Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-10-14

| hit w thS dociy luitC ilRut. 0ducl
did only what was right; but now ! must
take it In my own hands,"
And aunul what she has done ?" asked.
1--WE must consult over that" he said.
: ELLEN Burlington, who has been 80 un-
J grateful 10 my wife, Is quite different per-
son from her mother. But will do moth
ing against Mrs. Merridew's will"
And so / left them to consult over their
own affairs. l had been thrust into II
against my own will; but still it was entire
ly their own affair, and no business of mine
Mrs. Spencer and Lady Isabella called to
me from their lawn as | went out TO ask
how Mrs. Merridew was, and shook their
heads over her.
"She should have the doctor, said Mrs.
Spencer.
" But the doctor would not pay her bills
for her" said Lady Isabella.
And had to answer meekly, as il I knew
nothing about it, II don't think it is her
bills"
This conversation detained me some time
fr'm my own house and when l reached
my cottage, my maid stood by the gate,
looking out for me, shading her eyes with
her hands. 1t was to tell me there was
lady waiting for me in the drawing room
"a tall lady in mourning" And IN a mo-
ment my heart sm0te me for some hard
thoughts, and knew who my visitor was.
found her seated by my table, very pale.
but quite selfpossessed. She rose when
went in, and began to explain.
" You don't know me-" she said" "I
have no right to come to you; but once you
came to-us-with Mrs. Merridew. Per-
haps you remember mt now? l am Ellen
Babingt0n. want TO speak to you about
my brothers will. You may have heard
that have just lost"
Yes" l said. 81 am very sorry. If
there is anything can do"
"You can do all that want from any
one, she said. "Janet will never believe
that wanted to keep The money-now. l
have seen all her children to-day at church
| and think, if she had been there, should
| perhaps have been able,-but never mind.
Tell her should like-if she would give
her daughter Janet something out OF the
money,-from me. She is little like what
her mother was. am sure you are kind to
them. don't even know your name--."
Mrs. Musgrave," said and she gave
little bow. She was very composed, very
well-bred, terribly sad; with the look of
woman who had no more to do in the world,
and who yet was, Heaven help her in the
middle OF her life, full of vigor, and capa-
bility, and strength.
"Will you tell Janet, please, that 1t is all
settled2" she said. ~ mean, not the girl
Janet, but her mother. Tell her have se:-
tied everything believe she will hear
from the lawyers tomorrow but could
not let il come only from the lawyers
cannot forgive her, even now. She thinks
it is Matilda she has wronged but it is ME
she has wronged, taking my brother from
me, my only brotuer, after all these years.
But never mind. kissed the little child
instead to-day-the quite little one, with the
gold hair suppose she is the youngest.
Tell her l came on purpose to see them
before went away"
''But why send this message through me p
l Isaid "come and see her. l will take
you it is close by. And the sight of you
will do her more good than the money.
Come, and let her explain"
thought she hesilated for moment, but
her only answer was a shake of her head
"What could she expIain?" she cried, with
together all our lives, and yet all the while
he cared nothing for his sister and every
thing for her. Doyou think can ever tor
give her? but 1 never forgot her. don't
| think / ever loved any one SO well in my
| lfe."
80, come and tell her so," said l.
| Again she shook her head. 81 loved her
as well as loved him; and yet l hate her"
| she said ''But tell her spoke to her Janet,
and kissed her baby and that l have ar
ranged everything with the lawyers about
poor Johns will. / am sure you are a good
| woman. Will you shake hands with me for
the children's sake before go?"
Her voice went to my heart had only
seen her once in my life before, but could
| not help it. went up 10 her and toUk her
| two hands, and kissed her; and then she,
| the stranger, broke down, and nut her head
on my shoulder and wept. 1t was only for
n moment, but it bound US as ii for our
lives.
"Where are you going?" asked, when
she went away.
81 am going abroad with some friends"
she said, hurriedly.
but you will come TO US, my dear, when
you come back 7"
"Most likely shall never come back"
she said, hastily, and then went away alone
out of my door, alone across the green, with
her veil over her face and her black dress
repulsing the sunshine. Ones sympathies
move and change about like the winds.
had been so sorry for Mrs. Merridew an
hour ago but it was not her was most
| sorry for now.
Aud this WAS how il all ended. was al
ways glad that Mrs. Merri1ew had told her
husband before the letter came next morning.
Aud they got the money; and John went
To the university, and Janet had new dresses
and new pleasures, and ring, of which she
was intensely proud, acc ,rdlng to Ellen's
desire. dare say Elen's intention was that
something much more important should
have been given to the child in her name;
hut then Ellen Bahngton, being an unmar-
ried woman, did not know how much a
large family costs, nor what urgent accession
there is for every firthing, even with an I'D
diiion so great as five hundred year.
am afraid it did moi make Mrs. Merridew
much happier just at first, She wrote let
tiers widely, far and near, TO everybody who
could be supposed to know anything about
Ellen; and wanted TO have her to live with
| them, and to share the money with her, and
don't know how many other wild fanCies.
| But all that could be found out was that
| Ellen had gone abroad And by degrees
| the signs OF this strange tempest began to
| disappear, r,-smOothed out aud filled up as
| Nature smoOths all traces OF combat The
| scars heal, new verdure covers the sudden
precipice,-the old gets assimilated with the
new. BY degrees an air of superior conf
fort stole over the house, which was very
consolatory. Selma, the housemaid, mar
RED, and Richard retired to the inevitable
greengrorery. And with new man and
| uew maids, and SO much less difficulty
| about the bills. it is astonishing how the
Fuckers died away from Mrs. Merridew's
| forehead, first one line went out and then
another, and she grew younger in spite of
herself. And with everything thus conspr
| ing in her favor, and habit calmly settling
to confirm all, is it wonderful if by and by
she forgot that any wonderful accident had
ever happened, and that all had r0t come in
the most natural way, and with the most
| pleasant consequences in the world?
The other day saw in chance copy of
of G0tigaani, which came TO me in par
eel from Paris, the marriage of Ellen Bah
ington to u Frenchman there; hut that is all
we have ever heard of her. Whether it is
good marriage or a bad one don't know;
nut hope, at least, it is better for her than
being all alone as she was, when she l. II my
house that day in June, having made her
sacrifice in her turn. Ii things had but ta-
ken their natural course, how much unne-
cessary suffering would have been spared:
Mrs. Merrdew is, perhaps. happier now
tnan she would have been without that five
hundred a year but of course they spend
more; and don't know that they are to I've
called richer on the whole; but for two
years she was wretched, sacrificing and
yrudging the sacrifice, and making herself
very unhappy. And though don't believe