pleased me to think that could
now provide for her from my own abundance
for, though Elnwood itself must 60 to the
Woolsies, the large personal property was at
my own disposal. had already made my
will, and waited only for Sherrard's sanction
to have it properly executed.
We met-as We had parted-with frater-
nal greetings. Sherrard had aged much. He
was but forty, but the climate and some bu-
siness anxieties had done their work upon
his stalwart frame. But he was the same
Sherrard to me; and, forgetting that too
was no longer young, felt my eyes gil with
tears as ! watched his feeble step and Ian
guild air.
"You see that have come back to you an
old man, Zillah," he said, smiling mourn
fully; "but my sister will not welcome me less
warmly, / am sure. had pleased myself
with the thought of being nursed with health
here, and by you; but perhaps now, that
Mrs. Woolsc is gone, the gossips will say
that there is improprety in my staying be-
meath your roof But where my ward and
my sister are, | may surely stay few days."
| hastened to answer him that Emwood
was his home now as ever, though my lips
trembled as tried to utter the words.
At that moment the door opened, and
Esther, flushed with exercse-for she had
just returned from a long walk-and glorious
in beauty, entered the room l knew my
fate from that instant Surprise, admiration,
delight glowed on Sherrard's face, as, half
incredulous of the change, he went forward
to greet his ward. She, with the warm i'm
pulse of her loving nature, would have
thrown herself into the arms of the man who
represented her father; but Sherrard bowed
lowly before her, and just touched her glow
ing finger-tips as he led her to a seat. She
was no longer his little ward, but beautiful
and charming woman who awed even while
she enchanted him.
Week after week Sherrard fingered at
Elmwood. saw, but shut the bitter secret
into my own heart, that he loved Esther as
only strong, solitary nature like his can
love. And yet he was afraid to approach
her with words of love; afraid to ask her to
link her bright young beauty with his sickly
forty years.
And the child loved him. She did not
read her own heart, and believed she felt
only daughters gratitude and affection.
But my senses were sharpened by suffer
ing, and l saw that this splendid man, weak
though he was, and appealing hourly to her
compassion, had won her heart.
l watched and waited, utterly forgotten,
but knowing well how all would end.
l was right. Neither thought of me till
chance had unsealed their lips and revealed
their hearts to each other Then they could
come to me, the one as a sister, the other as
to mother-frieud, to claim my blessing and
approval.
And gave it them, freely and cheerfully.
Were they not the two dearest and most be-
loved9 l had my pangs and lore sorrow,
but was cheerful enough outwardly, and
was consoled by the thought that they would
be happy.
They were and are. Sherrard is well
again; and now, in the scarcely waning
pride of his manhood, he looks no unfit COM
panion for the woman who, in her gorgeous
and regal beauty, hangs upon his arm.
We all live at Elnwood, for would not
lose Esther. Their children, my heirs, are
dear to me, almost as if they were my own,
and we make happy family. Nor is the
maiden aunt the least respected, the least be-
loved, nor the least happy Of them all.
This lesson, if no other, have l learned
from a life in which there has been some dis
appointment and many trials. We need not
be miserable, even If the desire Of our own
heart is withheld, IL we can behold and aid
another's happiness. Even great sacrifices,
and painful to be borne, are made sweet by
II Al L = IL