The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-24

Ater long roe reached gloomy, dirty
street. ard finally, after considerable trouble
found the house and number. loud knock
Drought an elderly female to the door, who in an
! swer to my inquiries, conducted me to miserable
, attic room, where found man in diving condi.
: uon, with barely the necessaries of life
who are you :" be asked. as entered.
am Ann Sievens's daughter, Viola Stevens,
ana came to see whst you want with my mother,
as she Is not able to come herself.n
The poor man glsred at me with his sunken
eyes, crying, mot to you, miss. not to you-your
sOOthed him, and implored him to convey to
gaining nay promise to forgive him, he. with q
trembling voice related the following:
twenty-five years ago. Mise, was engaged a.
nea1 butler to Baron Purdy: My father was q
well to do farmer, and had little more education
! an most CT the pessantry-I liked my master, for
ne was good young man, younger than me he
was very kind to me, Miss. He feared his proud
oLu mother as much as he loved the village belle,
sweet Nina Kelly. was in his confidence and
carried many loving message for them aud so
iew years passed by, and stronger grew their
loVe. In the meantime married Nancy Forrest,
"a associate but not companion of Nina Kelly.
A'ter was married, my master often met Nina at
our mouse for be dared not brave the anger Of bis
sern old mother, to be seen openly with Nina. as
much as he loved her, and he did love her SO
| much, indeed, that he forgot extraordinarily
everything. in her bright smiles, and married her,
but she was destined te enjoy but one short year
| OF welded happiness, for in giving to him bis
image. she gave God his own, and left him. In his
wild despair, he few to his mother and confessed
all. begging her to take the child; but not even
death could touch her cold, hard heart, and she
closed her house and FASTENED him away-ref1s-
ing even to look upon the face of her sons off,
spring. =
he left the child with us-with means for its
| care-untl his return. Soon after, Nancy also
gave birth to q daughter The children grew
alike in health and spirits, as happy as children
The baron had been away about four years.
when be wrote that his mother was dead Hand
tnat we were TO take possession of the old man.
on until his return, and that his daughter must
be treated as its future mistress and that as Nam
cy had acted faithfully mothers part until now
TO so continue. and that on his return she should
meet with the reward she deserved. Then, God
forgive her for think she must have been mad,
did the wild thought come into her head to change
the children. singular fact which helped her
plans was that the baron requested that she should
hos te. any one which was his child. nor as yet |
had either Of the children been named. When |
any one asked which was Baron Purdys daughter, |
she would laugh and say guess" Everything |
seemed to favor her wicked plans, so at eight her
oaugnter Cthe osrons) was sent to relative
My master came home, and at once recognized |
the girl as his own, but often found him trying
IN vain to trace some of its mothers features in
her little face that looked up to him as her father
The child grew. and Nancy was kept as her nurse
but the older she grew the less heart she seemed
to possess-whether Nancy's dealings was the
fault cannot say anyhow 1t was very little pleas
ure the poor mourning father found in his dauph-
ter's society. Every luxury was lavished upon
ber, but heart was wanting. In VAIN pleaded
father.
Atlength, finding it more than nv conscience
could bear to look upon that sad, sorrowing face.
ieft-and returned to find the house closed-snd
my masters child and Nancy gone, no one knew
where, SO wandered here, found home; soon
after was taken i'll, and in the three months of nv
stay here I've spent all the means had and now.
Miss l feel that must and can die in peace. for
you have long ere this recognized in yourself,
Mi9s Kelly PuIdy's child, Viola Purdy, only child
and heiress OF Baron Purdy and | have done nv |
duty, Miss, and you said you would forgive m ~
As soon as could recover from my surprise
and clear my mind from what seemed to be
cream p l assured blm OF my pardon and asked
No, no." be replied F" we advertised for a |
person 10 take the child for so much, and the
reply told her what to say-and that is all she
/ was. thankful for this event in nv new found
oys, for loved the old woman for the kindness !
'he had shown me, when it was in her power 10 do
Nth me as she wished. The weight taken from .
pan COOKS sou, seemed to relieve him, for he
ordered that everything that could be DONE should
De done for him at once. / waited until part of
ny orders were executed, and left, promising to
ome again. almost flew to the studio of Leon
o inform him of my good fortune but be did NOT
eem as enthusiastic IL as 1 was. He said /
ould do nothing until had the same written and
IAN Cooks signature, which [ at once wrote and
e wrote for him to sign. | then fastened 10 NV
10 nome, where first met Leon, and related the
range story to the old woman, whom continued q
call mother, and she seemed as much pleased o.
myself, her only regret being 10 parting from
re, and when assured her she should ever have
nome with me, her delight knew no bounds. 3
mat night Leon came with sad face saving -
Viola, we must part. There is no doubt about Al
le truth Of this strange story, for know yOur
ither and this girl that usurps your place and co
hall go with you on the morrow as a witness v;
lend and brother. Your social position being BY
oW SO lar above my own, cannot ask you to tss
ecome my wife and share my humble home, and VI
would not accept your wealth." be
How bis words stopped the pulsation of nv As
cart and made the blood run cold in nv veins sy
nat was wealth. position, father, home, or an
lends to me If lost the love of this noble man Gu
no had given me the only joy | ever knew No, g.
thousand times better poverty with him. and so ab
said with my arms around his neck, clinging TO ho
N lest they should tear him away. gu
g Be it 80 then, ViOla,n he said, " since Won an
loose poverty rather than leave me, will share e
ur wealth for. if not for your own, for your Der
theirs sake, you must obey. Tomorrow dar- IL
g we VIII be one ere 1t is in your fathers power us
separate u.s." 80 | Z
To this sgreed-and SO it was. The setting sns
n found us in my fathers home, the rghted to
lress and living child clasped to his heart; but A
lat new surprise awaits me. my father calls not n
y husband Leon, but Lord Francis Leon and so
win me he dropped his title and under the
Use of poor artist, won and tested my love and
ide: When was willing to give up father n
'alth affluence all for him. be knew loved him =.
d was satisfied, and so we were wed. rn
+ or Dams sake, who recovered we forgaye ALL
we hope to be forgiven. Five years OF nv y
dded life have flown rapidly away, and still nv
on is the same" what would any other man
to me-or any other woman be to him ?" We A
9 but in each others love, cheering the dear old
n who hovers around u.s. as If his heart never n
uid be satisfied; and SO was born" when ma,
hao hnAr ala
3 is TO end, and where or when | shall die, re. r
ms yet to be told, ~