National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1874-01-23
likely to have plenty Of it for the

future" I...
30 there was o grand wedding II
fashionable society, with show OF satil
and glimmer OF pearls and orange bios
SONS, and an interminable train o
bridesmaids, and Richmand Cheswicl
married Cecile Montpensier in grea
kaleidoscope church, and took her Il
the home where blue.eyed Janet, To-
eighteen short months, had fanciet
herself in an earthly paradise. Aud al
that autumn, Mrs. Richmond Oheswicl
moved, a "bright particular star,
through the charmed circles OF the
great metropolis, fondled Willie, will
sweet. artificial smiles, and persuaded
her admiring husband that she was the
very model of q devoted wife.
Down at the old country home the
news came like thunderbolt.
Richmond has married again, said
old Mr.. Bryan, with sigh, as he closed
the letter announcing to him the i'm
portant fact, "a Miss Montpensier OF
New York.
HIS daughter Hetty looked up from
her sewing with start.
Married again | Aud Willie? Oh,
father, I must go for Willie at once -
"No, child, no." said the old man.
Richmond wants to keep him; he
says that even Janet would have been
satisfied with his new wife's fondness
for the little fellow"
eyes, but father" pleaded Hetty,
"Janet herself said we were to have
him in case Of"
~ know, Hetty; but, after all, the
father has the first right, and maybe he
knows best what is well for the child.
Well wait neutrality-suspicious. the fine
new step-mother.will get tired Of her
little toy, after awhile"
Hetty bit her lip, but there was no
alternative save submission and pa
tience.
~ have bad news for you, Cecile,"
said Mr.. Cheswick, entering his wife's
drawing. room, one rainy evening in
mid-January, where, in the most grace
full of attitudes, she was reclining on
sofa, languldly turning over the leaves
of n fashionable novel !; II shall be
obliged to leave town tomorrow, for an
absence of two months in the West"
Richmond surely I may accompany
you ?"
The grieved quiver of the ripe mouth
was admirably simulated-the trans
parent eyelids dropped. What an
actress Cecile Cheswick would have
made
"Nay, dearest, don't fret" soothed
her husband, tenderly, "the time will
pass away, almost ere we are aware of it,
and my way lies among rude, untrodden
wildernesses, where my tropic flower
could never endure the hardships that
cannot be avoided. Meanwhile, be as
happy and light-hearted as. you can. I
shall leave an unlimited credit at the
bankers, and want you to enjoy your
self"
Cecile's eyes sparkleu under the
dropping lids after all, it would be
rather relief to be rid, for while, of
the prosy, middle-aged husband.
But, for all that, she cried, very
naturally, the next day, when Richmond
Cheswick took his departure-and then
went, yawning, back to the drawing
room, and rang for iced champagne, and |
a chicken s wing, for lunch.
Presently the door opened, and a
golden. haired little fellow came running
impetuously in.
Mamma, Willie so lionel Willie |
stay here with mamma?
Unconseiously the little one hit his
arm against the slender-stemmed glass
Of beaded champagne on the table it
tipped over, spilling the contents on
Mrs. Cheswick's morning robe of cherry
colored silk. She bit her scarlet lip,
and gave Willie's ear sharp, sudden
box.
"No! Go back to your nurse, this
instant, you bad, troublesome little
imp!"
For now, during his fathers long,
continued absence, Mrs. Cheswick con-
sidered it time and trouble thrown away
to court and caress the child whom she
secretly hated.
The boy stood for moment with
luivering chin, and blue eyes slowly
with tears-tOo proud to
burst out crying, yet hurt and wounded
N his little spirit beyond all descrip-
ion.
Mrs. Cheswick rang the bell sharply
or her nurse-a French woman, who
lad been her own maid before her mar
'iage.
"Lisette, take this child away"
In vain Willie struggled. Lisette {
caught him up in her arms, and carried
him off to the nursery, volubly scolding
Ill the way, in broken English, for she, {
ike most eye-serving domestics, had {
,aught her cue from the very tones of
Ter mistress's petulant voice. 1
"You bad. naughty boy; me shut
you up in one dark closet where de big
3ogie will get you, if you no stop cry |
his minute"
And Willie checked himself, in the I
midst of prolonged wall Lisette's
hreats and ghost stories had already 8
wrought their work OF mischief in his
ender mind. t
From that day Mrs. Cheswick avoided ,
Ter little step-son as mnch as possible a
he came into her presence she ordered
lin banished at once-she checked his &
hildish advances with frowns and bit
er words. T
"He is such little nuisance" she
aid. irritably.
While Willie mourned and fretted
yer this new and unpleasant state of l
hings. g
"Mamma does not love Willie any
nore as she used to do, he sobbed,
liding his face in the Frenchwoman's c
uffled apron. "Oh, Lisette, wish
'apa would come home to love Willie" 4
"Hush-sh-sh r. sibilated Lisette,
harply. $50 off to sleep, or de big b
'ear will come and carry you off to de 4
fountains"
Hopkins" said Mrs. Cheswick to g
he housekeeper one day, "I want you
o get Willie's room ready for papa and
mamma; I; they are coming to stay with G
,e during Mr.. Cheswick's absence" b
eyes madam said Mrs Honk;no | h