Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-04-27

1t was true that had conceived sucf
project, and the accusation brought 4:
glow to my cheek, which did not escape
my mother. Instantly her face cleared
she drew herself up, and turr ed OF
George in her most diguiGed manner.
After such language from you, l must
side with my daughter, Mr.. Lyttleton
and acknowledge that she las taken a
right view of your conduct she said
'Pray, sir, leave my house, and never
enter it again
George was thunderstruck. He had
never dreamt of being given up by
mother, and now asked pardon, and ]
believe would have gone on his knees,
only l quilted the room. l went uI
stairs aud waited till I should be joined
by my mother, for l felt sure that she
would come to me on Georges depar-
ture. But 1 was mistaken: He had
hardly gone when she also left the
house, and | remained in suspense.
But load seemed to be taken from my
heart. | was free, and my glass told
me that I had power to enslave There
might be difficulties to overcome but
On meeting these I should have my
mothers help, and | already counted on
triumph. l heard her return, and my
heart beat quicker, as she came straight
to my room.
L have been to the Hall, Alice she
said. The Hall = l echoed, with a
conscious blush. yes. l heard last
night that Mrs. Rushworth wanted a
companion and reader, and 1 thou ght
that, as you are now at liberty, the post
would suit you; SO | went about it at
once, knowing there would be a hundred
applicants. | have got it for you, and
you are to take up your abode there to-
morrow
l could not help looking at my moth
er as she spoke our eyes met, but now
| did not blush for saw in her hard
glance a worldliness that made me
tremble. I trembled more when my
gaze turned into my own bosom, and
beheld the same worldliness there.
All that night this image was before
me-in my thoughts, and in my snatch.
es of sleep, rising like phantom, pre-
senting my past life as blank, and my
future as an imposture. l saw myself
uulovlug and unloved, and l thought Of
a time when my youth would be gone,
my beauty withered, and I, old and for.
lorr, would be in the world without a
friend. More than this, l despised my
self as much as l had despised George
Lyttleton and the tears streamed from
my eyes as | felt what mean thing !
was. But where l had contemplated
further deception, [ now saw way
open for amendment The situation at
the Hall would deliver ME from the
thraldom of my mother, and l decided
to so there but far from retaining my
first design, l resolved to studiously
avoid Mr.. Rushwogth, and try only to
be serviceable to his mother.
At last the time arrived for starting
a fly came to the door, and we set out,
my mother and I, for the Hall. Itwas
a gloomy day; there had been a good
deal of rain, and the road which wound
round the outside of the park wall,
looked dreary. My mother sat silent,
and was too glad to be left to my
thoughts which, though sad, had fas-
cination for me. By and by we reach
ed the lodge, whence our carriage swept
round lawn to the house. Then my
mother broke silence.
You don't seem well to-day, Alice,
she said; 'and l should like you to be
looking your best; for much depends
on first appearance. You mus Mt ex-
pect this to be an affair of I came, Isap,
l conquered. 1t will be difficult and
if l had known at first what [ know
now, l should hardly have forwarded it.
1t seems Lady Charteris wants Mr..
Rushworrh for her daughter Fanny, one
Of the bellies of the county. And the
Rushworths are SO proud another OBJ
stacle l don't want to discourage you,
but | have been weighing whether |
should tell you of these things; but it
is better that you should be prepared.
And now, good bye-for 1 must leave
you at the door,
My eyes filled with tears, and l felt
impelled to throw myself on her
neck, and tell her my renouncemente
of the design and my purposes Of
amendment. But glance at her face
told. me how fatal would be the con
fession-that, instead of approval, i,
would invoke derision, and entail or
me new fetters. So I simply bade hel
adieu, and entered the house, where
intended to work out my regeneration
1t was fine old mansion-one of the
Elizabethan structures; and 1 found
myself in large hall, where suits Of
armor, and trophies of the chase, placed
between family pictures, exhibited
both the pursuits and descent of the
owners. The housekeeper, a quaint
dame to whom l had been consigned by
my mother, here directed servant tt
conduct me to the mistress of the man
sion. Mrs. Rushworth was an invalid
For years she had not left her OWL
rooms, but she sat up, and, as he
apartments opened into each other, wa
wheeled every day into her boudoir
She had been beauty, and preserved
the remains, with manner naughty t.
scorn; and of this l felt the effect il
the stare with which she received me
| I foresaw my post would be tryiDs
lone, but all anticipated fell short o
tho r,,l;tv. fcr Mrs Ruehworfh,s teu