Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-03-02
MY srRATAaHM.
BY MRS. n. ROBINSON.


ed me to the tender care of Mrs. Yepsy
his housekeeper. At the age of twenty
Eve, Ifervently hated every woman in the
world but her. It would be too mortify'
ing to me, and dyl1Rud uniuteresting tc
you, were I to recapitulate the causes which
bred dislike so keen and intense. Imay
just hint that Althea Brand (who is now q
Madame, with an ugly German name, ut
tsrly unpronoupteably) had something to
do with my misanthropy.
II led quiet, somewhat secluded life
life Of my own designing. Ismoked and
read, or went to the club, or on excursions
when chose, with 20 one to question my
motives. I congratulated myself in a grim
sort of a way, when alone and, sub rosa
soue regrets, not quite stitled tugging al
my bosom,-on my freedom, which fero'
ciously declared would not be despoiled
of.
Imagine my alright, my horror, when
the following epistle came to hand:
.'Mn. BERNARD ST.. GILES Il am dy-
ing. Tire only relative you have in the
world will coon be an orphan. confide
her to your care, knowing your magma.
uimity and beuevolence." ["Qualties no one
else is aware Of" I savagely annotated. ]
"Please make necessary arrangements for
her provision. Do this for the sake OF
your dying cousin. AGATHA FReTH."
szIcould not wholly resist this plea, though
deputized Mrs. Yepsy, who was in every
respect capable woman, to do what my
conscience told me should have given my
personal supervision 10.
In weeks time, my housekeeper re
turned. saying she had procured board for
FlorelIe Froth in a very worthy family, and
tuition at a proximate seminary; so I, with
= deep, relieved inspiration, dismissed my
uuweleome protege from my mind, with
out any inquiries relative TO her appear
ance, and Mrs. Yepsy was too discreet to
furnish grstuitous information.
At heclose year, Tiny note, in
schoolgirls hand, came to my address.
I was angry and annoyed. did not an
aver it. For five years these dreaded mis-
sives arrived with persistent punctuality.
l could not shut my eyss TO the fact that
= the unknown writer had improved rapidly
in these FIVE years. though no very great
depth of thought was perceptiblc; yet the
chirography WAS elegant; the spelling, for
n wonder, beyond criticism; while those
glaring idiosyncrasies characterizlng roman
tic young ladyhood were apparent. At
last, she announced that she had graduated
and was going home with the dearest girl
In the world."7 ''..'
I read this from tiny sheet Of perfumed
"bath," under tue halllamp, before going
to Mrs. Judge Finch's reception. I had
hardly paid my compliments to that excel
lent lady, before the Judge took my arm,
and nodding toward petite young girl,
whom I had already noticed as seeming to
bewitch young and old with her spirited,
piquant. ways, said: "a young friend OF
my daughter, Miss Florelle Froth. Shall
present you2" II. ,-.',.1' SIS,
mo excuse me-" And as the Judge
moved away, drew back in the shadow ol
curtain and watched my ward. l had all
along fapcied that my bank-bills were de.
.veloping q pale.faced, Haxen.ringleted little
thing, would, some day, in a fit Of ro-
nance, slope with fictitious lord, and then
return to me dying; to con6de twins to my
care, Whish" :" Would in turn educate. l
was. NOT, at all prepared for the contrast to
my -ip,sginings that the sparkling ,sylph
ptessnted to my dazled perceptions. 4e::,.
returned to my domicil, dreaming of a
faify:in crimson silk, with scarlet roses in
per hair; and tie next morning becsme the
recipient Of The subjoined gushing, but not
positively complimentary, note: III
s"sMfsDs&R OhD GuAaD1AN:-Willy you
Dot ribW me 70 come and see your i am
q e.! asss Is city stopping Il Judge Fnct's. Is
heap acquaintance. .of .yopra, Just give
maqpsrm;ssisp to visit yop, you precious
cd ssslows and essesif gpn regret itls, /
know how 10 compound at least atduzsn
btspstatisdE FOR tightening sissaf Q. tol the
as!ps y y lsIs sis aaf asskstsh Sd.abp
xhiS sdeaaHsnr. Yaarg)lS md gst Jonr
nn,t a ard alinysero en1 s.ata <,r,Al ~. .,,,.