The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-06-24

| She went directly to Hester 8 chamber
''You must tell me your past history,
child, said Mrs. Yarley in determin.
ed, but moi INK ndly tone.
go, madam, pray you pardon me
| but / cannot tell it. -
''rhen it has been one of shame and
! guilt p
''For time of shame, madam" an.
swered the young girl, with flushed
| cheek, ''bl,t neoer of guilt"
| What was it that caused Mrs. Varley
to start SO suddenly, and stagger hall
fainting, to a seat at Hester's dressing
| table
'Who-whose likeness is that - she
exclaimed, in q scarcely articulate voice
| pointing to an open miniature on the
| table.
"My mother's," Hester answered.
''fhen you are Florence Marvin
! ebih?"
sThat was indeed my mothers name?'
| "MOre-you are the daughter of my
| Florence Marvin was his WIFE.
| With q stifled cry, she who had be-
| lieved herself alone and friendless in the
world fell on her kinsmother's neck, and
wept tears of mingled glalness and sor-
| row.
Her story, which Hester had refused
| to confide to strangers ears, she now
| willingly impaired to one from whom
| she felt she hadno longer right to with
hold it.
| That her brother had married in op-
position to her fathers wishes, and been
disinherited in consequence, was already
known to Abigail Varley, but what dis
tant spot he had selected for his home,
and what had befallen him there she
had neaver learned.
The story was sad enough.
After a few years of toilsome but not
unhappy years-for they were spent in
loved society of his wife and child-a
dire calamity had fallen upon George
Haywood. He came under suspicion Of
fearful crime. A network of circrm-
stances too intricate for mans wit to
disentangle environed him, and he was
condemned to die. The stern Judgment
was carried into effect, and the executed
murderer's widow sought concealment
for herself and child in change of places
and name. Long, long years afterwards
the truth was discovered /; but the judi
cial murder had passed among the things
irrevocable. The poor widow died al
last-broken hearted, but with one con
ISOLATION she had lived to see her hrls-
bands vindicated.
"And this, my poor child, is the
shame of which you spoke %
'My life has known no other"
Not many days after, Hester was sent
to one of the first seHinaries In the land,
for she had yet time enough to avail
herself of opportunities of culture hith-
| erto beyond her reach. Her aunt and
she kept their own counsel. Cousin
Roger and Dick only knew that the OBJ
ject of their solicitude had disappeared,
and probably congratulated themselves
on the success of their virtuous strata
gem.
After a time, Mr.. Parker, cousin
Abigails lawyer, was sent for; and after
that the good old woman seemed Won
derfaily revived in spirits. At her next
birthday, the prospect of 'many happy
| returns, produced anything but hap
Ply effect upon the two expectant cous-
ms, who began to think that, after all,
the life tables might be infallible. But
| her time came at last; and within de-
cent period after the sad event, cousin
Roger and Dick were duly summoned
to attend the reading of Abigail .Varley'
will.
They were good deal startled at the
sight Of their old enemy, the strange
girl.
Poor Tabby, as il seeking consolation
in her bereavement, leaped upon the
knee of her old friend Dick, who stroked
her back pathetically, but little ner-
vously. Pompev, who took things more
philosophically, stretched himself out
for q snooze at the feet of Roger.
Mr.. Parker, drawing from his pocket
the document, proceeded to read it..
The introduction was long and formal.
But, hark! there's something coming
now:
''To my cousin, Richard Higgins
Richard looked at Roger in triumph.
81 give and bequeath-"
You could have heard both hearts
beat.
and affection which have observed be-
tween them
Dick looked puzzled.
MY favorite cat Tabby."
Dick gave Tabby a furious stroke the
wrong way.
.'And no more Of my estate"
With fling that betokened most
emphatic remuneration of the legacy,
Tabby was sent mewing and splitting to
the farther end of the room.
''To my cousin Roger Smith
1t was Rogers turn to triumph.
''In consideration of the like natural
love and Affection"
Roger began to feel suspicious.
81 give and bequeath my dog Pom
pey, and no more of my estate"
With a violent kick, Pompey was sent
spinning after the cat; and the fear of
her who had long kept the peace be-
ing no longer before their eyes, the
pent-up enmity of years found vent in
an uproagous fight, in the noise of which
the voice of the old lawyer was almost
drowned; but the words, crest and res
idue of my estate-niece, Hester Hey
wood" were sufficiently audible, and
cousins Dick and Roger stayed to hear