Litchfield enquirer., 1867-08-15
50 dreary to her as they seemed now !!

frellit I darkness of her tFiigit M % drawing ing rooms, with her dimpled hands clasped be- hind her waist. T nevet Sare for any one now as I cared for-for Gilbert; and I dare say I shall keep cat, and grow fond of green tea, and scandal, and sewing circles An, well-a-day! life cannot last forever!" 1 A dreary comfort that for girl of nine teen summers.
 She rang the bell with an impatient jerk
 Are there any letters, Sanderson?'
 ''One, ma'am; it came by the evening i post about five minutes ago." 1 'Light the gas then and give 1t to me. Blanche sat down by the fire and opened 1 the letter, suppressing yawn. 1 "Black- ged-and black sealed! So D DOT Mrs. Marchmont is gone at last ! 1t was from the executors of Miss Pen roy's distant cousin, formally and briefly place in one of the West India Islands some months since; but of which the ''mel- ancholy news, as the letter ran, had only just been received. It was not entirely un- expected, as Mrs. Marchmont had for some years been slowly fading out of the world, victim to hereditary consumption. Leaving one child, Q son." slowly re- peated Blanche, leaning her cheek on her hand, and looking down into the fiery quiv- CT of the white hot coals. "Poor little fellow! he must feel nearly as desolate and alone as l do! Only have one advantage -l have at least sufficiency of this worlds goods; and this orphaned child must be thrown penniIess and alone on his own re- sources, for if I remember alright, Mrs. Marchmont forfeited all the wealth of her first marriage by her second alliance with the poverty stricken lawyer whose death plunged her into such bitter mourning. That was a genuine love-match yet how much grief and trouble it brought with it, leaving one child, a son!' Why should | not adopt the stray waif, and make it the business of my life to cherish and comfort him? l have no object of existence; here is one which Providence seems to point out to me-"
 Once more she rang the bell with fresh color glowing ill her checks, and a new light in her eyes.
 Bring in my writing case immediately, s'anderson, and get ready to take a letter to the post for me as soon as possible"
 The old servant obeyed, wondering at his mistress unwonted energy and yet well pleased to see some of her old animal tlon returning
 "She do look more like herself to night, do Miss Blanche, than she has for Q long time, he said to his housekeeper, as he came down after obeying her summons. C only wish Miss Blanche would take a fancy to some nice, proper behaved young man; 1t don't seem nohow right that she should live all by herself in this big house, so forlorn-like."
 The housekeeper nodded sagaciously to all Mr. Sanderson's propositions. She full ly agreed with him: "Only Miss Blanche was too wilful ever to hear word of ad- vice."
 It was very simple and unconscious let ter that Blanche Penroy wrote to her 'sfar- away cousins executors from the fullness of her heart
 II shall never marry now," she wrote. and it seems to become my plainly indicated duty to un- dertake the care of this orphan child of Mrs March monts With your approval, therefore, propose to adept him. and endeavor, as far as s in my power. to supply the place of his lost mother You may at first deem me rather young to undertake 1 so grave and serious responsibility but was nineteen last month, and I am very, very much l older m thought and feeling than my years. Of course, at my death the child will inherit the pro- perty which was left to me by my deceased pa | rents. r
 Il hope my cousins executors are like 1 the nice, white-headed old lawyers one reads about i.l novels,' said Blanche to herself, as she folded the little perfumell sheet of pink paper, "and not cross old Judges, talking of 'expediency' and 'ap- propriativeness, for I do so much want somebody to love and care for; and some how I've sort of premonition that this little fellow will be nice and rosy and love- able. think I'll teach him to call me aunty.''
 Just week subsequently,, prim, legal note was received from Messrs Alias and Corpus, the deceased lady's executors, sta ting that they saw no valid objection to Miss Penroy's very laudable projects, and that, in accordance thereto, the child of the late Mr. Marchmont would arrive at Miss Penroy's residence on the following Saturday nIght.'
 Saturday night-and this is Friday, 5 ejaculated Blanche, with a new brightness dancing in her hazel eyes. 70 how glad shall be! Sanderson, tell Mrs. Brown to have the blue room fitted up immediately for Master Marchmont, and you had better go yourself to the depot with the carriage, at five tomorrow afternoon to meet him. ;
 Yes ma am" said Sanderson, stolidly | The apparitlon of a great unruly boy tramping with muddy boots on the velvet carpets and haunting the house with ball and marbles, and lung-splitting halloes, did not possess the charm to Sanderson's eyes that 1t seemed to do for his mistress. And even patient Mrs. Brown remarked with a species of exasperation, that 6 she didn't see what put this freak into Miss Blanche $ head"
 Saturday was day of hail and tempest, and softly falling snow, and by five o'cIp Ipck the drawing rooms were lighted, anH the crimson silk curtains closely drawn, to ex- clude the stormy darkness without. Six times within the last fifteen minutes had Blanche Penroy looked at her watch, as she stood by the fire waiting to hear the re- turning carriage wheels. She was dressed in g rich China-blue silk dress, with pearl pin and ear-drops, and little point lace at her throat and wrists, and the color in her cheeks, and the golden glimmer in her bright hair, made her, unconsciouslv. very fair to look upon.
 O, I hope-I hope he will be like me. ' thought Blanche, with that instinctive year. ming for love that comes to every woman's heart as the door opened.
 "Here's the young gentleman, Miss. , !! said Sanderson, with half-suppressed sound between a laugh and a snort. D,,4 1e oL: e