Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-10-07
g Capital Story,
FROM rHr LONDON ooRSnrLL MAGAZINE.
Mrs. Merridew's Fortune.
[coNTINuEp.1

ii.
The house we went to was a house In s
Johns Wood Everybody knows the kin
of place. A garden wall. with llacs an
laburnums, all out of blossom by this timt
and beginning to look brown and dust,
waving over it; inside, a little bright 81
burban garden, full Of scarlet geraniums, d
vided by white line of pavement, dazzling
ly clean, from the door in the wall TO III
door of the house and stand full of NOR
scarlet geraniums In the little square hall
Mrs. Merrdcw became very much agitae
as we approached. 1t was all that cou
do to keep her up when we had rung th
bell at the door. think she would hay
turned and gone back even then had 1t beef
possible, but, fortunately, We were admitte,
without delay.
We were shown into pretty shady draw
ingroom, full Of old furniture, which looked
like the remnants Of something greater, an,
at which she gazed with eyes OF almost wilt
recognition, unconsciously pressing my arm
which she still held. Everything surround
ing her work afiesh the tumult of recollec
tions. She was not able to speak when the
maid asked our names. and was about to
give them simply, and had already named
my own, when she pressed my arm closer
to her, and inierposed nll at once
"Say two ladies' from the country anx.
ious to speak with her about business. She
might nOt-know-our names"
us il business about the house, maam p
said the maid, with some eagerness.
Yes, yes; it is about the house." said
Merridew, hastily. And then the door
closed, and we sat waiting listening TO the
soft subdued sounds in the quiet house, and
the rustic of the leaves in the garden. "She
must be going to let it, =" my companion said,
hoarsely; and then rose from the chair on
which she had placed herself, and began to
move about the room with agitation, look
ing at everything, touching the things with
her hands, with now aud then siiilrd ex-
clamation. "There is where we used to sit,
Ellen and /, she said, standing by u sofa,
before which a small table was placed,
ings. And there Matilda, 20 what ghosts
there are about Matilda is married, thank
Heaven but if Ellen comes, shall never
be able to face her. o Mrs. Musgrave, II
you would but speak for mel
AT this moment the door was opcned.
Mrs Merridew shrank back instnciiycly,
aud sat down, resting her hand on the table
she had just pointed out 10 me. The new
conner was tall full figure, in deep mourn
ing, handsome woman Of flve-and thirty,
or Whereabouts, with bright hair, which look ed
all the brighter from comparison with the
black depths of her dress, and u coloress,
clear complexion. All the color about her
was in her hair. Though she had no ap-
pearance of unhcalthiness, her very lips were
pale, and she came in with noiseess, quiet
dignity, and the air OF one who felt she had
pain to encounter, yet felt able to bear it.
''Pardon me for keeping you waiting, she
said; and then, with somewhat startled
glance, 81 understood you wanted to SEE
the house."
My companion was trembling violently /;
ana cleared my throat and tried to clear up
my ideas (Which was less casy) to say some
thing in reply. But before had stammered
out half dozen words Mrs. Merridew rose,
and made one or two unsteady steps towards
the stranger
'.Ellen, she cried, ''don't you know me p"
and stopped there, standing in the centre Of
the room, holding out appealing hands.
Miss Babingtons face changed in the
stlangest way. | could see that she recog-
nized her in moment, and then that she
pretended to herself not to recognize her.
There was the first startled, vivid, indignant
glance, and then voluntary mist came over
her eyes. She gazed at the agitated woman
with an obstinately blank gaZe, and then
turned to me with little bow
''four friend has the advantage of me-"
shc sa'u Jul you Mcre suy iuS souielhinB'
| should be glad, If that was what you
wanted, to show you over the house"
1t would be hard to imagine more diff
cult position than that in which | found
myself; seated between two people who
were thus strangely connected with each
other by bonds of mutual injury, and APP
pealed TO for something meaningless and
tranquilizing to make the intercourse posi-
BILE. did the best could ON the spur of
the moment.
'lt is not so much the house, said,
though if you wish to let it, have friend
who is looking for house but think
there was some other business Mrs. Merri-
dew had something to say"
MRS. Merridew!" said Miss Babington,
suffering the light once more to come into
her eyes, and then she gave her an indig-
nant look. 81 think this might have been
spared MS at least"
Elen," said Mrs. Mcrridew, speaking
very low and humbly,-" Ellen, | have
never done anything to you to make you so
hard against me. If injured your sister, it
was unwittingy. She is better of than
am now. You were once fond of me- as
was of you. Why should you have turned
so completely against me? l have come in
from your mother, Ellen. God knows
ever done ?-What harm 2"
Miss Darlington had seated herself still
preserving her air Of dignity, but without
an invitation by look or gesture to her yisi-
tor to be seated; and in the silent room,
| all so dainty and SO sweet with flowers,
| with the old furniture in H., which reminded
her of the past, the culprit of twenty years
ago stood pleading between one Of those
whom she was supposed to have wrohgcd
and myself, a most ignorant and uneasy
spectator. Twenty years ago! In the
meantime youth had passed, and the hard
burdens of middle age had come doubled
and manifold upon her shoulders. Had she
done nothing in the meantime that would
tell more heavily against her than that girl
tsh inadvertence of the past? Yet here she
stood-not knowing, believe, for the mo-
mcnt, whether she was the young goverDess
in her first trouble, or the mother Of all
those children, acquainted with troubles so
much more bitter-among the ghosts Of the
past.
II would much rather not discuss the
question:, said Miss Darlington, still seated,
and struggling hard to preserve her calm.
" All the grief and vexati0n we have owed
TO you in this house cannot be summed up
IN moment. The only policy, think, is
10 be silent. Your very presence here is an
offence to us. What else could it bel"
6 should never have come" said Mrs.
Slcrridew, moved by natural prick of re-
sentiment, "but for what have just heard
i should never have returned to ask for
pardon where had done no wrong,-had it
not been for his,-this, that feel to be un-
Just. Your poor brother John
"Stop!" cried the other, her reserve fail
Ing. "Stop, ., stop, you cruel woman!
lie was nothing to you but toy to be played
with,-but he was my brother, my only
brother; and you have made him an unduti-
iul son in bis very grave"
The tears were in her eyes, her colorless
lace had flushed, her soft voice was raised
aud Mrs. Merridew, still standing, listened
to her with looks as agtated-when all at
once the door was again opened softly. The
aspect of affairs changed in moment. To
my utter amuzement, Mrs. Meridew, who
was standing with her face to the door, made
aquck, imperative, familiar gesture to her
antagonist, and looked towards an easy chair
which stood near the open window. Miss
Darlington rose quickly to her feet, and
composed herself into a sudden appearance
Of calm
Mamma. she said, going forward to
meet the old lady, who came slowly in,