The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1865-09-07
RONALD HERBERT,
Selfish Man.


10 young Lawrencoi I,,nrted with astoni,hme
Could IL be possible that nv daughter bad rea ~
met this person Could II be true, that, despite
the warnings she hal heard her brothers receive
| she hsd listened to bis addresses
''Thty will no the handsomes couple IN London,
depend upon it," added my " end.
How nAty wounds are opened by this pratIs
Of fools Tha' newsmonger did not mean 70 in-
SUIT me, and yet bad lie plunged
thOutand dsRgers in my hcHrt, he could
not have wounded me more deeply. returned
home, solved 10 question my daughter, and con.
oemning myself Tor leaving my house so conun-
uslly as 70 admit the possibility Of her formin. an
unapproved attachment. ID spite all my self
esteem, felt that hal grossly neglected. The chill.
dren God cad gwen me, and more particularly my
eldest girl; her cold aud lof,y sp.r,t bad never
tent before me; and though was proud-ex-
| csedngly proud-of her beauty, and Of the adm.
ration II excited, still I di,liked, because could
not manage her. Usually, she was with her mo-
ther, who, feeble from the efe 10 Of bodily w,Es-
ness and trembling tenestb injustice, leaned upon
her child Tor that support which sne ought W have
derived from ano.her.
ono day my mother old and inhrm, having
passed tie Emits-Ihe three-score wears and ter
OF lie was seated In the breakfas.-room with
haxen rinsleis sporting over her wrInkled brow,
anI false color rendering The ravsses Of age mors
VISIBLE upon her cheek. There che sat, like .
paued scpulchr,; ,ud rom her learned two pieces
OF iniorn anon, delivered In the same tone OF voice.
sud IN the same bresth--namely, that my wife was
much worse, and that she herself WAS fGtigued Nv
looking over some French flowers that were, te-
yond eyerytt ing sc had seen, beautiful. | DID
not wait 10 inspect the flowers, but proceeded di.
r,ety 10 the room Of my vile
Miranda was kneeling by tho tedside, her face
tushed and anxious her ewes upturned to her
mother whose thin transparent fingers were grasp
cd within the round tair rslms Of her daughters
hands they hal 10th teen weeping the tears
fingered in the burrows which care, not time, had
worn upon AdolAs face, whilo those Of her Chi a
heamci like dew upon tho rose. entered With =
quiet step, aud they heard me not upon the COW
trlet lay . note aud 4 miniature. TIE mini,tursI
III W al
renee the note directed to my vito Was oncn
snstch,d them both Miranda made violent ef.
Tort 20 wrtst them from me, but in vain with
an affected camness / sat dow TO read. Alsla I
did not look on, but Fixed my eye FOR momcn. IN
on my daughter she folded her arms over her bo-
som, and stood--pcrhIps do her Unjust CO. but I
thought more with an air Of defiance an subrnis-
sion. had never ofoto so,u her 20 unlike her
mother. Ny eyes dii not grow dizzy, nor did nv
heal swim while | road that 'e;tor IL stated tbs,
although he had svAiled himself Of his Asceudaucy
over my daughter, and prevailed upon her to con-
sent " pirate marriage which had been solemn
ized some days past humbly AMI earnestly eutreat-
ed the forgiveness OF her parent; bidding her con-
sider that my conduct had driven my dsu.hte IN
seek smother protector. There WAS much more
professions Of affection, devotion, high ambitious
hopes OF future distinction, aud many aluso ns TO
meetings which could hardly call stolen, because
sanctioned By my wife. Twice did read over th,t
fatal letter, and at first Miranda stood, AZ Lave
said by the bedside Of her mother, Stern and erect;
but, a. continued silent ! saw 1t was more than
aud slid her hand ino hcr mothers, rs II th. pres
siro q thoso poor hnsers could recall her STRENGTH
shii l spoke not; but tore thsir hands asunder;
aud, hfting Miranda from the bed to which shs
chung, hocGesh OF my wiis's cntreaties-eyen a'ter
tbs lapse Of years, they kncl upon my go ses-I
Tor ed her from the chamber ] did NOR L dragged
her down The stairs, and comm ,nding tho porter
~ open the door, thrust her INTO tho street. I
Old 1tis at the high hour Of noon, when tho sun
was shining above me, sud all nature " as in the
glory OF SUI NOR, and when the roads aud nj Ia were
Al.
