The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1870-09-10

cnair WIN my usual delDerau0n, ana
walked out 10 the grounds. The first
sight that greeted me was the child. /
could have loved the little creature but
for her, it was such a merry, happy elf;
but, as things went, felt more inclined i
to hate it. Day by day, wherever /
walked, i saw evidences of that child's
presence everywhere. Her perambLla-
tor stood under my eyes in the yard;
her playthings were dropped along the
hall; she screamed sometimes In a-vix-
enish manner, and asserted her indspen-
dence of the nurse In terms that were
unqualiiedly unlady like, i avoided her
as much as I could. Beautiful as she
was, she had become an object of dis
like to me.
Mrs. Mallows had said, at the dim er-
tabis, that FIRST day, III shall make her
----" and then paused. M
Did she think I did not read her
thoughtf which was, ~ shall make her
my heiress."
That was what she ment and the words
hummed in my ears from morning till
night, until knew that was growing
to hate the child.
Meantime, madame and I continued
only on speaking terms. 1 could not
throw off the ice of her civilty. Day af-
ter day Thumbled myself, to try. sent
her presents, messages, until my pa
thence was exhausted. even tried to
soothe her by attentions to the child
But the little embryo woman, quick with
the Instincts of her sex, knew that did
not like her, and returned my caresses
with words aud looks that made me long
to shake her.
Matty was always with her. The
maid had been a favorite of mine, be-
cause she was well-dressed and pretty.
She was thoroughly honest girl, and
had sufficient self respect to place her
above the level of those whose little at
tentions are bought by money, or any
other paltry consideration. She knew
exactly how TO humor Mrs. Mallows,
and SO kept her place in that lady's es.
TEEN.
One morning III the ! LITTLE LADY, laa. Ssie' Essie
rne rrrtle vixen bad escaped from the
nursery, and had not quite forgotten the
luxury OF scsnty attire, or the rude
pleasures of the rougher sex.
Matty laughed as she saw my comical
look, and saidl ''My mistress is ill thi.
morning. sir; and have had to neglec
the child. She seems to like the fun o.
being half-clothed.''
| "1lii" I said. "I hope there is nothing
serious?'
'I don't know, sir. She looks bad
and has had an uneasy night; but she
won't hear of the doctor. She'll let it &C
too long, Tn afraid"
"She must have physician" I said
thoughtful that now, at least, 1 might be
of some service; and sent off for our
family doctor.
He came in hurry, for Mrs. Mallows
had suffered before from heart disease,
and she was patient for whom, and
whose meney, he had great respect. My
wife refused to see him, because had
sent for him; and drove him away, half
angry at the slight
attempted to see the invalid, for
really began to feel some compunctions
of conscience; but she still refused to be
reconciled. The child was there half Of
the time. Fortunately she was foId o.
Mrs. Msllows, and il gave her mind
some diversion.
The next day passed. Toward the
close of the next, the doctor came, post
haste. She had sent for him, then, and
Matty had just been telling me how
very i'll her mistress had suddenly
grown.
The doctor staid some time. inter
cepted him on mis- was out.
Dangerous very dangerousp was
his significant reply to my question:
"I shall return in few hours"
That night most of the houshold were
up. had sat in my smoking room till
near dawn, sleeping sometimes in the
easy chair; at others, walking, absorbed
In the most gloomy reflections. Abroad
the moon shone gloriously; and as fai
as the eye could glance stretched the do
main that might have been mine. Bit
terly regretted my thoughtlessness.
had been too vainly confident of my
own power, and Of my handsome per-
son, and at this moment everything
night be slipping from me. Tho though
was agonizipg; for absolutely in my owl
right had nothing. The small fortune
my father had left me was gone. 1 wa
no better than a pauper, for / had nt
means of making q srsditable living.
Half frantic, 1 rushed into my study
Upon the table laid three or four docu
ments that had idly employed myscl
upon. They were copies of wills, draw
up In proper shape, and giving all at tn
last TO me- wanting only her signature
| clutchsd them, and was about to re-.
duce them TO fir agments when though
seized me. suppose it was the dew
whispered In my ear; at all events,
listened 10 him, end grew calmer.
i 1t was near seven in the evening, whel
Matty came down, crying loudly tina
, all was over. hurried into the hail.
Little Ida sat there smiling, urging
huge rocking horse to the utmost of 1t
speed. i'll had dared, I would hav
hurled the child from that through tn,
door, en- to the stone terrace below. M,
, thoughts were hot with vengeance.
I went up to the room and drove every
body out. Yes, the last office had beel
done; she was gone, and a sweet serenit,
was GRADUALLY coming over the cold face