Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-03-17
From the Family journal
Minnie Lee; or, Passages in Life's
History.


ny IsLA.
That long Sunny afternoon at length i came
to close My childish heart leaped with new
life had snid.it over and over, lest my lips
miphi (nltcr with the unfamiliar word The
last golden uuiyer foatcd over the forest. !
heard the roll of carriage wheels-they had
come. flung myself into the arms OF the
stately man as he descended the steps; he
kissed me again and again, then handed me to
his companion. A voice gentle and low mur-
INJURED, Minnie, darling" looked up, and
winding my arms around her neck, whispered,
HMOther'
Nv father brushed away Il tear as he took me
from her, ard we walked silently up the gray
eled pathway.
There were days of feasling and rejoicing
the old hemc was never more darkened. The
heavy velvct-coyered quaint-carved inrn''ure
was supplantcd by lighter and more comforta-
BILE. Nv father bent from his stateliness' but
gayer than any was my young mother some
times in the calm beautiful nights they would
talk of her who was my mother then he would
wind his arms around her, whispering:
"Carancc, beloved, you are wortlyto be her
sister bride"
nNot worthy my husband" she would an
swer gently: Minnie Lee was the most peer
less of women" a.
stole from my hiding place, threw my arms
around her neck. and wept. My father sighed
as he turned aside, but my mother silently
passed her hand over my raven hair, ms it its
mesmcric influence would soothe my passionate
grief
"Do not love you, Minnic2
"You love father more"
A quiet smile gathered over her lips, hut
from that night Minnie Lee snt with them in the
vine-clad porch or by the evening Greside
"Shc is like her mother heard her say one
night as | lay upon her iap-sleeping they
thought.
"You will ruin her Clarance."
"Minnie Lees child is like her mother, she
answered sadly "too senstivetoo passionate.
do not spoil her Arthur. Look y
She pointed to my mothers portrait, then at
my childish face. My father silently raised me
in his arms and lay me upon my bed.
Little ones grouped around our home, but
when he kissed his golden haired Clarance, and
caressed his baby boy, he did not forget Minnie
Lee, was a dreamy, quaint child, and when
they told me was the shadow OF my pictured
mother. knew was equally beautiful, with
my dark complexion, brilliant color raven
hair, and large passionate eyes.
Years gldcd past, but left no trailing shad-
ows in our Joyous home Ny education had
been supcrntended by my father, but the light
er accomplishments, together with French and
Italian, had been impaired 10 him by a gentle
man of literary standing. | seldom engaged
even in the lighter duties Of domestic life, but
studied morn, noon and night. One beautiful
afternoon, my father called me into his library.
"Minnie Lee, said he, in his accustomed
tones, nyou were eighteen to-day"
"I could scarce forget it, ] answered, as
glaaced at the costly gifts that casped my
wrists.
"You are II woman'-he paused-"a beau
tiful woman, deep scholar
opened my eyes my fathers language sur
prised me.
ait is time you should the world"
The great glorious world of which had so
dreamed My cheeks burned with excitement.
"Whcn your mother died, came out from
the thrilling city rs yet have feltno wish for
change Has it been happy life, Minnie l.ee?'
"Very happy, father
lie bowed his face upon his hands, then rose
and paced the floor.
"What is it ?s questioned, feeling as if my
heart was breaking.
He drew me to him, then turned aside.
"What is it?p cried.
"Minnie Lee, you are old enough-nay, your
mothcr-even Clarance was younger-it is time
you were married, child"
aAnd this is all 2" | burst into n childish
glee, until the heavy arched ceiling rung with
IN echo then my eyes fell upon his face.
felt that this was not all knew it by the com
preston of the under lip.
"You have been q dutiful and loving daugh-
ter. have chosen for you your future hus-
band.p
"Father p I exclaimed.
ale will cherish my beautiful child he will
crafty her every wish
"Who is hep" cried.
He handed me n case touched the spring,
and il flew back, revealing the features of an
old man, over whose temples clustered silver
hair. It seemed as if was paralyzed. When
looked up was alone. II was well, for the
burning current overleaped its barrier; words,
bitter and passionate, fell from my lips. Clar-
ance came in, and wound her arms gently around
me- flung her off and rushed to my room.
Throughout the longnight I never closed my
eyes knew that IL | had inherited my moth
er's beauty my fathers mind had moulded my