The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-01-10

A~An nu>nn -. ~ q threw III. Meogo iAtoA
stats Of distressing excitement: "0iri, do you
C.nt 20 ruin met" he said. sCurses on
women and their vanity why must you run
mn ouch bills ~ this just now1'' And then, as
she stood there petrihsd, for II seemed to her
~ though her fathers mind were shaken, ne
looked at the trtfitng sum- total, seemed shocked
at his own violence, tried to laugh 1t on, kissed
her, told her the milliner should b paid the
next day, and sent her hack to me In tean.
But that very evening captain CamsIT0fm rom =
stroll with him by the rivers SIDE, heI eyes
were bright and her step nrm, AS InouSr .ne
scene Of the morning had never peen. ooMe
word or look Of his had blown inat cIouu qul's
away! but it will be easily imagined that
when. on the following morning, Mr. Moore
announced to us he was going 10 Town LOT
week, for one could not help feeling sehsa,
ton of relief. He, too, seemed more cheerful
than usual, aud kindly insisted mat shouId re-
main and keep his Maggie company. THIS
was in the month of July, as remember well,
for the very dav before Mr.. Moore's expected
return. I was summoned 10 the death bed of
my husbands father, and did not get nome TIL
September.
The first morning after my arrival, heard
the rapid trot Of the pretty ponies, and Mar
garet, running in, flung her arms round me In
her warm hearted way. "You must come
back with me- dear Mrs. Malcolm; you must
indeed. Papa wishes 1t, he must not be crossed :,
And then, suddenly bursting in to an agony of
tears: II do not know what is the matter win
papa; fear-I fear lowering her voice to a
whisper, guessed rather than heard. 81 think
sometimes that papa is going mad"
| Oscourse l could not refuse to accompany
her to Acton, and when got there, we found
| Mr.. Moore so hospitable and seemingly cheer
/ full. that Margarets fears appeared to me quite
unreasonable, though l was shocked At the
| hook of illness ON her fathers face, and could
not refrain from telling her that it was for his
bodily health should be inclined to tremble
| Eyes. she said, "he does look very ill. l
think i, is this new habit Of his, this early
ba hing in the river"
"I}athing SO late in the year, p For it was
| the second week in September, and the weather
had touch Of the frost about It, Margaret
| wenton
every soon after papa's return from town,
| he began TO talk of bathing, as having been re-
commended to him by London doctor.
! wanted to go to the sea, but that he would not
hear of. For the last month. he has bathed In
the river every morning. He is first-rate
| swimmer. and thought il would do him good
TO battle with the current which, you Know
is very rapid Just below the house. But
| do not think it agrees with him. When he re.
turns, his manner is strange ana restless, ana
| in the evenings. whea wishing me good -nignt
| he kisses me in such wild way, ana looks
into my face SO wistfnlly. Last niAht, as ne
held me long in his arms. felt large tears
drop on my hair, and heard him say: ''She ri
least shall be happy. lone what may; sue
shall be happy" WANTED to speak, and tell
him knew. there was some great trouble
hanging ever us, but that if he would only
trust.me, both might be happier, and that we
| WOulu Dear III DfdNtlN toSetHti. DuL W 'S 81
| frightened, l could not say one WORD. HUSH
| he is coming let us look cheerful"
| "Mrs. Malcolm. / challenge you to stroll
before dinner said Mr.. Moore. "And my
| Maggie, too can't spare her this afternoon
| We put on our bonnets, and went at once
| His manner to his daughter was unspeakably
| tender, but it impressed me painfully;
scarcely knew why. II was strange and so.
Tenn, and sometimes, thought, incoherent.-
| l began to understand her fears. Comm 2
home, the sunset fell yellow and cold upon thu
deep, swift river, and recalled to my mind hIs
| practice OF early bathing.
| "To-morroW morning Will be decidedly
| frosty, Mr.. Moore said l; ''surely you vii
not be so imprudent as to battle before the sun
gets little power. At six O'Clock it can
six O'Clock! Why, Biddy told me to-day
that papa left his room little after five whei
it was quite dark, before any one but hersel
was up in terrupted Margaret.
'1Confound Biddy!" burst out Mr.. Moore
''prying old fool! What does she do up at tina
| hour l will not have her set the house on
fire, going about with her candle, pretending
| to brush. forsooth. It's your fault Marga-
| ret; you've spoiled that old lrishwoman, Til
she has become nsufIerabie. Tell her, once
for all, that will not have her get up before
| the others ] will not have i'll will not.''
"But. MIR. Moore L persisted, anxious tc
| divert him from the subject, Biddy being an
| especial favorite of mine, and not little
alarmed at such disproportionate vehenenes
about so mere a triae-"but ought you &c
battle Is it good for your
perhaps not said he perhaps / am ear
rying tia little TOO far. had a touch of cramI
this very morning. A mere touch, my Maggie
you need not look scared. The girl loves hel
poor father; would mourn for him, after a ii
/ do believe And he looked at her with
Il strange yearning expression of love and woe
which seemed to brighten her, though sh'
| tried to laugh it off, saying she could not low
a naughty papa who did not take care Of hi'
health, but bathed at unheard-of hours, ant
| scolded good faithful Eiddy. Tie tried TO laugh
TOO, but il was sorrowful laugh.
| ITO EE CONrINLED.l