Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-02-25
THE EVENING STAR.
LOSSES AND GAIN.
leo NfINUKD.


TconrINUKD.l
Miss Granger was large, plun1p, blonde
nan, about forty years Of age, with GER
tain self conscious state!iness and grandeur,
we'll betting her importance aS the lady OF
manor house. There was nothing faint or
feeble about her, and her prejudices In partic-
est prejudice WAS In favor Of knowing every
body, with whom she was brought into any
close contact " from their cradle" She had
spent her whole forty years At Sherwood, q
small and isolated village where ali the tamil
lies native to 1t were retculatsd into perfect
net work Of kindred by inter.marriages ana
hold was patent to her, and patronized BY her.
A oaJk. mysterious episode, brooded over Dy
dire suspicion, was any prolonged absence
scarcely to be redeemed by an unbroken course
OF decorous and virtuous conduct through q
protracted season Of probation. Foreigners
we're not purely English she counted such,
Until yesterday morning she had not known
that was born at all and now came, ueith-
or English born nor English bred, ts d well un-
der the same root in close domestic inter-
course: Since Mr. Changers departure, she
TO which she had always been opposed and
studied with an appalling interest a work en-.
titled Botany Bay; or, The Penal Settlements Of
Wet history of the colony as it had been thirty
or forty years before. When her brother plac.
ed me face to face with her, she ventured her
IIs to my cheek with as much caution and
rapiGity as if she were touching an icicle from
the 1ringed caves, and fell back instantly after
the freezing salute The younger lady, who
was also q tall, fair haired woman, resen-
bling Miss Granger, was more prodigal in her
cssesses, as women are apt to be in the pres
ence of lover; she folded me impressively in
arms, with considerable show of Affection
ate sympathy, for which she was rewarded
by MIR. Gralnger kissing her hand with an air
OF courtly homage, and drawing a chair near
TO hers, after he had seated me in one opposite
the trio
In the mirror above the marble chimney.
piece / couG see myselfperched nm com ortabty
upright u, ,or my chair, having vague recoi-
lection OF my mother telling me, when was
child, that the ladies in England never lolled
upon their sents. conversation about nv
husbands relatives, in the course Of which I
was inform. d that Miss Yardley's great.aunt
wss cousin s 10 Karry,s mother, gradually
merged into q magisterial examination of nv.
s.lf. conducted by Miss Granger.
Mrs. Henry Granger" she began, "you
are aware hat We know absolutely nothing Of
Your anteceGsnts and connexions. 1t is most
remark abie circumstance that Harry never
mentioned your lame in his comm ur4cation
to us, nor indeed the name OF any young single
~ am afraid" interrupted alphabetically,
"that Harry Lad no idea OF marrying me till he
was just startirg home, or else he would have
spoken of noe, dare say"
May / inquire what your maiden name
vast asked Miss Granger.
"Fictoria Sydney Burke" replied and
"reminiscences Of the great criminal of that
name no coubt flashed across her troubled
mind: my brother Will Is lawyer in Sgd
road. Tom, my youngest brother, is assistant
relations.''
O. Did you bring your marriage certificate
with you :" she asked.
"Ch, dear, no.'' 1 exclaimed; ~ never
thought OF such thing. But we could get it
any cay at orke street chapel, where we were
married.
Married at chapel. - cried Miss Granger,
who, with all the people OF Sherw God, was q
staunch churchwoman. "a Granger married
at chapel! Jumped over broom stick nine
tiu,cs. suppose
Il never b. ard of such a custom in the
cclcny," | answered, partly perplexed and
partly lrritated- 1--WE have not all the sacts
there that you have here, dare say. But
tcld W i'll directly after that we had been mar
rIed there, and he said what could not be cured
must be enoureu."
Eliza" in:erposed Mr.. >Granger. "Cap-
tam Thompson's letter was quite satisfac-
tory"
Miss Granger was silent for fe W minutes,
fiancing over the pages OF her volume on
R0tGRg Bay, VI lille Mr.. Granger and Miss
1ardi:y con veTsed apart, she with an air of
maIGcniy condfscensiop, and he with looks and
tenes OF 81, the most rs fineh Difference l watched
ITEM all with tuTtiSe but keen inspection.
" Were You horn i'll Australia = suddenly
inquired my examiner.
I'VE were all born in the colony 1 said
with menrntuI pride ''My father EN- grated
from Ireland when lac was quite young, aud
my mother was native of Paramatta, but her
parents wert English. don't think we have
any relations 1tvlbg iii England. l am sure
none ever wrote 10 US"
Miss Granger paused again, as she uneasiy
rt1elItu 10 the index OF her Guide to the Penal
settlements for the town of paramatta, until her
misgIying conquered every dictate of hospital
ity and good breeding.
GU are very young, my DEAR she said in
sinuatiDgly; 81 40 not be afraid of US. We shall
rot judge you. or any body else, harshly. But
you " Guild relieve my mind very considerably
II YOU could inform me for what reason your
parents emisTated to Botany-I mean to the
Australian settlements. DON'T be afraid of con-
Hiding liz us ~
uftS red tho i'm parcussiva
aid patTonising accent but it was utterly i'm.
possible that my colonial susceptibility on this
Point should leave me in ignorance as 10 har
meaning. L, thr daughter of free settlers, who
lad never spoken on equal terms with any
descendant OF convict, was asked significantly
tcr what reason my parents had emigrated! I
spTang from my seat. and confronted my anaZ-
Cd guardian with flaming eyer and hurried,
quiyering lips.
feet with rage ~ will not stay in this house
for night. She means that my father
vas transport-a teion. will go back to
Syaney in the next steamer. You have no
right to detain me here. l am a married wo-
man.
Dir. Granger left his seat by Miss Yard
ley, and drew 70 his side soo;hlngly,
with his arm round my shoulders, while he
lowered his voice in very quiet and soft
tone.
"Come, come, my chi,d be calm" he said
ELIZA did Lot mean to hurt you. It is neces.
kary for you to stay with us for time, and you
will grteve me If you do not live here, in Har-
rvs home, contentedly. You shall stay as nv
OWE peculiar guest. Here In England we are
not accustomed to see married women like
you wandering about without any protec.
ton. There, go away to your own room for
to night; and tomorrow you shall show me
all poor Harry's papers. LayiHia, will you
have the goodness to accompany this poor
grll''
Miss Yardlsy passed her arm round nv
shoulders when Mr.. Grainger's had rested, and
conducted me up stairs, ying until she had
completely pacified my brief passion. When
she had soothed me into suf1cient degree Of
quielness, she commenced her own private in.
Sestigation.
"Poor Harryr' she sighed. "You are aware,
my love, that ne went out on business for MIR.
Granger? Doyou know whether he succeeded
or not :"
I've never talked about business" l an.
svered, sobbing again at the mention Of
Harrys Lame, ssbecause we were only married
three weeks. But am arr i'd he failed, for he
said one day he wished he had died at home
he had done more harm than good by coming
out.n
I've shall know for certain TO- morrow" she
said, glancing round at a hug. pile of trunks