The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-02-02

the case by experience Of years, and
would deal best, she thought, with this
new phase, so dreadful, so distressing,
so unexplained. Could we assist her TO
accomplish thisP
Mrs. Colt acquiesced in the propriety
Of immediate removal. She offered To
accompany Miss Reed 10 New York /;
but II was decided, as the patient be-
came more and more quietly composed,
that they would be sufficiently projected
by All and myself.
The journey was accomplished in
safety, although my assistance was OF
little avail, for my presence seemed to
excite the maniac, so that At last did
not venture to appear in her sight.
| just as we were abou, reaching New
York, Miss Reed called me to her, and
said,
q think, Mr.. l., may want to
write to you some day; for although
you have no recollection OF my auns.
excepting AS the stranger whose agita-
ton surprised you in the hotel hall
yesterday morning, she seems 10 have
some very connected ideas associated
with you and with that which most af-
fects your happiness. can not decide
II shall leave il to the doctor to de-
eide, whether her story, strangely new
to me, is phantasy or true. Ii it is
true, then / must vii tie to you; and shall
| address you through the Coits?r
ventured TO ask II might not call
upon her, but the request was met with
firm but gentle refusal.
In less than a month letter called
me to her side. Pale and sorrowful
she met me, and in few moments
conducted me up flight Of stairs to an
apartment that adjoined sick-room.
She explained her reason for sending
for me in few words:
:" My aunt, who, although very i'll, is
perfectly calm and rational, wishes TO
give you in person an important com
munication.''
Scarcely had she concluded when the
physician came toward us.
Nellie" he said, 81 know your
brave little heart. 1t must not desert
you now. Are you prepared, my child,
TO meet the worst P"
The young girl hid her face in her
hands, and, trembling from head TO
foot, remained silent until she was
calm. Then we went together into the
hushed room.
Her hand was clasped in nine.
Whether she gave it to me or whether
| took it do not know. But held it
fast, as l am thankful TO remember,
through all that gloomy hour, when the
lonely child blessed Heaven in her
heart for my poor compapionship.
Kneeling beside the bed, we caught
the broken sentences that fell family
from the dying woman's lips.
lit Is SO long ago--and she was such
little child-it was almost as if had
possessed her from her birth--my dar-
ling-iny beautiful-my pet. loved
her SO passionately before | thought.
And-it is wonderful-and very sad 49,
how much a woman can love child.
When the Ainslees went away, leaving
their babe with me-the only woman
Of her own country Harriet Ainslee
knew in New Yorx-they expected to
return in three months. II they had
come then, all would have been we'll
and why did they not? Where was her
mothers heart? Months grew to years
five years they were away-every day
knitting my soul closer TO the child.
foresaw my danger. When my sister
died, adopted her orphan girl, just
Helen's age, and tried to love her bus
/ could not. At last the Ainslees we're
coming back-and then---in the anguish
of parting with my idol--came that dark
thought. II suffering could atone for
sin-why then-but II can not--and l
could not give up Nellie. That dark
Thoughtful was the seed OF all this
horror OF remorse--but Nellie darling.
the best have Is yours. l have
not wronged you-have I, my child, ut
the last? And Mr.. l., from the
time you were pointed out TO me-when
the Ainslees were here last spring--as
Arabella's lover--I was haunted by
your face. knew you loved her with
an earnest mans heart. Then-you
lost your property, and | heard-your
engagement had been broken off " and
then my sin looked darker and darker:
lit j. a fearful thing 10 wrong young
hearts. Yes-then | suffered too much.
But now-nothing can keep you from
claiming your wife. The Ainslees have
no right--Arabella is not their child.
And-Helen Darlington must.tell him
the rest ;-for-it is growing so dark -
and--where are you, Nellie--my dar-
ling-my baby--my little petP"
IL was not until after the poor heart
broken woman had been laid in her
grave that heard the rcst-the proofs
Of the children's parentage, and the
legal disposition of property to " Helen
Arabella Ainslee, my godchild," and
"Arabella Reed, my niece" Compli-
cations arose, but they were finally i'd
justed as her heart, so faithful to Helen,
would have wished.