, 1863-03-14
Squire Melworth's Repentance.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

"Never!" said old Squire Melworth reso-
lutely
And when old Squire Melworth said neveri he
meant it
1t was large old-fashioned hall, hung with
antique pictures, and curously wanscoted, with
shining oak, for Squire Melworth was half Eng
lioh in hio 0noootry, and pridod hn,oolf much upon
maintaining decidedly Anglo-American style in
his mansion. You might have safely set a
modern Gothic cottage within the gaping throat
of the gigantic chimney, and the red flash and
glimmer of the enormous pine log fire was al
most like confagration. One window lighted
the great hall, an oriel of softly colored glass,
where amber, and purple, and vivid quivered all
day throwing bright medallions of color upon the
polished oaken floor 1t was not particularly
cheerful apartment during the daytime, but in
the evening, when the great logs roared and
cracked, and the desolate wailing of the wind
without seemed like human outcry, the old
Squire loved to sit there, tracing odd figures in
tn fantastic embers, and watching the Niagra of
flying sparks that showered down into the ashes
below
A hale old man, with hair like wrought silver,
and fresh, ruddy bloom upon his withered cheek,
lie Squire was like some veil preserved relic of
the olden time. And his pretty granddaughter,
Nanny Melworth, kneeling beside him on the
loor with her fair curly head resting on his knee
and sprig of red-berried holly twisted in her
hair, was like him her rosy bloom and clear blue
eye flashing like the heart of sapphire. Frank
Meworh, the only grandson, who leaned care
lessly against the carved chimney peace, and his
young wife sitting in the shadow, completed the
family circle.
NANNY" said the old Squire, gravely, "my
daughter Mildred was just your age when
she stole from my house. under cover of the
night, and made runaway match with Charles
Leland. When heard of her disobedience l
said would never forgive her, and never
have!"
"But, grandpapa," coaxed Nanny, ''you will
receive her orphan daughter 10 your heart and
home ?" ..l
"Never r reiterated the squire, with strange
harshness in his voice.
"Hush !" said Nanny, holding up her finger,
"do you hear the snow beat against The win
dowsP' Think, dearest grandpapa, that she may
perchance be exposed to the terrors of the storm
in some far-off place Think how dreadful it
would be were your little Nanny homeless Oh,
say that you forgive Aunt Mildred, that you will
receive her child"
NANNY" said the old man, sternly "let this
subject be a forgotten one, between us, from this
time hence forever more. have said my say,
and the question is definitely settled!
There was silence for few minutes, while the
wind shrieked madly round the gables of the old
house, wrestling with the giant cedars, whose
calm strength had defed the blasts Of half CEN
tury, and the fire sung its soothing lullaby within,
and the fragrant resin bubbed out of the flaming
pine logs like the drip Of odorous tears.
"Come here, little grand-daughter-n-la law, (" said
the squire at length to the fair wife of Frank
Melworth. "Talk to me-look at me l love
to see the hazel shadows in your sweet eyes. and
to hear the soft tones of your voice What, tears
Do you imagine the old man is CROSSE Never to
sou, my little Cora%
Sand so you are satisfied with my taste in the
selection of wife, sir !" said the young man,
laughing, yet embarrassed. "You are glad l
took it into my head to get married"