Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-01-14

must feel nearly as desolate and alone aS I
do Only have oneadyantage.
'Ihaye q suficiency of this words goods
aud this orphaned child must be thrown
aud alone on his own recQurces,
ior If remember Alright, Mrs. MRrchnonnt
forfeited lthewealth ofhar6rst mpariage by
her second alliance with that poverty
striclken lawyer whose death plunged her
into such bitter mourning That was q
genuine lovesmatch, yet how much grief
and trouble il brought with IL, leaving one
child, sen r Why should not adopt
the stray waif, and make it business Of
my life to cherish and comfort him |
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 her cheeks, and anew
liChs in her eyes.
Bring in my writing desk Immediately,
Sanderson, and get ready to take letter TO
the post office.
The old servant obeyed, wondering at his
mistress unwonted energy, and yet welt
pleased to see some Of her old animation
returning
It was a very simple and unconscious let
ter that Blanche Penroy wrote to her ''far-
away cousins executors from the fullness
Of her heart.
81 shall never marry now" she wrote,
''and it seems TO become my plainlv indi-
Gated dnty to undertake the care Of his or
phan child Of my cousins Mrs. March
mont. With your approval, therefore, ]
intend to adopt him. and endeavor, as far
as in my power, to supply the place of his
lost mother, You may ut first deem me too
young TO undertake SO grave and serious a
responsibility; but l was nineteen last
month, and am very, very much older In
thought and feeling than my years. Ol
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, said Blanche to her
self as she folded the little perfumed sheet
of pink paper, sand not cross old fogies,
talking of expediency and appropriates, for
do so much want somebody to love and
care for, +" and somehow I've sort Of pre-
monition that this little fellow will be nice
and rosy and loveable. l think I'll teach
him to cali me Aunty."
Just week subsequently pr1m legal
note was received from Messrs. Alias & Cor
pus, the deceased lady's executors, stating
that ''they saw no valid 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 Satur-
day.
Saturday and this is Friday said
Blanche, with a new brightness dancing in
her hazel eyes. "0h, how glad shall be
Sanderson, tell Mrs. Brown to have the
blue room fitted up Immediately for Master
Marchmont, and you had better go yourself
to the depot with the carriage, at five o'clock
tomorrow afternoon, to, meet him"
''Yes, ma'am, replied Sanderson, some
what stohdly. The apparition of great
unruly boy tramping with muddy boots on
the velvet carpets and haunting the house
with ball and marbles, and lung-splitting
halloes, did not possess the charm to San.
derson's eyes that it seemed to his mis-.
tress. And even the patient Mrs. Brown
remarked, with species of exasperation,
that
''She didn't see what put this freak into
Miss Blanches head.
Saturday was day of hail and tempest
and by FIVE o'clock 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
approach of the carriage. She was dressed
in rich China blue silk dress, with pearl
pin and ear-drops, and little point lace
at her throat, and the clear rosy tint on
her cheeks. She was, unconsciously, very
beautiful
Here's the little gentleman. Miss, said
Sanderson, with q half suppressed sound
between laugh and snort.
But instead ofa child seven or eight years
old, tall handsome young gentleman,
something over six feet, with q black nous
tache and merry hazel eyes brimming 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 / am
mo, but, Gilbert"
Yes, but, Blanchep
"You are not Mrs. MarchmOnts sonl"
Il am-by her first marriage. Although
am by no means the penniless infant you
seemed to suppose, ,as all my fathers wealth
comes to me, lam quite willing to be adopt
ed-particularly as you are not married to
Mr. Birmingham"
Blanche struggled between tears and
laughter, uncertain which could best ex-
press her feeling, but Gilbelt Eyering drew
her telllerly toward him.
cIf$Aiadopt me, dearest, it must be for
life 49,, do not hesitate-our happiness
has afeFhy been TOO much at the mercy Of
trifes. You will not retract your offer?"
"Wel, after all, said Blanche, rather
demurely 'you be q gRod little boy, and
mind all your auntyvtells you. All l
wanted was some one to love and care for,
and"
"And / shall do very well in that capaci-
ty, ehH'
"Yes,"
Sanderson, who had been listening dill
gently at the door, crept down stairs to in
form Mrs. Brown they were going to have
a new master.
A Swiss Woman found Guilty of Nine
Murders.
If De Quincy were now alive (says an
4 Il L Il. -.