The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-06-16

Qreary 10 nef DeIOre rs Jhey Sccueu uoW.
81 shall be an old maid, !" thought Blanche,
as she walked up and down in the fire-light
darkness of her quiet drawing room, with
her dimpled hands clasped behind her
waist. s.4slt aau sfioap
II never cared for any one as cared tor
Gilbert; and dare say shall keep cat,
and grow fond of green tea, and scandal,
and the sewing circles. All! well-aday
| this kind of life cannot last forever"
| She rang the bell with very impatient
jerk. /
"Are there any letters, Sanderson 2"
"One, ma'am; it came by the evening
| post, only a few moments since"
Blanche sat down by the fire, opened the
letter and commenced to read,
Black-edged and black sealed. So, poor
| Mrs. Murchm0nt is gone at last"
| 1t was from the executors OF Mrs. Pen
| rows distant cousin, formally and briefly an
nouncing her death, which had taken place
| in one of the West India islands, some
months since, but the melancholy news OF
which, SO the letter ran, had been only just
received. 1t was not entirely unexpected,
as Mrs. Marchmont had, for some years,
been slowly falling out of the world, a he
reditary victim of consumption.
Leaving one child, a son." slowly re-
| peated Blanche, leaning her cheek on her
| hand and looking down into the culver OF
| the white, hot GOALS "Poor little fellow,
| he feels nearly as desolate and alone as do;
| only Ihave one advantage"
81 have sufficiency of this worlds goods,
and this orphaned child must be thrown
penniless and alone on his own resources;
| for, if 1 remember Alright, Mrs. Marchmont
| forfeited all the wealth of her first marriage
| by her second alliance with that poverty
| stricken lawyer, whose death plunged her
| into such bitter mourning. That was
genuine love match, yet how much trouble
| and grief it brought with it, leaving one
| child, son. Why should I not adopt the
stray waif, and make it a business of life to
cherish and comfort him2 1 have no object
| in existence; here is one that Providence
seems to have pointed out to me-"
| Once more she rang the bell, with fresh
color glowing in her cheeks and new light
in her eyes.
Bring nue. my writing desk Immediately,
Sanderson, and get ready. to take letter to
the postoffice."
The old servant obeyed, wondering at his
mistress's unwonted energy, and yet we'll
pleased to see some of her old animation re-
turning.
1t was very simple and unconscious let
ter that Blanche Penroy wrnte to her " far
away" cousins executors from the fullness
of her heart
Il shall never marry, now" she wrote,
"and it seems to become my plainly indica-
| ted duty to undertake the care of the orphan
child of my cousin, Mrs. Marchmont. With
your approval, therefore, mean to adopt
him, and endeavor, as far as in my power,
to supply the place of his lost mother. You
may at first deem me too young to under
take so grave and serious responsibility
| but was nineteen last month, and am very.
very much older in feeling and thought than
| in years. Of course, at my death, the child
will inherit the property which was left me
by my dear deceased parents"
Il hope my cousins executors are like
the nice white-headed old lawyers one reads
about in novels,s said Blanche to herself, as
she folded the little perfumed sheet of pink
paper, 'and not cross old fogies, talking of
expediency and appropriateness, for do
much want somebody to love and care for;
| somehow, I've sort of premonition that
this little fellow will be nice, rosy and love
able 1 think I'll teach him to call me
| Aunty."
just a week subsequently, prim legal
note was received from Messrs Alias & Cor
| pus, the deceased lady's executors. stating
| that they saw no svalid objection to Miss
Penroy's very laudable object, and that, in
accordance thereto, the child of the late Mrs.
Marchmont would arrive at Miss Penroy's
residence on the following Saturday"
"Saturtiay-and this is Friday" said
Blanche. with q new brightness dancing in
her hazel eye. "Oh, how glad / shall be
Sanderson, tell Mrs. Brown to have the blue
room fitted up Immediately for Master
Marchmont, and you had better 90 yourself
to the depot with the carriage at five o'clock
tomorrow afternoon"
,"Yes, ma'am," replied Sanderson, some
what stolidly. The apparition of green,
unruly boy, trampling with muddy boots
on the velvet carpets, and haunting the
house with ball and marbles, and lung
splitting halloas, did not possess the charm
mistress. And even the patient Mrs. Brown
remarked with species of evaporation,
that
"She didn't see what put that freak into
Miss Blanche's head"
Saturday was a day of hail and tempest,
and by five o'cock the drawing rooms were
lighted, and the crimson silk curtains close
ly drawn to exclude the stormy darkness
without. Six times within the last fifteen
minutes had Blanche looked at her watch, as
she stood by the fire, waiting to hear the ap-
proach of the carriage. She was dressed in
rich blue China silk dress, with pearl pin
and ear drops, and little point lace at her
throat and the clear rosy tint on her cheek.
She was unconsciously, very beautiful.
Heres the little gentleman, Miss" said
Sanderson, with half suppressed sound
between laugh and a snort
But instead of child seven or eight
years old, tall handsome young gentleman
something over six feet, with black mus
tache, and merry hazel eyes, trimming over
with mirth. For an instant Blanche stared
at him as if she could hardly credit the evil
dence of her own senses.
"Gilbert !"
Exactly You wanted to adopt me, and
here ami"
"No, but Gilbert"
eyes, but Blanche p
"You are not Mrs. Marchmont's son 2"
II am-by her first marriage. Although
I am by no means the penniless infant you
seemed to suppose, as all my fathers wealth
comes to me. am quite willing to be
adopted particularly as you are not mar
ried to Mr.. Birmingham"
Blanche struggled between tears and
| laughter, uncertain which would best express
her feelings, but Gilbert Evering drew her
| tenderly toward him.
'If you adopt me, dearest, it must be for
life. Nay, do not hesitate. Our happiness
| has already been too much at the mercy of
trifies. You will not retraet your offer %
swell, after ALL" said Blanche, rather de-
L mnrelu Hunu will he n aond Ettla how and