The mountain Democrat., 1863-01-17
LETTING IN THE NEW YEAR
BY TANHT Il. ROCHESTER,.

heiress, but since the insolvency and dealt
Of her father, she bad made only too fa
miliar acquaintanceship with poverty
Little, indeed, did the inhabitants Of Pine
vile suspect that the pale, weary-lookinl
seamstress, who had come . strange
among them and rented the Wolcott Cot
tage, and who depended chiefly for be-
subsistence on the patronage Of Judg,
Wolcott's faON2:-, 15z3 GGcc, in distan
city, moved among the highest in the lanC
and bceG eHeu the hen4 Rf Der sex.
And on this night the heart of Grace
was heavy. Though it was nearly mid
night she still piled her needle, and hel
tears fell fast as she sewed. She wa,
thinking of the festive party up at the
hall, with its lights and flowers, and music
and 9sneiNg; and she pictured the portly
old judge, once her friend, gaily leading
the revelS; and another, younger and
handsomer than even the judge had been
in his best days, who was also alienated
from her.
Mrs. Dean sat slumbering in her chair
occasionally waking to bemOan their hard,
bard fate, that they had again to seek
their fortunes in . strange place but the
mother knew nothing Of the deeper sor-
row Of the daughter, and Grace vowed
that she never should, though her own
heart broke for it.
Grace had been sewing at the Wolcott's
when Mrs Wolcott was seized with q ma.
lignant fever. The servants had fed in
dismay, leaving only the invalid's two
daughters to take care Of her; and these
were young, ignorant, and necessarily in.
efficient In this emergency Grace had
rendered her services
All through Mrs WoIcott's long and
dangerous illness, Grace nursed her faith
fully and tenderly. For many days the
room was kept darkened and quiet; Madge
and Fanny lowering uneasily about, obey.
ing Grace's suggestions with the docility
of children, while the judge and his son
Richard would steal in softly and sic be.
side the sufferer, while Grace rested.
At length came the days Of convalcsc-
ence, and now the family gathered in Mrs.
WOIcOtt's room, and whiled away the
hours with reading and pleasant converse.
tion and when she was stronger, there
were long, pleasant evenings in the luxu.
rious parlor$, when Madge played and
Richard and Fanny sang, and Grace sal
by Mrs. Wolcott'S side, quiet and very
happy.
Ia those days, ali social distinction ap.
peared to be forgotten, and the poor seam.
stress was treated as q valued friend. -
Grace never could forget the evening when
Mrs. Wolcott first Joined the family at the
tea table. Judge Wolcott carried her Out
in the dining room, while the rest follow.
cd. II was . warm, pleasant evening.
The windows were open, and the sweet
odorS aud sounds Of summer came steal.
ing in. Mrs. Wolcott motioned Grace tO
a seat beside her, saying:
4 have had Grace by me so long,
should feel lost without her.
They were all in high spirits, glad and
grateful, and happy that the danger had
passed, and the beloved wife and mother
was with them as Of old.
Grace sat and listened to the cheerful
flow Of words, but felt strangely-she
could not eat Richard, who sat opposite,
~ ohA oSiOS
Miss Dean looks like an invalid her
self
4 faintneSS came over Grace, and she
fell inSensible. When she awoke to con-
sciousness again, she was lying on q sofa,
and the family we're grouped around with
anxious faces. Madge was bathing her
head, and Grace heard the physician'S s
voice, saying:
1t is the fever; she is worn out with her
exertions in your sick room, madam, and
will need the best Of care.'
Grace was weak and helpless as q child,
and Mr.. Wolcott carried her up stairs.
Then came blank. Sometimes she would
see kind, anxious faces beside her; then
all would be dark again. But it. messed messed !: :; g,
length, ;;aat terrible illness and then it
was SO pheasant ~ uc carried into the sit
ting room nose pleasant autumn morn
ings, ,'!e Mrs. Wolcott, who was now
quite stored, occupied her usual place,
Mae usually busted herself about her
er robbery, and Richard often read to
E IN, while Fanny fitted about like lit.
= huInming bird as she was. While
race grew stronger, she often went out
IN the carriage with Mrs. Wolcott, and
sometimes one or both of the young Ia
dies.
When the danger of Infection was over,
things fell more into their regular course
Grace returning to her mother at the
cottage. But she was, nevertheless, al.
most constantly at the hall where, though
nominally still the seamstress, her position
in the household was entirely changed
Whenever the family spent the evening al
home alone, she often Joined them in the
parlor, and afterwards servant would be
sent to accompany her home, or the Judge
or his son would walk down with her.
It drew near Christmas. Some guests
had arrived several days before, among
whom was Mrs. Landsdowne, (Mrs. VOL
colts sister,) and her daughter Minnie
with Maud Redfeld, an old school friend
Of the Misses WOlcOtt. Nothing could bs
more unlike than the fair, Violet.eyed Min
ME LandsdOwne, and the dark, regal beau
" Of Maud Red6eld; and Grace felt dis
like to the latter, as she did q preference
for the former. The antpathy seemed L
be mutual, for whenever they met, Mis-
Red6eld regarded Grace with naughty
stare that deepened her dislike.
One day, after Miss Red6eld's arrival
Grace met Richard on the stairs. HI
greeted her cordially, saying, where d.
you keep yourself these pleasant days
Miss Deanl I'm afraid our guest almos
frighten you into making prisoner 0
yourself
Grace blushed more at his manner. thar
his words, and before she could reply, I
voice said: ..n
1 am ready, Mr-WOlcOtt,' and looking
up she saw Miss RedAsld standing at th'
head Of the stairs, dressed for . ride
Richard answered with q bow and smile
and offered her his arm, while she gAv'