The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-11-21
HOPE RASHLEIGH.

but when be returned he had only one
bird in his bag; though game was plenti-
ful this year and he was acknowledged to
be good shot. His cousin John Rash
leigh rallied him numerically, and Hope
said in her most disdainful way ~ thot'
the coveys would be tolerabIy safe Mr..
Watts ~ but he only laughed and admit
ted that be was muf and not worth his
salt-tbat powder and shot was thrown
away upon him-and that he would make
but sorry figure in India where men
could shoCt-with other jeerings playful
OF bitter as they might be, simply saying
"Well, Miss Hope you must have it for
breakfast some morning when | am gone;
it is the last shall shoot and I should
like you to have it."
"TO which Hope answered jindiferently,
You are very good GraDtly; but dare
say Fldo will be the Gully one to benefit by
Jour last bag do not suppose ! shall
ever see the creature"
Grantley colored and Mr. Rashlsigh
himself thought she might have been more
gracious iust-on the eve of the poor lad 5
departure, when perhaps they might never
see him again and after all, though he
was poor relation, and bad very proper.
ly never forgotten that, or gone beyond
the strictest demsrcation, yet he had been
many years in the hou1e now, and Hope
vas very young when he came, SO that if
even she had considered him almost as a
brother, no great harm would have been
done; and so on, his heart unconciously
pleading against his childs outward pride
in favor of his dependent.
Perhaps it was some such half diScom-
fort-;t could not be said to be concious
dis lspIeasure-that made him refuse Hopes
requst that evening. As usual, she was
out of funds and she had special need
for money at this moment. She wished
to help poor Anne Rogers, down with the
fever, with her husband in the hospital,
and her children destitute, and she knew
that her father would not give them a
penny; for the man had been convicted
Of poachiDg, and Annie herself did not
bear the most unblemished character, and
had seen the inside of the county jail
more than once in her life time. But
these counter pleadings did not influence
Hope; aud she thought only of the suf-
Sering family, which she could help aud
would if she had the money. Then she
wanted to make GTantley present before
be went away and she did not want her
fathe. to knOR Of it; though perhaps she
would have been puzzled to explain why
she wished to keep such trivial matter a
secret, She had never given him any
thing; rot book, nor even flower, and
be was almost tbs enly person within her
sphere so passed over; tgt now when be
was going to leave forever, she would give
him something as remembraHee--some-
thing that would make him think of her
when he was away. Poor proud Hope
come then at last to this
She knew that her father had money
in the hccse, when she %ent into the H.
brary-room to speak to him; for she saw
him put twenty pound note in his desk
yesterday; which was just the SUN she
wanted sld iudsed vas on the point of
asking for it. She would have got it had
she done SO; but to day the vane had
shifted, and for the first time in his life
be refused her, and so sternly and posi-
lively, that as much In surprise as anger
she gave up the point at once. ButEith
a sullen flush Of pride and determination
on her face, which he did not see, sitting
as be did toward the light, while she atcod
in the shadow. Ard then she lef. the
room in stately silence; oo,proud to cCax
even her father after refusal so harshly
madej though had she coaxed him as
Hope knew how TO coax, the whole thing
would have been at an end, and Johu
Rashleigh would have yielded. She was
but spoiled child, remember, whose
faults had been fosteEed by the injudicious
training of her life.
The distress ofpoor Anne Rogers press
ed upon her. Unused to opposition and
in mood more than ordinarily excitable,
everything became exaggerated, and she
laid awake through the right in a state
bordering upon mania, feeling herself to
be coward ard murderess in net exc
cutipg the righteousness of wiz, and tax
ing from her father what be would not
but ought to freely give. Was net hu-
manity before mere obedience Was she
to let fellow creature die rather than
take what could bespared SO vel, and what
she had the right to demandf Yes, BY
right; her fathers money was hers as well,
if not by law, yet moral justice, and ifhe
made cold and churlish steward, it was
her duty to supply his defects and let the
poor benefit by his superauities. All the
wild reasOniDgs of willful mind aiding
the impulses of generous heart passed
through her brain that night, and when