The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-14
Aunt Barbdra's Present.
CHAPTER II.

The following afternoon brought Mrs
Mortimer, note being dispatched to ask
her husband to join the party at dinner.
He proved very agreeable companion
to Mr.. Forester, and both husband and
wife were considered great acquisitions
% the circle. ".f
Tn the course of the evening Mrs.
Mortimer gratified them by relating the
simple story which led to their acquaint-
,Ance. 5llec -F sd n.Hf.t. r7-2
n'eTo plead my excuse" she began, "for
such marriage as ours, / must try to
explain the misery of my position in my
fathers house before / consented to it.
1 was the only daughter of Mr.. Wynd-
ham, Of Rosemere, in Shropshire, a fact
which in itself prejudiced my father
against me. The estate had for 80 many
generations though not entailed, de-
scended in direct line from father to
son, that he could net endure the idea
Of not having male heir; and as time
rolled on without the fnlfllment of his
wishes, his temper became almost un-
bearable to my dear mother and myself.
Still we were happy in each others So
ciety, till, TO my inexpressible grief, her
death separated US forever in this world
Fer long after my bereavement was
perfectly inconsolable, and it was some
relief to my sorrow when my father an
nounced his intention of sending me to
school at Cheltenham.
"The new life, occupation, and the So
cfety Of young companions helped to
restore my spirits; but when at the ap-
proach Of the summer vacation others
were rejoicing, I alone dreaded my re-
turn to my desolate home. Still /
looked forward hopefully to the time
when I should take my place as mistress
Of nv fathers house, and supply, as far
as possible, my dear mothers place to
him. Judge, then, of my bitter disap-
pointment when I received a letter from
him to inform me of his approaching
marriage, and giving me leave to be pres
ent at the ceremony, or not, as might
feel disposed. '"4 'i y
'In q passion Of grief I declined the
cold invitation, and gladly accepted one
from my most intimate friend at school,
Miss Mortimer, to pass few weeks with
her in London. In this friends brother
! saw my future husband. AT this time
/ was not quite seventeen, George
nearly seven years Older bat still too
young to have had much experience Of
the world. had none, whatever; and
I had no doubt that his income, derived
from Government Office, was quite suf-
fcient to warrant an engagement. But
love and prudence seldom go hand in
hand; in our case the former triumphed,
and we parted with mutual VOWS of eter-
nal fidelity. 9s ..
"On my return to Rosemere l found
my position in my fathers house almost
intolerable. Mrs. Wyndham's temper
was not only violent but jealous one.
The most ordinary emonstrations of
affection between my father and myself
were sure to incur her displeasure; and
If I ventured to give the slightest order
to the servants, who were wont to fly at
my bidding, she would remind me that
she, not l, was their mistress. .-.
Sat last, so miserable was my exist.
ence, that I believe should have &C.
cepted an offer 1 received from rich old
friend of my fathers had my affections
been disengaged. As it was, when Mrs
Wyndham discovered that l had &C.
tually declined this advantageous offer
her anger knew no bounds, and she wor.
ried my poor father into the extreme
measure of insisting upon its accept
apGe. In terror I wrote to George, un
der cover to his sister, to acquaint him
with my position, and at the same tint
confded my trouble to one whose fidel
ity to me was greater than her prejudice
This person had been my nurse, and
then lived in a cottage on the estate
From mistaken affection for her young
mistress, she proposed that George and
should meet there and discuss our fu
ture plans. 13
"He was overjoyed to accept ole
Martha Make's offer, and soon arrived
from London in high spirits. His pres
ence revived mine, and the meeting
ended with my consent, given in feal
and trembling, to an elopement, all nee
essary arrangements being made with
Martha's help then and there. 80. i. ~.
.r""Pray remember" said Mrs. Mortimer
II her newly y-found friends, "that I was
but schoolgirl, and in mortal fear Of
being forced into a detested marriage
Never was poor girl more solely tempted
to escape from cruel sentence, though
confess the mode of doing 80 was rash. =
...Martha's first step in the plan was tc
give ,out to her neighbors that she, WA
going to visit some friends in the North.
This excited no suspicion, as she wa.
known to have relatives in Scotland; q
she made her own preparations openly
taking BY degrees all that was necessary
Of my wardrobe to pack with her owl
clothes; and the same day on which my
nnrse left her cottage, with the goot
wishes Of all her humble friends ant
neighbors, / fed from my fathers hous'
alone, half rcpenting Of the step wa
about to take, but never to return
Once / nearly turned back; but as i
ditining my thoughts, George at tina
moment emerged from the plantation
which bounds The park, and hurried m,