Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-02-20

" '"aS &c OnAu'o"S P0'tys eAPicssiy IL
honor Of little Agnes and Henr,
Haughton. l think we had ever,
child for six or seven miles round as
sembled together, and there had beer
music and dancing, and a ceaseles
peal Of merry voices all through th,
long summer evening, and everybod,
looked gay and happy, aud all wen
we'll, for not few Of the elder one,
had turned themselves into children
too for the time to aid themfn thei
games.
1t was growing late. and even th,
lightest feet began to long for littl,
rest, when from one large group tha
had gathered together, there came .
loud call 70 play at forfeits; and. il
two or three moments, all were busy
gathering pretty things together to
pour into Fortunes lap; and then they
merri'y began the game, and laughed
and clapped their hands with deligh,
as each holder of forfeit was pro.
claimed.
The most uproarious laughter had
just been excited by Nevill's perform
ance OF some penalty allotted to him
and then l recollect well how he came,
looking very happy, to kneel at For
tunes feet and deliver the next sen.
tence. She held up little ring and,
when she asked the usual question,
what the possessor Of it was 70 do, lie
answered gaily.
10 give us his autobiography
There was pause for moment.
while they waited for Fortune TO de-
clare whose the forfeit was, but she
did not speak, for the ring was hers.
Nevill had risen from his knees. and
seeing 1t, he exclaimed laughing, for
he knew it.
What, Miss Wildred, has this fallen
TO your lot.'
She looked up hurriedly from him to
me, and said, Aunt Dinah,' quickly,
as TO ask me to speak. But, before
l had opened my lips, Mrs. Bcresford
came forward, and said kindly,
'Nevill, l think it will be hardly fair
~ press this fo..-::.. -. 80. /. vApecs
young ladies 10 be willing TO declare
their autobiographies in public, you
know
| interrupted Nevill anu answered,
But if you will take nv account of
Fortunes life instead of calling on her
for her own, think can answer Tor
her Willingness TO let you hear it..
Shall it be so. Mr.. Erlington:'
But he was eager that it should be
passed over, was even vexed that any
word had been said about it at all.
understood his delicacy we'll, and
thanked him for it in my heart, but
knew what my child's wish was, so |
would not do what he asked me, but
promised that when the children were
away the story should be told and
then the game went on.
1t was past ten o'clock when they
gathered round me TO hear my child's
history. There was no one there but
the Beresfords, and the Haughtons,
and Nevill, and ourselves. saw that
my poor child was agitated, but |
would not have her either know that |
guessed she was so, or that | shared
her agitation, SO took out my knit
ting. and began working away very
quietly As talked, just glancing up
no~ and then into one or other OF my
hearers faces-into Nevilrs oftenest,
because there was that in the earnest
look he fixed on me which seemed to
ask it more that the rest.
There was not really very much 10
tell, and had gone on without inter.
ruption nearly to the end, and was
just telling them how l called her For
tune because we thought the name she
said she had so strange, when, as
said the word Willie, a sudden cry
rang through the room.
1t fell upon my heart with strange
terror, and in an instant every eye
was turned to whence it came.
Pale as death, her figure eagerly
bent forward. her hand grasping For.
tunes shoulder, Mrs. Haughton sat
From my child's cheek too all colol
had fed motionless, like two marble
figures, they fronted one another
their eyes fixed on each others faces
with q wild hope, a wild doubt in each
it lasted but moment, then both, az
by one impulse, rose. Mrs. Haughtol
stretched out her hands. Mother
burst from Fortunes lips. There wa,
passionate sob, and they we're wrap
ped in one anothers arms.
saw like one in . dream-not feel
ing, not understanding, not believing
A giddiness came over me; . sudder
dimness before my eyes q feeling o
deadly sickness, as we feel when VI
are fainting. There began to be
buzz OF voices, but could distinguish
nothing clearly until I heard my owl
name spoken.
'Dinah,' my father was saying hur
riedly, you have that little portrait
give it to me-
reused myself by . great effort