The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-07-01
From Woods Household Magazine
ELLE NJ
[C0nclu ]
CHAPTER II.

Vial Eh
Edward and Ellen Merton, were portion
less orphans, and had entered the family of
Mr.. Grey, few months previous to the
events recorded in the last chapter. Their
mother was a younger sister of Mrs. Grey,
but weak, indulgent, and vain, she had
neglected one child and ruined the other.
Mr.. Merton, severe to a fault, from any
deviation of the strict principles of truth
and integrity, had been kept in ignorance
of much that was dishonorablc and selfish
in his boys conduct.
Still he had often been panied by want
of truthfulness in his child's character;
nor could all his impulsivo generosity,
nor his undoubted ability, hide from the
anxious parent the total want of integrity,
which is the foundation of all character.
When the mother, in paliation of his
faults, would speak of his marvellous beauty,
his wonderful ability, his spasmodic fits of
generosity; the father would turn sicken-
ing from the recital, saying, "Better be a
hunch-back and fool, than prostitute his
mind and his person to what Isec lies inev-
itably before him, unless he learns to pur-
sue the right, from love of it,
+ To his pale, sickly little daughter, the
father turned with yearning fondness
unuterable. Sighted by her mother,
and often thoughtlessly ridiculed by the
brother, upon whom she looked as the
brightest and most beautiful being of
earth, the little heart would have been
crushed, had it not been for the paternal
love that watched over her so fondly.-
Many and many an hour, the father had
watched the little sufferer, while held in
the iron grasp of pain, her only sign of
consciousness being the faint pressure of
his hand, as he smoothcd tho hair from her
hot temples, or cooled her fevered lips
with some refreshing drought.
Her love for him was idolatry, her fathers
smile her sweetened reward, his frown the
most dreaded punishment. When death
snatched him away from her, his last words
burnt themselves into her heart as with a
pen of fire. "Ellen, as you love me, watch
| your brother.''
How miserably understood We have seen.
Her mother only lived long enough after
her fathers death to impress upon the
mind of the shrinking, sensitive child, a
painful sense of her responsibility in this
respect, as she was warned of the stearn-
ness of Mr.. Grey, to whom they were to be
intrusted, and of the natural severity of
their Aunt, whom they had never seen.
"Ellen for my sake, shield my beautiful
boy" and thus her mother left her.
Naturally demonstrativc, affectionate
and lively, Eddie soon recommended him
self to the relations who had heretofore
been strangers to him, and won the hearts
of all with whom he came in contact.
His decided ability made him an especial
favorite of his teacher; and for the little
faults occasionally disccrnable in his char
acter, abundant apology and indulgence
were always accorded.
The pale, quiet, and shrinking Ellen was,
on the contrary, an object of suspicion,
almost of dislike to the different members
of the family. The epithcts sullen and
morose, were too often applied to her, and
if falsehood and duplicity were not coupled
with them, it was because Mrs. Grey's ten
derness forbade it.
The management of the little girl was,
however, evidently becoming such trial
to her aunt, that Mr.. Grey had more than
once declared that she should no longer
be annoyed by her humors; that he would
on the very next offense, send her off to
boarding school.
This is to the minds of the loving, affec-
tionate children, who had been long accus-
toned to the gentle influence and manage
ment of their mother, was the acme of all
punishment and one which brought out a
peculiar degree of sympathy toward the
culprit. 1t was at the breakfast table the
next morning that Mr.. Grey remarked:
"Mr. Davy is to distribute prizes next
week, and l will have some of my own
privately prepared for the successful COM
petitors. Look out boysr'
elf that is tho case, Uncle Grey, will
90 at once and review my morning recita-
tion," said Eddie laughing. Will you
excuse me, Aunt Lucy? my fishing party
yesterday interfered, somewhat, with
Homer and Cicero"
Mrs. Grey smilingly bowed her assent,
and as Eddie left the room, his Uncle said:
"Wife, if you will get mo Eddie's watch
I'll have it repaired, that may surprise
him with it on the adjudgmont of the
prizes. He is rather young to be intrusted
with such valuable one, but he has show
ed so much industry, and is so boyishly
anxious for the time piece, I thigk we
might indulge, while rewarding him."
Mrs. Grey cheerfully asscnted, and left
tho room to get it.
care you sick, Elem" said Alice. The
face of the child had flushed to a crimson
which as quickly receding, left her deadly
pale.
She shook her head utterly unable to
reply as her trembling hand endeavercd to
lift her cup to her lips.
"What is the matter, Elem" asked her
uncle kindly.
"Nothing," she whispered, bending over
her plate.
At that moment Mrs. Grey returned.
"Have you not removed the watch, Mr..
Grey?" she said anxiously.
Certainly not he replied, decidedly.
"Wcll, it is gone,' she said.
"Gonc! mother :" cridd Robert, youth
of seventeen, who was still at the table.
cit is nowhere to be found" she an
swered. "It's case is there, but it is
empty. cannot account for it."
"Who goes to your room?" asked Mr..
Grey.
"No one but Fanny" replied Mrs. Grey.
"but I cannot believc-'
"Let her be called" interrupted Mr..
Grey.
Ellen here rose quietly, and was passing
from the room, when Mr.. Grey detained
her.
"Kcep your seat, Ellen, he said sternly.