Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-07-27

II was the day Aunt Hampton told the
doctor of the condition In her will that he
told her the story Of his love. !, Of course,
was Immediately summoned, Before en-
tered Aunt Hampton's presence / knew
why she had sent for me. My heart beat
fearfully as | opened the door DIR. Man
chester came forward with the grace of a
true gentleman, and the moment he took
my hand all fear Of Aunt Hampton left me.
/ have never seen the strong woman so
agitated. Her face was pale even to ghast
liness, and her limbs shook as with ague.
"Oh, Estelle," she said, chow could you
disappoint me sol You cannot repay me
for years OF love aud care by such undet
handed ingratltude. Tell me II is not sol
Let me not believe that you two, whom !
have 30 implicitly trusted, have undOme
in one hour my work Of yearsl"
Dear Aunt Hampton" | prayed, "do
not say am ungrateful to you, of all
others, you to whom | owe so much"
"lf not for my sake, Estells, remember
your kindredl"
Aunt Hampton knew the tenderest spot
In my tender heart.
"Estelle," said calm voice, ''here Is a
test of your love that shall last me life
time. On one hand you have jasper llamp-
ton, with a fortune of thirty thousand
pounds; on the other, Edward Manchester,
with only name and profession. Which
shall II BET"
Ipreferrcd to marry soul with poverty
to fool with wealth, and ventured to say
so.
jasper Hampton was a bralnless scoun
drel; he would have married his Rrandaunt
for the sake of her fortune, and che WAS
/ ffty years old when he was born; detesl-
cd him; and as for the fortune, it was no
| 10 10 frfw NN. fn IA
sake, but, reader, forgive me, that was
the foundation of my castle In the air,
/ Aunt Hemplon declared she would send
for her attorney that very night and make
a new will 10 favor of her nephew Jasper.
DR.. Manchester mentioned that he was
1 going IN that direction aud | think be
Dever carried a message more willingly.
Aud VIXEN another morning dawned, |
could sing with the old dame of the ballad
Yesterday L was the Lady of Linn;
Aud now I'm but John OF the Scales
wife
But a sweet voice came over the hills
saying; "Better go my child thousand
times better so, then TO bring your house
Lold gods under an unworthy rOof-tree. !"
Three months later | had applied for
and obtained u situation In the Academy
where had been a scholar. My support
should not come from Jasper Hampton's
! 'great expectations"
Meantime dwelling ln the vicinity of
HamptolIHall began and was nearly COM
nletad. IN tho mellow light of the sum
mer sunsets l often walk over, ut the
earnest solicitation OF DR.. Manchester,
that it might be finished TO suit me, for
that was to be my future home.
One morning had been walking with
Aunt Hampton-there existed the dead
lfaaf Ftn1tpma hnf hnm reach
ing the house she sank into the nearest
chair, excaimlng;
"Estelle, have strange feelings lately,
strange thoughts, too. | have made money
my god, but il Is always turning to dead
leaves In my hands, always cheating me-
Come here, dear"
knet beside her.
"Estells, do you love your old aunt as
well as you did sir months agol"
Better, dear aunt because thefe Is n
perfect understanding between us now. ]
used to hope you would see that ! could
never love Jasper. Compare him with
Edward Manchester and see the coutrast.
81 don't like him myself, Estcle."
Theu as though talking to herself, she
added; "Why should crown my life with
, "A deed so ungenerousi | will not. I'll
, make third will, and Estelle and lay
nephew shall fare alike"
There was "A stirring of the drapery oI
the low French window; a shadow crept
along the wall. turned again to speak
to Aunt Hampton, hut, merciful heaven
her head had dropped upon her breast he
limbs were rigid and her eyes setj thu
woman TO all appearance was dead
T As soon as | could move hand or foot
rang for help. We placed the still form
e upon the bed, and sent with all haste TO
= her physian. lie came and pronounced th'
5 case upOpleXy, caused by over-cxcitemeut
2 Dr Manchester passed every spare mo
ment with us, trying In turn to relieve tn
4 stricken in body and the trubled in mind
@ for | believed myself TO be the cause of tn
a over-excltement, and even his gentle rea
soning could not convince mo to the con
|, trary.
y THUS three days and nights passed away
4 and still no change. Another physical
had been called but to no purp ise.
r watched and prayed in fear and trem
q bling through the fearful storm-watche
- for the hand to move, the eye to unclose
d prayed for one word, one look, QUE sigi
even but still ne change.
1. The storm ragged on till midnighti the
- the winds died away, thesthundeI ceased
the clouds separated, the moon shOne fort
re- and my heart grew lighter. l thought {
" "a letter had left unfinished. Iwould brln
W II thither aud finish II | stepped across Il
hall into my own room. How thorough
p tired was. sat down Just for momer
Va in my easy chair. Nature would hay
a. her way; she closed my eyes, and forge
care and sorrow
pJ Merciful HeAycnl What u cryl | spran
n. to my feet In terror and horror. The cry 4,
=. peated; II woman's voice fun of agon
or then followed the mad howl of a bruti
u mans curses and groanH, then all WI
h still
NJ The cry came from Aunt Hampton
room / staggered there. Even the face
Sc the old butler was white with fear, AZ
a opened the door from which the moi
came.
tie Horrorsi Jasper Hempton lay upon 4
to floor In the last thrOes of death. e
il john" the faithful watch dog, crouch
Ily upon his breast, his fangs fastened In
lds throat, and Aunt Hampton sat upright
led bed
-er heard the street door open and shu
DR. Manchester appeared upon the seer
and for the first time in life tainted ava
an When / recovered my senses ! WAS in Il
~ own room, and the old housekeeper +
beside me.
au = "a arose; the good woman demonstrate
'ns Glow Is Aunt Hampton What hH
nJ pencd while WAS III % asked.
hANnl Ahh w NhA
- as how he was going to make them THU
~ IL was my old man that done it ) went a
a'y carried his old hat and dropped II by NJ
~ ~ sus' bedside then took something sha
m lmet ON both edges (better lie down, Miss y
,TIa' are white as sheet), and made for pc
''iy old Mlssus' heart. Sir John sleeps
ue ,n5 the old hall, you know and just as
~" was going to leave s'pose the dog to
ma him leastways, there he is, dead as
nv hammer, and"
.nI n' Aunt Hampton, what Of her 2" Int
'n5 rupted.
@ 'nn "Why, that's the queerest part OF IL
,,ii, o, my Lord, Miss, how the blood did m
..'o I.a, But that's what done her good"
'e' "Oh, Hannah ! said taking the \
Ian man by the arm, "will you please tell
Ia how she IL injured2"
%er "Lors, Miss, what hurry you are
, il Of course, III tell you when | get to il
non You know that Jasper allus was DIRE
no' bungling feller; well, when he made
, ~, Missus' heart he didn't get any nearer Il
y ~ her shoulder; the bleeding seemed to bT
ii,5 her right up, and she ia"
IL Waiting to see you"
19u ~ A well-known voice finished the senteI
o,o ,Ui l turned. DR.. Manchester stood in
door.
Oh u The room seemed full as we ente
"ntJ An aged physician sat a. the bedside,