Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-11-26

The girls had gone as far AS to exchange
many secret thought and cherished hope,
and to confess the conviction that some
mysterious attraction drew them together
when Miss Clara obtained permission of Mrs
Burnham to go to Beech Grove, forty miles
up the Hudson, in company with Miss Aus
tin, the goyerness, on Friday afternoon
Her parents had written that they would re-
turn by the next steamer, and she must see
that the place was in perfect readiness for
them. They had not requested it, but Mrs
Burnham perceived that the wish was rea-
sonable one, and the reasonable wishes were
those she was to grant Forthwith, then,
Clara conceived the wish that Julia should
be of the little party.
That was why Julia went home on Thurs
day looking as bright as If she had been H.
Illuminated. II her mother gave consent, then
tomorrow about this time they would be
riding TO the depot, Or perhaps already on
the train, whizzing up the river. On the
stair she met Joe and shared her pleasant
anticipation with him, and he thought so
well OF the plan that he expressed his hope
that their mother would see nothing obec-
tionable in it, But the mother saw SO much
more than she could express that was obec-
tionable that Julia was Obliged to go back to
Clara tlle next morning and say. mo Beech
Grove for me.
| Ahdt was uOl tlit termination WHICH was
usually given TO Miss Clara's plans, and she
promptly said,
5" shall put Off my trip until next week,
then, and go sec your mother about il Mrs.
Burnham will have to let me out this very
afternoon"
" 1t will do no good Julia answered.
She had never invited Clara into the
rooms they occupied, ant. did not intend to
do so now. "Motlier is not to be persuaded
when she has made up her mind. And she
will not like being teased. shall not 90
any sooner for your teasing | warn you,
| let that alone"
"She will not refuse to see me, | sun
pose" said Clara, little proudly. ssShe-
| beg your pardon, Julia, but am going to
be as ruds as posslble-and you need not
put on airs with me as if l were an infant
l am as Old as you are, every day, and
Shall go home with you, unless you run
away and leave me lost in the streets. Oh,
julie, you don't know me yet II
- Shall not run away from you, you may
depend, Clara; and | hope Mrs. Burnham
Will give you permission" Julia answered
with dignity; she was a little touched by
Clara's last words, and it now occurred to
her that If Mrs Burnlam did give consent,
perhaps Joe would be about, and much she
wanted Clara should see that splendid broth
er Of hers. He was somebody to be proud
| of.
You may just imagine, II YOU eau, what
my condition would have been by this time
shut up in this great prison, without you.
hate il, and everything about it, You have
kept me nlive. want to tell your mother
that. She don't half appreciate you, or she
| would have been glad enough to send you
out of town for a breath of fresh air, when
| you know how much you need it," So
| Clara went on.
| The bell rang-.le young ladies' took their
| places. When they next saw each other
Clara nodded gaily at Julia, in way thai
made the owner or every desk intervening
smile, and Julia knew that she had gained
her point and would go home with her in
the afternoon. IL was positively moi to be
helped. The visit was decreed.
Clara went home with Julia, and found
herself in the home of decent poverty which
TTeeslnss.filesdi iseg Rereeiyag tbs she auietY
have walked into Mrs. Bentlys arms had
they but opened to receive her 1t seemed
u strange thing 10 her, who had all her life
found doors opening to her even in the most
unexpected places, that she made so little
progress here. II was as il n door had been
shut in her face, instead of opened, as she
followed Julia up the stairs into the room
occupied by Fer mother The look Of sur
prise with which Dorcas turned from her
daughter to the youthful stranger was not
lost on Clara, for whom il was perhaps in
tended, but she, undauutod, felt that she
could make her way. AT Beech Grove she
never met with opposition, and the training
had prepared her TO advance through the
world by any path she was pleased to take.
81 came to beg you not TO teach me how
to take no Tor an answer, Mrs. Bently." she
said, when few words not casily chosen
had passed between them. ''Il is because
we are strangers--our families, mcan-.that
| YOU do not like 10 have Julia 20 with me
That fault can he rcnedicd. We need not
be strangers any longer, need we."
She sat down beside Mrs. Dcntly. She
was the most beautiful girl in the world, Julia
had said: she had the most winning voice
Dorcas, looking at Clara, was no, disposed
| to question 1t. She had her wish now. The
| girl was under her rout, and grave and stern
were TIE questioning eyes she fixed upon
her. What was there in the gaze to tcrrify?
As Clara met It, she turned quickly toward
Julia, for she felt in her secret heart fright
cned; but Julia had gone across the room,
and was drawing the blinds together. With
nervous trepidation she went on, waiting
only an instant Tor the answer, which in that
insart was not given.
II brought some photographs with me,
she said, ''of mother and the place-Beech
Grove, you know. thought you would
like To sec just where was going to take
Julia; and this is my mother. And here is
father, but it is not in the least like him.
lie is ever SO much better-looking And
younger. ihi k him very handsome. But,
you see, he looks like quite an old man
here
Miss Clara in her haste drew Mrs. Bentlys
workable toward her, and in that haste
there WAS quite as much desire to cover the
strange confusion she felt as determination
to gain her cause. Whether Mrs. Bently
| cared to see the pictures or not, was not her
question: She spread them out, and Julia,
painfully excited by the reception Clara h d
met, lowered around smiling. And now all
at once the atmosphere of the room seemed
to change. Mrs. Bently betrayed kindly
interest and sympathy, of which The mo-
ment before she had scem'.d incapable. This
was Beech Grove was il the place about
which her daughter had dreamed and talked
so much Aad these were Miss Claras
parenis-were they ?--her father and her
mother?
Beech Grove had indeed abundant repre-
sentation. There We're views of the house
taken from east, west, north and south.
Lawn, garden, grove, rustic arbprs, rustic
fences, fountains, croquet- ground, statuary,
every attraction the place presented haG been
icleCteu ny tHc Sun--edcll picture cnllYencu |
by family groups and iavorite animals.
Hosea was everywhere, the owner of all this |
beauty. Yes, there was but one Hosea in |
the world: the heart of Dorcas had instruct
ed her Alright Mrs. Bently studied all these
as II she would hereafter demand of Memory
every point of each, while Clara chattcd on. |
And that is where you have always lived? |
You were born therc?' said she as She gath |
cred the photographs together, leaving none
upon the table except those Of Claras father
and mother
Yes, was born there lIcw long ago, |
do you Think Nearly thirteen years. Ii |
was only rough country when father bought
the place." Clara answered with sweet filial |
satisfaction. Papa made Beech Grove, all |
except the Site"
s'And this is youi mother?
''Yes, and don't you love her."
" She has most lovable face Then |
Dorcas studied, feature by feature, line by
line, the portrait of Hosea. Her study was |
interrupted, but how long it had continued |
Dorcas could never have told. II was inter
rupted by Clara saying, "Julia is like sis.
ter, am sure. You know have nome