The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-09-28
[From tire New York Ledger ]

LILY WHITING.
The great, splendid mansion that I cal
led my tome seemed strangely silent, and
even 6 loomy, as sat my solitary breakiat-
table. No merry voices or pattering feet
Of children had ever resound through its
halls. Latterly, during my husbands long
illness and my widowhood, we had kept no
company and now lived there alone
with only such servants as sufficed for my
household.
Just as finished my meal tho post bag
was brought in. There was one letter nes
Ting amidst the more volumnous packages.
I carclessly broke the seal and drew the
enclosure from the envelope. The letter
WAS from Richard Whiting, my old lover.
written on bis death bed, and implored me
to take charge of his only daughter, Lily
named, he said in memory Of me. at
once set out to 60 to Richard, and two hours
before sunset I arrived at the 5eosntry imp
whittier I was. born. =
1t was quiet, homely~ Place, with no
charm but that Of an exquisite fragrant
neatness. My land'ady, ofwhom I at once
made inquiries, ,Tinformed me that Richard
Whiting had died beneath her roof the pre-.
vious day, and that even Low his daughter
Lily watched beside his remains in an up
per chamber. 1t was pleasant to hear how
tenderly the good woman spoke of the dead
man and the,loneIy orphan. With equal
kindness sbe pressed upon me the viands
7 could scarcely taste, and then led the way
to the room where Lily watched beside
her dead father.
Lily was small, very child in size, but
with a womanly sweetness and gravity res
ting upon lfer far face. 1nstinctively I
ciasped her in my aims, and laid her head
close to my loug desoIate heart. And there
beside the dead man, whose life had bligh-
ted, I silently vowed to be mother to bis
orphan child.
The following day We committed the
mortal remains Of Richard Whiting, TO the
earth. Lily and | were the only ,ISourners
for the father was stranger in G., over
taken there hy the messenger that comes
once to all. A few days aferward re-
turned to my home, accompanied by Lily,
my adopted child.
Richard Whiting had been distant re-
ative of. mine, and Lily was Introduced in
to my household as young orphan cou.
elm, and when little later, she began 10y
my request, to call me mamma j. was an
easy transition, and caused no surprise.
Twas no longer lonely. The splendor
Of my homo was no longer irksome when
that light form moved through the lofty
rooms or glided over the lawn and down
the garden walks. Or sat opposite me at the
board.
/ Lily was sixteen when she came TO me,
and l hoped that should long retain my
daughter to be the light and joy Of my
bome. But DO sooner had she entered So
cie,y than she was besieged by suitors-
some attracted, no, doubt, by the report Of
her prospective fortune as my beiress-others.
the la,gernnmber, Itrust, by the beauty
asd sweetness Of this fairest flower.
Mr.. Fitzgerald (ny. husband) had one
nephew, his only living relative. the son Of
his sister-4 Clarence. .Hngbso6 should have
been his beir, bad perhaps been educated
with such expectations But I; wiio we'll
.uBaerstood my husband, kpsstwby ilisyast
estate, burdened only by modest legacy
toseIarehcsshad been beqaesthed TO me.
Mr.. Fitzgerald, under cold, ard somewhat
qperulou, exeisiiSr; ksaa most kindly
aud generous hear. and bes had Intended to
atousby ihs.wesleh for thsssscri6se Of my,
yeaR 10 bis declining age, Fully appre-
seiatipg his !, iiadness,s II had yet. intended
that at tsmy death ths property { shosIa i, re-,
turn TO the naaursiyheis, bas when Ely. be-:
oame;my adopted dsughter,s q ssfaggse be-.
|twse1i aassand isclipssionst tcorameaeed,;
|EIas 6ishss teaaa it iaessss hsaaplsR ,sesas'
Gle, fiss conflicting elsims. 'Fa
Clarence was "a ny ksaueus sisao and /