The New York herald., 1869-09-06

There miles and leagues away, was snip, ner
white sails cleaning rs she lay becamed upon Tue
"A snip q ship p, cried Lester. sobongly., "As
last 0 heaven Al last my prayer Is answered"
On the east bank of the Elizabeth river just out OF
SSrl46 and 0yerSokng loo Hampton soas SoSd
Of David Lester, the prisoner OF the lone island in
Near the close of lovely afternoon In May, Mrs.
Lester and her daughter sat together upon their
woman OF two and thirty years.
The daughter, Amy Lester, not yet fifteen, was
strange compound OF child and woman.
you are thinking OF father, dear mothers" mur-
INJURED the maiden as she marked the ladys longing
s.Yes, chlld Your father, my husband; wnere is
heS somewhere under the sea waves wrecked on
desert island or languishing on hostile shore ?
to China. My reason assures me that he Is dead;
yet, Amy can only think OF him as living"
lous culver Of her ips. a dream often that he is
iiving-that he is coming home'
ave @ need him m IN S hundred ways" said Mrs. Les
Amy, shudder to think what would become Of you.
You have been brought up IN luxury and would feel
''Are we not rich, then motherr' asked Amy in
surprise.
Piled the mother sadly. 'Your father was mer-
chant and ship.0wner. partner OF Colone Nichols.
But two years age Soone Nichols Nc OILS Informed me tnat
anced the assets; in short, Amy, that he was on the
verge Of bankruptcy, his fortune and ours alike
ri don't like Colonel Nichols, said Amy, thought
fully III he lost all his money with ours now does
he live In such grand styes 10 whom do his ships
"Fo his nephew, Ally Bell. Colonel Nichols Is
Ally's guardian. The Colonel has nothing OF his
own, excepting farm or two up country when
were not risked In the business"
Amy contracted her little brows renectlvely and
on lis hinges and boyish figure came lightly up The
walk.
Amy, all smiles and bushes. "l bring hun to
YOU"
The young girl ran lightly down the veranda
steps and met the new conner, linking her arm In
his, ana drawing nim gently towards the house.
He was lad OF seventeen, an orphan, the nephew
and ward Of Colonel @ Nichols grgnt and gay ana
and inteligent-one OF those noble, manly boys who
mature early into grand and noble men. Boy as he
was, he loved Amy Lester with pure and chival-
love, which babe fair to deepen In time Into the
great love of his life.
Mrs Lester and having delivered it he strolled with
Amy down the wide garden walks into the cool
shadows of grove at the bottom OF the garden -.
'I've been expecting you THIS good whlie Ally"
said ANY, with charming frankness. 81 thought
you would be down here TO try those scientific ex-
perimeHts to-dayn
'WeNl trV them tonight, Amy" replied Ally.
'rThe blue lights show better at night. Pm getting
along hnely In my chemistrj, Amy. like 1t best OF
ii am sure you do" said Amy, earnestly. "You
are the incest boy ever sawp'
city and outspoken trutbfulness were her greatest
charm in his eyes,
''The sight OF that brig yonder," said Ally ere
minds me that promised to meet Colonel Nichols
on board OF IL directly after delivered that letter 10
your mother lm9st 60 now, bat you may expect
me as soon as It's dark"
He clasped her in his arms and kissed her.
For minute the youthful lovers stood at the gar
den gate, towards which they had slowly walked,
and here they parted sobery-Ay to go down to The
brig where he mad engaged to meet his uncle, and
Amy to return to her mother.
She found Mrs. Lester the open letter In her lap
silent and m0ti0nless as statue her altitude that
OF profound despair.
''What is it, motherf" cried Amy, in wild alarm,
springing TO her side.
MRS. Lester looked at her daughter with woe
stricken face.
40 Amy % she cried turning to that brave,
childish heartlfOr strength and comfort ''Coonel
Nichols writes me that we are beggars lie
reminds me that he has asked me three several
times to marry him. And, Amy, he says he knows
your father to be dead, and he offers himself to me
for the last time. He reminds me OF my Ill health,
OF your youth and helplessness And he says" ana
Mrs Lester's voice broke down In tempest OF sObs,
.that on the one hand he offers wealth. COM
| fort and happiness the other poverty and sor-
| row. II refuse him lie swears To turn us out OF
our home tomorrow p
! "0h, mother - exclaimed Amy, with sharp cry
| as she hid her face III her mothers bosom.