The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-03-12
NTHE AND |.
BY FANNY NEwBERRY.

two years had been mistress of my
fathers fine old country house, when
one day he came into the library
where | was busting the books, say
ing, excitedly:
What do you think, Pet D.? Your
Uncle Harry has just died, leaving his
only child In my care, and | suppose
they are already on the ocean. Here
the letter, if you wan { to read it.
Think ! | didn't know what to
think; so, very naturally, ! over
Whelmed him with questions.
Uncle Harry, the rich Indian
planter, who lost his wife several
wears ago 2 And is that child the
baby girl she left him Why she
can't be more than seven or eight
years old now. What am to do with
such a baby, and who's to bring her
here p
MY father laughed good-naturedly
at my excitement, and. for reply, babe
me read the letter which would ex-
plain all; and calling Tiger, who was
| lazily catching flies on the hearth
rug, strobe out of the room, Whistled
through the hall, and finally burst in
to a merry little song as he stepped on
the lawn.
/ hastily seated myself to a quiet
perusal of the unexpected letter, and
| found it a dying request from my
mothers brother, that papa would
care for the child with a parents ten
derness. He spoke Of her as wilful,
but affectionate, and easily guided
when love held the reins. A native
woman, her much loved Nanny"
was to accompany her. as also a friend,
Mr.. St. Clair. The latter gentleman
had added a p. S., giving the particu-
| lars of Uncle's death, and the name
| of the steamer on which they were to
take passage.
[ must confess to a sudden interest
/ in Mr.. ST. Clair. This was caused by
| the chirography of the p. S., so de-
cided and manly.
1t was almost as good as a photo
| graph, i thought, to give me an insight
| into his character So, in a tumult
| of expectation and pleasure, [ hastily
! glanced down the list of /" Arrivals ;"
In the morning journal that lay at
my side, and there, sure enough, was
| the very steamer mentioned in the
! letter, dated the 18th This was the
18th, so they would be here on the
afternoon train, | reflected in sudden
CONSERVATION, and Immediately
rushed into the kitchen to in
form the housekeeper Of the
news. Then followed a converse
ton in which sleeping-rooms, tur-
keys, buildings, orphan children, and
| railroad accidents were blended in a
hopeless tangled Well, when after
noon came, you may be sure l looked
my prettiest. 1t was not often a
stranger appeared in our neighbor-
hood, and then papa always liked to
see me we'll dressed.
As | stood before the mirror, [ had
a full length view Of tall, slender
figure, robed In white muslin; hair
well, we'll call it auburn, though it
flashed a very decided fire in the sun
but who cared for that when they
noted the complexion that accom-
panied it, pure and fair, with just a
dash of red on cheek and lip |
smiled rather complacently, and as /
caught sight of the cleaning teeth
and shy, childish dimples, | decided
that | was very pretty indeed
Do you call me vain and cOnceited
Not at al. This beauty was from nc
virtue or talent of my own, but a gift
from God, which gave me the same
pleasure as an exquisite painting, OF
a perfect piece Of statUary.
[ was scarcely seated on the broad
piazza, screened by fragrant iessa-
| mine vines. when I heard the click Of
p the carriage gate. Peeping between
the leaves, / saw Tom, the cOachman
urge our fiery bays into their most
brilliant sweep round the circular
drive. then rein up so suddenly as tC
nearly overthrow the carriage. Papa
glanced up with a muttered curse al
Toms fine airs, then said IN his mos
gracious tone:
" Welcome to Wildlawn. Mr.. st
4 Clairr' calling out at the same time
e Puss! pussl where can the chilC
be p ,,,n
through the low French window
into the drawing room, from whence
she soon leisurely issued, looking a:
cool and dignihed as possible! You
don't suppose | was going to let Mr.
st. Clair know I was trying to catch
glimpse Of him through the lattice
do you? especially as my >urreptitiOu
: attempt was a complete failure. tina
: gentleman having most prOvOkingl,
7 kept his head bent overa little bundl
, Of humanity upon the seat beside him
But papa 5 CHEEKY voice, All her
I she comes Ny daughter, Mr. 81
Clairl" forced him to rise and turn.
A pale. high bred face, with br0a.
= forehead projecting over deep-seatet