The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-07-31
wooDsFIELD MONROE COUNTY. ! OHIO JUBY 81 1866.

/, ed me.
d s'You have always been the best oi
, girls, she said, tenderly, "and I am glad
you have had confidence in me. I did
not mean to leave home this year; but
NOW | will take yousto the seaside. You
must have change, my poor darling"
She kissed me, and l remember how
calm and happy felt in that gray room
: sitting by my dear aunt sside, and look.
J ing at the starry sky. The nightingale
was singing again as on that sad evening
when had felt so broken hearted; tears
rose to my eyes when I remembered it
and his last kindness, and my foolish
withered hopes; but the bitterness was
gone from my sorrow.
"You mus. have change" said my
aunt again.
i Alasl the change came in the morning
| My aunt was late for breakfast. I went
up to her room and found her calmly
i sleeping. But, oh! 700 calm, too deer
were those slumbers. The kind eyes
which were rested on me in love, were
closed, the voice which had ever spoken
in praise and endearment was silenced for
lever.
/ suppose it was not Jessie's fault that
her husband was my aunt's heir-at- law;
but 1 found it very hard. Poor dear
aunt, she always did mean to make will
in my favor, and she never did. Mr.. Nor
iris behaved very handsomely, was told.
lie gave me the piano which had been
bought for me, and few other articles Of
no great value, and all my aunt's ward
robe. He kept the jewels, which were
very fine, and the furniture, for which, as
he said truly enough, l had no USE
Moreover, he allowed me to remain in the
cottage till Lady day; though, perhaps, as
he could not live in two houses at time,
and must pay the rent whether / staid
there or not, this was no such great favor
after all. God forgive me, I fear was
very sinful during the dark days that fol-
lowed. had some friends who did, or
rather said their best; but there was one
who never came near me, who gave me
no token of his existence, who had no
kind word for me, who let me struggle
through my hard trial, and who never of
fered helping hand. He might at least
have written, have condoied with me in
my sorrow, but he did not. And yet, he
was in the neighborhood. He was often
at Mrs. Norris house. Jessie herself
told me so. True, he had business to
transact with her husband; but still, how
could he do it?
| He did it, and he did more. Mr.. Nor
ris was thrown off his horse one morning
and brought home dead. Jessie became a
widow, and poor ono, said the world
Mr.. Norris was not rich man, after all,
and left many debts. I only went to see
her once. I found her cold, callous, and
defiant under afliction; yet would have
gone again if Mr.. Thompson had not
been Mr.. Norris executor. He had bu-
siness with the widow, and l could only
interfere; besides I could not bear to see
them together. 1t was very wrong and
very useless, but it was so. Mrs. Gray
often came to see me. I cannot say she
comforted me much. She gave me world
OF wearisome advice, and told me much
that 1 would rather not have heard
What was it to me now, that account;
kept him SO often and so late with Jessiei
They were both free, and if he chose to
forgive her and marry her, and if she
chose to marry once more for money!
say it again-and what was it to me?
| And yet I suppose it was something
after all for when Mrs. Gray left me one
} afternoon in February I felt the loneliest
!, being on this wide earth. She had harp
ed again upon that hateful string-tha
Mr.. Thompson seemed quite smltten with
Mrs. Norris. "And what dc you think
my DEAR" she added, che thought yor
were gone. He seemed quite surprised
;. when 1 said I had seen you on Sunday
what, is she not gone, he asked, 'gons
to London?' NO, indeed. What should
she 60 to London tor?, He did not an
swer that. but from something said,
; saw he thought you were engaged to b.
:. married. 4 wish she were, poor DEAR
> replied; lit is hard case to be SO youns
and so lonely.
: I do not know how long Mrs. Gray hat
been gone, when Carlo gave short bark
0 the gate bell rang; I saw tall dark form
pass across the window, and my littl
maid opened the door, saying:
"Mr. Thompson, ma'am."
. rose. He came in with his umbrella
t as usual, and Carlo went up to him ant
wagged friendly welcome. | could NO
j say one word. I was dreadfully agitated
l felt quite sure he had come to tell m
g that be meant to marry Jessie, and to as
me to go and stay with them, or some
y thing Of that kind. Nothing else coul
| have brought him. Or, perhaps, as Jes
y sic had, no doubt, told him that l wa
: gone, he had, on learning the truth, fel
g ashamed of his coldness, and had com
e to make some sort of an excuse. He ha
| none, but asked how | was, took chail
looked rather hard at me, and withou
e waiting for an answer, feared he was ne
very well.
d "Ohl | am not i'll you know" replie
little carelessly. Il trust you are vel
h Mr.. Thompson"
so He said he was very we'll, and locke
at the fire. For awhile We were both S
lent. l spoke first. My remark W
= scarcely gracious one.
II Il heard that you were SO much e.
gagged that I scarcely expected to s.
70 you"
le I was vexed with myself as soon as
" had said it. He might think | was a
noyed at his long absence, and, surely,
I mos not Rnt he took NV imnliad r