Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-04-10
MISS lNoEesoLL's STORY.

II was Just tho day for the fuheral-
dark, overcast aud windy. The short
November afternoon was darkening down
4 Into early night, M Harriet and |, shivor.
ing, drove back from the cemetery whore
We had seen our father laid to rest Moth
or, In her widows dress, crouched in a
corner, moaning aud crying icobly-moro
for the poverty. think, which had come
upon her in her old days, than for the
husband with whom. she had lived for
thirty years.
We never spoke all the way home.
Harriet looked gloomy aud sullen, and to
me tho world was all dreariness aud des.
olation. What was | TO do? Harriet,
younger than /, was married to wellto.
do stock -brok ker--had her home, her hus-
band, her four children, and could afford
to Iak5 my fathers failure calmly; but -
What was / TO dof At eight.and- twenty.
without beauty, or talents, or accomplish
ments, must begin the world. and earn
living for myself and my mother. II
hurt the Ingersol pride cruelly-but the
hard truth was there. aud not to be shirk-
ed.
We stopped before the mansion that
had long been home; that after tonight
We dare not enter. Harriet gathered up
her Grape, and swept up stairs past me,
still darkly sullen.
vi wish to speak to you, Caroline, be-
fore 90 home she said. "As we'll now
as at any other time
"Very we'll, Mrs Hammond" / said
oaldlv fhara .pas Eftla fava tn.k tot,roo,.
us sisters-'in private, or is it for
mamme's ear, .oo22.,,--~>------e
~~"In private, ii you please Mamma is
in trouble enough"
1t was something unpleasant, thenl
But knew that already, knowing Har-
riet's cold and selfish nature so well. |
led the way into the library, while mamma
crept shivering and whimperi ng, feebly
up stairs to bed
"WeIl," said, sitting down 10 the
gloom and facing her, "what is it, Har-
riet?'
ut is this, Caroline. You are beg
gar. What do you mean to do?'
II don know" drearily enough.
at is time you did, said Harriet, with
energy. you must earn your own living
l tell you frankly, my husband don't like
you, and won't offer you home with
u.s."
"And can tell you, Harriet Ham
mond," [ cried, firing up, 1.-THE dislike is
mutual. | would so 10 the workhouse
before would accept home from James
Hammond. lie need have no fears that
| will ever trouble him"
"Very WE'LL Pray don't put yourself
in passion, Caroline. Now, what do
YOU mean to do?''
81 tell you don't know" said !; 81
hadn't thought
"And [ repeat, it is high time that you
did To-morrow you must leave this.
You have neither money nor friends.
Where are you going?"
/ dropped my face on the table and
burst out crying. Oh, the unspeakable.
desolation and misery 1 felt at that mo-
ment Harriet, walking up and down the
room, looked on with stony eyes,
Mamma must come with me, of course,
and you must enter into some situation
Immediately. l don't see anything be-
fore you for the remainder of your life,
Caroline, but hard work. You are not
handsome enough to win husband, and
you can no longer call yourself young at
twenty eight You are not clever enough,
or accomplished enough for governess;
therefore, there is but one resource re.
naming between you and starvation-that
is, to 20 out as seamstress.'
| did not lift my head. l cried on,
sill tear
wept.
81 have been more thoughtful for you
than you have for YOURSELF" pursued Har-
riet. Il have found you temporary
home You embroider beautifully on
cambric and velvet, and Mrs Peters is in
want Of an embriodress. | have spoken
for you; her terms are liberal. and you
are to go there at once"
| looked up now.
"Mrs. Peters? Mrs. Peters who keeps
the boarding house?'
"The same. She wants to ornament
the parlor with fine screens, and ottomans
and sofa cushions, and she thinks you can
do ii cheaper than she can purchase. You |
will go there in the morning when you
leave here, aud in the meantime you can
advertise for another situation and more
work. After this time you must depend
upon yourself, Caroline. | have my own
household to attend to, with the addition
of mother, which, assure you, Mr.. Ham
mond does not like"
"You need not assure me; l know al
ready what selfish, misery wretch he
is" said, bitterly. "1f l do make a
living, Harriet, neither you nor he shall
be burdened with the poor old woman any
longer than can help it."
"That is we'll" said Harriet calmly;
"you have the best right to provide for
her. You are the elder. | must be going
now. You can send mamma round in an
omnibus tomorrow morning, and go your
self to Mrs. Peters. The sooner you be-
gin the better. Good day
l did not answer. She was gone, and
sank down in my loneliness and poverty
and misery, and cried miserable woman's
tears until could cry no longer.
III wish | was deadl wish l never
had been bornl'
Passionate and wicked the cry came
from the depths Of my tortured, rebellious
heart, the most earnest prayer, l think,
that ever uttered. H
The long, miserable night passed, as
such miserable nights do pass somehow,
aud the dreaded tomorrow came. There
ma - ofb.,e g.. a.. - La A. ~ko..