The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-05-03

7 IbhIuS hh' Ss'y hHSa' ''s "pa'' 'HSHt, w
she moved to and fro with her work, nont
would have said but there was strange
beauty aud fascination about the s,inted
dwarled son of honest George Whitaker,
the host Of the Boar's Head Inn.
While Margcry went tripping from
table t 81 leboarl, and frem si,leboard to
the meat kitchen beyond, to which she re.
moved the remains Of the supper, her
tongue was as busy as her hands, and she
k pt up pleasant chatter, striving in this
manner to enliven the sober mood Of her
companion. Then as shs at length con
Guided her task. she said, as she paused
bsfure seeking work elsewhere 3
Il have made everything neat and
tidy here again, and now | must leave
YOU awhile. Nigel, and see if your good
mother llus not other things for me to do
ana ,ho ,turaed to leave the apartment.
Blu, tie dwarf slipped from his chair, aud
BY few awkward, ob!ique strides, stood
beside her, saying:
S'uy little longer, Margery.
There's nothing more for you to do at
present. There are not so muny guest.
in our inn to-day, that they demand all
your time"
{" cannot remain now, for indeed,
there is much to be dong in assisting
Dame Jennie in her toilet tonight; for
you know she appears tonight in one oil
her new characters, and her dress may
not prove such q perfect fit as the modiae
warranted it, aud may require skilled
finger in altering it to her taste" was the
reply of slargery.
"Ah, yes! had forgotten that my
youthful s,cp-mothcr will again make her
debut upon the boards of our royal thea.
trc this evening" replied the youth, in n
somewhat bitter tone; then he added in
an earnest, sadden manner:
"Do you not think, imagery, that
Dame Jennie will conclude to give up this
mode Of life now she has become the vile
Of my father, and has no longer the spur
Of poverty TO urge her to the boards Of a
theatre "
"But thou forgcttcst that there is an
other master than poverty which binds her
to this portion Of her past life, and. Nigel,
lie. the task-master, is here again tonight.
lie came in while the young mobiles were
at supper, and thy good father cspied him
as lie came, and went out TO receive and
entertain him, as is best he should, you
know" said the girl, lowering her voice as
she mentioned the presence Of tho late ar
rival, and pointing toward the room where
in the guest was now resting.
"Ah, sage. thou SO Margcry-,hat
he is here again, and come TO urge my
step-mo,hsr 10 her old life again y If il
hns come to this, and my father is not to
be the guardian Of Ills lawful spouse, then
Ills best he had never seen her, for there
will come nought but grief and shame to
him and US. il my mother continues upo,
the stage" and the dwarf spoke in a
boiling, prophetic tone, which sounded
chill and gloomy to the car Of his COM
pauion.
"Thou art ever nervous and sensitive
about this matter, Nigel; for, surely,
there can come no positive harm to thy
step-mothcr, il she does occasionally ap-
pear upon the boards Of n theatre. You
know that such was her former mode Of
life in Paris, and that your father, in or.
der to gain the consent Of her guardian
that hc should wed her, was forced 10 say
that whenever the dame or her guardian
thought it best for her to enact part il
play before London audience, she
should have his unqualified consent to dc
so; and since thy mother Genes not ou
in her own name, and none know that The
beautiful singer aud graceful dancer a
st. James Theatre, is Dame jennie, vii,
Of honest George Whitaker Of he Boar.
Head, then lis just as well for us, wilt
are in the secret. So do not trouble yout
self about il any more, Nigel, since It's
matter which none Of us can help" sale
the girl, in cheerful tones.
And do you not think that my step
mother could mend the matter. did sh,
choose SO to do? DO you no. think tia
she has the slightest control over he
own acts, so that she Gun say whether sh,
will or no do this or tllat?' questioned til,
boy, in low, carger tones, looking lxedl,
ut Mnrgcry.
"1ndeed, cannot say how much indie
pcndoncc my mistress is able to tax,
upon herself i'll this thing but certainl,
think there is some strange power whicl
! this man whom she calls uncle and guar
dian, exercises over her, and | do know
that, though Dame Jennie has receive,
many praises from tile public when sh
appeared before them, she would be bette
pleased to remain quietly ut home witt
your father and us, who are, in truth, he
best friends" the girl replied.
"Thcn you think, as do. that tller
is soinc strange power which the incl
holds over her, and if so, why not fin,
it's source anil break the charm, and b,
thus doing save my mother who is younl
and pretty, and still uncontamnated b.
this life, from the many snares and tcmpta
tions which will continually be.ct he
path. does she still contiuue This career 2