The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-07-16

floor covered by scanty carpet-someno",
the broad March sunshine brought out
every element of poverty in the abode OF
the Door widow and her daughter.
"Put on q little more coal, Amy"
said Mrs. Ardenham shudderingly, draw
ing her shawl closer around her fraii
figure, as she dropped her needle-work ut
is bitter cold this morning"
ANY obeyed silently, yet she could not
help noticing how nearly the little STOCK OF
fuel was exhausted; and remembering how
inadequate their slender purse was to the
REIMBURSEMENT thereof, her heart sank
little. Only little though, for Amy was
not one of the depending kind. NO she
was sunshiny little creature, full OF
bright, infectious hopefulness-and some
how. in that saualid room, she seemed like
n fresh rose blossoming in sandy desert
She was very pretty, with brown, tender
ewes. lust the shade of the heavy braid OF
her hair above-a small, coral mouth, and
cheeks dclicately shaded, and as she took
up the newspaper you couldn't help noticing
what n SNOWY, taper little hand she had,
with pink tipped fingers, and dimples at
every joint.
Mamma" she said, suddenly, " here's
an advertisement for O goyorness."
"Well, what Of it," asked her mother.
"Why, mamma" hesitated Amy, "you
know we are very, very poor, and should
| like very much to earn o little money.
Mrs. Ardenham had bowed her face upon
her hands, and in an instant Amy was
kneeling beside her. " Mamma, darnng'
don't cry :" she said.
did not mean to be so foolish, love; but
il ell came back to me at that moment-the
wealth and station we have lost-the pov-
erty to which we are reduced. Oh, Amy, 1t
is too hard
/" But think, mamma " said Amy, cheer
fully, " how delightful it will be for me to
make all my school accomplishment help us
along in the world. May try for this stu
atom l should like it so much"
"If you think it best, my child" acqui-
esced Mrs. Ardenham, resignedly.
"Then must lose no time" said Amy,
as she began to arrange her hair and adjust
the details of her simple toilet. Glow do
| look, mammal" she laughed, when ct
length she was ready to depart. And Mrs.
Ardenbam's admiring, affectionate glance
brought the roses to her cheeks as she
tripped away. For she did look exquisitely
pretty; the coarse shawl took graceful
curves about her slender form, and the
cheap straw hat with its plain black rib
bon might have been the most fashionable
of bonnets without being o whit more be-
coming.
Darling Amy !" pondered the mother,
| as her light footstep died away on the stair :;
"she is a perfect little sunbeam in the
darkness Of my daily existence. Her
heart has never ached with the bitter pangs
of life'S sharpest trials !"
But Mrs. Ardenham was mistaken
| ANY had tasted the bitter cup-nay, she
had drunk it to the very drcgs
There was d vein of poetic appreciation
where in the tumble of yd fun and tt se eDn
stituted Frank Ashley, as he lay lazily on
the sofa playing with two or three golden
| haired children who were toddling about
the room. "rll tell you what, Lizzie"
said he to his sister, who sat embroidering
you spoil those young imps about % COM
pletely as any mamma Of my acquaint-
ance."
GAS if you didn't spoil them ten times
worse !" retorted Mrs. Jay, laughing
"When | succeed in obtaining goyerness
perhaps they will be put under some sort
of discipline. But really, Frank, l have
always wondered that you have never mar
ried."
1ndccd-why ""
"You would make such nice, domestic
sort of husband-you are so fond of home
| know that by that manGuvring Miss Ro
land laid desperate siege to the rocky cita
del of your heart, but l thought you dis
| liked her"
" You were right" he replied I" she was
indescribably repellent to me-"
"Then why -"
"Why did never marry anybody else ;
Well listen, Lizzie, and III tell you. was
once in love with one of the sweetest girls,
| l believe, that ever walked this earth. 1t
was when | was staying ut Brighton she,
too, was spending the winter there. At first
thought she encouraged my suit, but all
ut once she grew cold and distant. deter
mined at al hazards to know my fate, for
| felt how wretched life would be without
her. But the very evening thGt had re-
solved to submit my suit to her-we were
both invited to party at Miss Roland's-l
learned that she had left the town. Miss
Roland told me, not in direct words, OF
course, but as deicately as possible, that it
"And did you credit this ~ asked Mrs.
Jay.
"Of course" he replied Miss Roland
was one Of her most intimate friends.
left Brighton the next day, and then and
there ended all Of love that it will ever be
my fate to know"
AS he ceased speaking q servant came in.
:" II you please, ma'am, lady is below who
says she has come to apply for the situation
of governess. Shall | show her upr
Mrs. Jay assented, and the next moment
Amy Ardenham entered the room.
"You seem very young" was one Of the
first remarks Mrs. Jay made.
~ am eighteen, ma'am," said Amy,
quietly,
Frank Ashley, who had been reading the
newspaper, glanced quickly up at the tone
of her voice, and rose to his feet. At the
same instant Amy's eye met his, and she
grew deadly pale.
ham,"
But Amy had tainted.
An hour later, Frank Ashley was an &C.
cepted lover, and the young lady who had
promised "to take charge Of him was our
little Amy
"Tell me about it, Frank" said his Sis
ter, when at length he returned from ac-
companying Amy to her humble tene-
ment-a spot which would soon cease to be
home.
"We have both been the victims of mis-
representation, Lizzie" said Frank; 81 Miss
Roland assured Amy that was engaged to
her. What could Amy do but withdraw :"
e Than che lnuaa Won oil thu tina ~