Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-01-04
From uarpor's Magazine for January
The Little Rift Within the Lutte.
BY ANNIE THOMAS.

BY ANNIE THOMAS.
Apparently had every thing to make me
happy in the world Inwardy was one Of
the most miserable Of Gods creatures.
was engaged, with every body's consent,
to a man who was Of suitable age, position,
and fortune. was young, and the glass and
my friends told me | was exceedingly good
looking. | loved change, and | was staying,
for the first time, in a delightful country
house, just such a one as had always been
my ideal Of a residence. Yet with all this l
was wretchcd
My engagement had been brought about in
the ordinary way. believe. Mr.. Richard
Leicester and | had met and danced with one
another at good many houses during the
season, and at the end Of it be had come and
proposed to papa in due form. His prospects
were good he was the eldest sou Of an old
house his character was unexceptionable ;
his protestations were leryent. Naturally,
therefore, both my father and myself were
satisfied, and We accepted him.
Then his mother came and called on me,
and asked me to their place--Welby Hall
in Somersetshirc. And | was there at the
end of August, from which date my story
commences.
was an only daughter, but was not on
that account a spoiled child, by any means.
On the contrary, my father and mother had
been unusually rigid and particular with me
in my bringing up ; consequently l did not
60 down to Welby Hall with an ovcrweening
idea of my own importance although | was
an heiress aud beauty. Indeed, had every
reason to be well satisfied with my reception
by the family. Old Mr.. and Mrs Leicester
welcomed me cordially aud the girls, Richard.
sisters, expressed a most gratifying approba.
ton Of their brothers choice Richard him.
self was polite attentive, afectionate, all that
girl need desire the man to whom she j.
engaged to be. Nevertheless, before | had
been three days in the house | was profound.
ly detected and uncomfortable.
had gone down to dinner in high spirit,
the night Of my arrival and found that il
was a strictly family party Other guest,
would arrive on the morrow, Mr.. Leicester
told me, but just this one night they wishes
to have me to themselves. just after he had
given me this piece Of information, the old
gentleman glanced rapidly round the table
and then calculated;
Halloo where's Lily ?"
She doesn't feel well, papa, and Won
show tonight one Of the girls answered. anC
at the same moment Richard Cwho had alsC
only come from London that day. exclaimed
Oh she is here, is she ?"
"Yes; didn't you know it ?" his mother
said languidly, Dear child she is invalu
able to mean orphan niece of mine we ar,
speaking Of, Helen, my dear she continued
in explanation TO me.
am sorry she is not vel enough for M
to be introduced to her tonight" said a
ciyilly as | could in the face Of the fact tina
| was perfectly Indifferent on the subject
And then | thought no more about my fntur
mother-in laws orphan niece.
But in the course Of the evening her exist
ence was recalled to my memory rather disa
groeably. | was showing one Of the Mise
Leicester a stitch | had recently learned il
the modern point laoe work, when Mr.. Lei
cester suddenly said
4" Isn't that the rubbish Lilly laughs a
you for wasting your time over, girls ?"
{" It's all very well for Lilly to laugh,
Mrs. Leicester put in, deprecatingly; "bu
the girls are not like her."
"Does she do anything better with he
time, then ?" asked, feeling antagonistic o
behalf of my future sisters at once
"Oh, yes" Mrs. Leicester explained, in
tone of surprise; she writes the mo,
charming stories-has supported herself fc
years. Why, surely, you must know her b
her nom de pttme Heather Bell p"
Now | must confess that | had read man
of " Heather Bells" productions, and bee
much charmed with them. But felt di
pleased with the girl now for not having com
forward like the rest Of the family to me,
me; so | only said
"Oh, yes | think have. Richard, 20
never told me you had cousin who was
blue-stocking and directly had made it
reponted of the speech, for knew that it ha
, q ring Of ill-nature about it,
t The next morning when | came down
. breakfast | found all the family save Richal
] assembled. A young lady sat with her bac
to the light, absorbed apparently in the per-
sal of the Times; but she looked up wh(
: Mrs. Leicester said, Helen, dear, let me i
troduco my niece, Lily Bray, to you"--lool
, ed up, and disclosed to my view an utter
: different face to the one had in my imagi
D alton endowed the authoress with.
She was about three or four and twenty
: the time | made her acquaintance, but 81
A was so slenderly and delcately made, and b
r face was so bright and vivacious that 81
: looked considerably younger. could n
T help feeling rather aghast at her appearance
She knocked to pieces all my preconceiv,
notions Of what women ought to be like wi
$ wrote. And withal she was very exquisite
r dressed. Nothing could have suited her clea
p dark complexion, the time Of day, and d
y season better than did the blue, brillia
|, Swiss cambric, frilled with dainty Valcncic
& ncs lace.
Q She rose up and extended her hand to I
e cordially. II was little mite Of hand, b
s it gave mine frm, true, strong clasp, as 3
!. said, in a peculiarly full voice
% II know my cousin Richard so well that
d can honestly congratulate you most warm
l. Miss Burton - and then sho sat down, a
IN resumed the reading Of her paper, as IL 5
found the greatest interest there.
is By-and-by Richard came in, and exchar
Is Cd general morning greeting with eve
20 ono. Miss Bray just looked up and node,
END said, "Ah, Dick I" as he seated hims