Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-03-17
VOL. I.-NO. 46.


ii Good bless you, my second Minnie Lee an
t. make You worthy of the heart that would lin
e its destiny with yours
rose, aud went ont into the great bay-wir
/ dow, where Gerald stood; then we passed ini
= the library, and our father blessed us.
! II n \
r do not know how long sat there, with M
1 dressing gown thrown carelessly arouad me
a piercing shrek startled me from n slumbe
Flinging open the door followed it, until
paused at my mothers room. There ona hig
bed in one conyulsion after another lay m
father. With a wild, narrowing cry fun
myself before him my mother was leaninl
over him, Clearance and Arthur bending owe
the couch. But !, who had been for years hi
companion, knelt beside him. Gerald, too
was there, and again mn agonizing cry rnni
from my lips, for my father fell back dead.
Those dark gloomy days hung between lif'
and death; 1t seemed had slept years. Lines
of care had gathered over my gentle mother:
brow, her black garments making her cheeks
seem deathly pallid. Clarance bent tenderly
over me, Arthur kissed me silently, and lastly
Gerald came,
Autumn had passed. it was chilly winter
As became better, our loved mother became
more feeble. Horace won our Clarance. ln
the dim morning light saw her bless them
both. Gerald wheeled me into the drawing
room day by day strength came back, and !
grew strong again. Ny hair, which had been
closely cut during my fearful delirinm, now
clustered in tiny rnglets over my forehead,
making me appear much younger At length
Gerald urged our marriage acethat OF Cla-
rance. twas a still, quiet marriage. We gather
ed only ournearestn ighbors, for our recent sor-
row forbade rejoicing. We went away for a
short time, returning only to find our cherish
cd mother more feeble Day and night lin
gered around her couch, anticipating her slight
est wish. Clearance only became aware of her
great sorrow that last night; itcame nncxpect-
edly to all. II was agreed that my fathers
entire wealth should be divided between Cla-
rance and Arthur; the old homestead should
he the property of all. Gerald placed Arthur
ut college; then we bade long farewell to
our beautiful Clnrance and my childhood's
home.
u !; X &
There were various mistakes. ], simple child
that was, thought it so strange that they
should call that silvcr-browed old man my
father. sought and caressed by all. Across
the ocean TO the old world | travelled Men
everywhere bowed at the shrine Of Minnie De
Forrest. Gerald was so kind, so gentle, he
never intrudcd upon my attention, ncverteared
to trust me- We entered Paris. My husbands
standing opened the most exclusive circles.
Day and night plunged into the fascinating
vortex of that gay city, Ny various accom-
plishments, my regal beauty, my husbands
name and wcaltl---what more could ask2
Gerald saw his fault but too late; never more
could Minnie Lee be to him as of old But one
night willed we should go to Italy. Gerald
was only too glad; knew it by the silent
caress he gave me. In Florence, beautiful
Florence, my baby-grl was born. knew he
was thinking of his first love, as he named 1t
Minnie Lee-pcrhaps his second-as he pres
sed its velvet cheek against his own. ! loved
my little one had been less beautiful, my
home had been more attractive. AS it was,
worshipped society, and was warmly welcomed
back, until forgot the silver-browed old man
and my little one.
But the summons came hurried from the
brilliant circle only in time to see the dark
eyes close-our baby Minnie was dead. For
time il saddened me; grew to love our beau
tiful home, until party came from Paris. ]
could resist the fascination no longer, but
plunged, heart and soul into society. We
spent the winter in Rome; but in the gayest
hour second summons came and returned
to Florence to find Gerald i'll. ! grew wild in
my anguish but from his lips fell no word of
reproach. For weeks fingered over his couch,
then with my hands clasped in his, his eyes
riyeted upon me, his soul passed up to his
God.
A year later cast aside my morning robes,
and yielding to the urgent entrcaties of my
friends, again entered society. In company
with several, spent the Summer in Switzer-
land returning to Rome the last of the fall. /
was then scarcely twenty-three, and still re-
gally beautiful. My hair clustered in curls
around my dropping shoulders, my eyes had
acquired deeper lustre as if the inner life never
slumbered. was wealthy gifted, accom-
plished. From lips not books, learned the
glorious treaties of life. The classic taste of
Gcrali had chiselled our beautiful home in
Fl,r,nrr. filed it with illustrious strangers,
with ihe gifted of every nation; still sat as
star among the regal host for the wild, pas
sionate love of my heart was kno~iedge.
In those hours of revelry came one, tall
stately man, an artist dreamer. He opened
the great volume of his heart, lavishing upon
me his wild, burning love There is something
grand, aIlrabsorbng in such love. For the
time was content; it oltsung the weired
mockery of my own being. For months We
we were very happy, and my ynrtist-husband.
Then became restless, and longed to so
back into the erOat world; longcd to feel once
more the thrill of the great heart-nation, that
could alone vibrate the chords of my being and
he. when he saw this, silently folded me to his
bosom, and went back TO the thrilling life Of
the old Capitol, Strangers and men Of intel
lect bowed at my shrine; hearts trenlhIcd be-
meath the passionate cadence OF my own, One
sunny noon a note was handed me with m
agonizing shrek flung it from me, and has
tened back to Florence. There over the walls,
on the doors, lay pictured shadows Of my face.