door W with violence winch inside the grey head
eu servant regard me as mani,c.
returned to my wife's chamber {; l heeded ne,.
ther her weakness, nor the tears which raincJ fro,
her sunken ewes. Iupbrlide her with decsn,irr
called her by a name TOO vile TO repest. .ssr,
o. her MAT would post her and Ter daughter IN
.ne puohe nreets. mad never been what is called
scoldly selfish man all said and did WAS violent.
ana now was worse shan mad. Size fixed mon
Lie her eyes that looted hotn cold aud glus.v : a.
CLASSY and so cold, that as my wrath .6sted, and
became moro under the dominion Of reason
turned away from tEo solid sIllness Of th-ir &C.
Presently she called Herbert, ueruer in 80.
low bus perfectly d.sirc:--I could NOS avoid moy
ing TO the bed. herciiul heaven In 4, nC,gh,
that She agony Of that momen. can atone for vba,s
had psst!-l saw she wAs dying | frltit-In NV
heart ielt 1t her hyid lips settling into n,rhi.
stinness over her peAfly toeth, the huge drath
drop stidening on her brow her h.nds cI.rcb.d
tried to bend towards her, but was usralys.1
As.n she fpoke "Horhert, Herbert saw tha,
am not "5ai you called meme ~ord-"i could
You know you did me wrong; aud nv poor chiIi.,nS,
ehiidIe1-whst not word X s. ne / am dyin, 9,
ihsnauddenly she raised herself cleuched her bAnd.
WIN Tho last slrength Of life aud exclaimed "But
ilofs'e you Herbert and may God forgive you''
dead. F''"-sNo was
The room soon filled Miranda too, wa, th,,,,
ana she, my own child. cursed me- There needed
not mat curse. My boys, too, thoy SPOKE loudly
OF Ihelr ino'hers virtues anu her Wruny. ons Nt
Tie urehin clasped It's mothers hand, AID when I
"oulu nave hksn II within mine, said, while tho
'H' H,eAion Gown us iunocent cheeks, al ave ia
me, II is dead now, papa, aud can do potbin, ~,
YOU. eo-li descant for hours upon my sufi ,ilngA
mhen kne" my wife was dead Yet followed
inc SO" pacing funera, and one OF nv sveo.
ph.n's uor l was stlll master OF leu thousand I.
g'Hl 'hIe" MS coat upon the damp esrIh, uatI
nlsh. s'AuI Neieon, ami not feel the chills which
came from me vault oil death. When all WINS. in.
ueed, over when ! returned TO my homn and
walked hTougl ls sl,ut gparlments-wheu each
shHmpor each nook r minded me OF some act OF
her 'essIFe lenderness and my oyor-nerulug
seInS1hess-the boOk-shelyes beuung under The
sG,S.sNs W NY i"ourile bu1ks--lhe cOnseTvatoiies
MIei win 1hc fruits and towers in which delight
eu-the musIc-siAnds we ked Gown with the SON
AAs ana 'he songs which ste would never slug for
NC AeAh-l op'ued her writing -tGblo There Wers
we "lIhsrei leaves OF many muuutalu-how
WIN Htle scraps OF writing sguIiylng when aud
wueFo .heS were gain red IA her own sNiss home
mere wa immature OF her 'alher aud one OF my.
sell which had gwen her dur.us ths frst month.
o. our marriage enclosed with IL was small Inyr
NI-oIshSh-A present. too, from me. A slip OF pa
Pel en'o'ueu ths LACED meu.euto, ana OF 6 wa
"sllon, 'ChAnged, DuI sill doar." found an.
Lau hel'A Journal Ihe events oil many days were
noted tLrrelh anu upon the LAST page WaA Artt.n.
"a mirror Of mythOIg hts." | read and t1on,H.
some oil my seSer!ties were mentioned, they vera
palAaied, anu was prayed for