The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-09-30

was Il hopeless ease Oh consumption.
and the probability was that Ethel
and her brother would be mother
less before the spring.
"Poor, poor children she went
on; .'that Harry of hers is Il noble
boy; as.kind aud gentle nurse as q
woman. Poor Mrs, raymond
hers is sad story. She told me
o-night good deal Of her past his
ory, She was very young when
she married, as was her husband
he had n nice little sum iof money
but no business qualifications. just
then he received what he consider
ed very brilliant offer, in the shape
of partnership with an old, expe-
rienced business man, who had
more business reputation than eth
er money or honesty, as it after
wards proved. Notwithstanding
an older brother of Mr.. Raymond,
who was very rich, and their only
living relative, was violently oppos
ed, the offer seemed so very fatter-
ing, that IT, was accepted. SO the
new firm was started, and every,
thing seemed highly satisfactory.
for time. Peace and plenty smiled
mon their home, and when Harry
and Ethel came they thought their
bliss complete But one fine morn
ing they Weakened to find themselves
penniless, the new firm bankrupt,
the. partner having sailed for Europe
the night before. taking with him
all the surplus funds. -. "a
" What to do the young husband
and wife knew not, but after numer-
Eous unsuccessful etfortssto obtain
employment, he appealed TO his old
er brother, and received . reply sta
ting that, as he had Offered advice
before only to be rejected he Ger
tainly would not have the imperti--,
nence to offer more, but would SIM
pIy say that as he had furnished
the capital. and his partner the ex-
|,perience, It was to be presumed the
resnlt was satisfactory to both, as
he could now boast of theexperience,
whi.e his partner was enjoying the
capital, ~
Just after this young Raymond
received an offer to go to rEn7
rope on rather a meager salary.
He accepted, but soon after sailing
the vessel was wrecked, and the
Young mother with her two little
ones was thrown on her own re,
sources. She struggled on, and
with a few music scholars succeed
ed in keeping from want till, on ac-
count of failing health, she was fore
ed to seek, change of climate, but
too late: as the winter days wore on
she grew worse, and one bright
morning in the early spriAg there
fluttered in the soft, balmy breeze
the heavy black Grape, which told
the sad news that death entered the
little cottage and left Harry and
Ethel motherless. but not without a
friend; some one, who we after
wards learned was no other than
Ernest Emerson, had written to the
brother, and at the funeral the lit-
tie mournersj were led by a tall,
stately man 'twho, it was whisperS
ed, was the rich uncle, come to take
them away, which proved true. The
next morning, our childish hearts
almost bursting with grief, Ethel
and said our good-bys over and
over again ere the great numbering
old stage coach carried her away to
be the daughter of her rich uncle,
who expressed his intention Of adj
opting both the children, he being
childless and entirely alone in the
world.
Years glided by aud an occasion
al letter from Ethel descriptive OF
her new life, speaking at first Kind
ly and then atfectionately OF the un-
Gle whom she soon learned to love
and who through unselfish kindness
and:affection, was trying to make
amends to the children for the neg
lect of the parents.
Since that bright spring day
when babe Ethel good-by had roll
ed twelve years, when one morning
letter from Ethel was placed in my
hand-still Ethel Raymond, but
;notooa of the lovely child of power
ty a brilliant, accomplished woman,
an heiress and the. pet OF society.
just having returned from Europe,
she had written to me to come TO
her 1t was merry letter, and
ended with an imperative demand
for nv presence on Thanksgiving,
saving her uncle had given her full
liberty to invite what guests she
chose for that day, (which will be
yourself, uncle, brother Harry and
myself. You see / want only those
whom love for my first Thanks
eiying at home after so long an alb
sence: and unless you wish to en-
tail a lifelong misery upon your Old
friend you must be sure to come
handed the letter over to mama,
who, after reading it, said, swell,
think you can go.
Oh. mamma, go. when | haven't a
thing fit to wear?" For the same
wears hat had brought wealth and
luxury to Ethel had brought power
ty to me.
"Mv dear, l think you speak rath-
! er sweepingly, do you not? 1t seems
! to me you have very nice black
cashmere which will do very well
for street and church wear. l know
of course your wardrobe is not such
as a Young lady would wish on en-
tering fashionable society, but, my
dear. they are all you have. And
| YOU know lady under all circum-
stances.appears lady.
Go child and enjoy yourself all
Won can. You remember Ethel once
spent Thanksgiving with you I'M
der similar circumstances, and l
nresume she has not forgotten it,
So q week or two found me domicil-
ed with nv friend. Oh, the happy
days lived over again within the sa-
| cred precincts Of our own room! II
was here. the morning of that mem
orable Thanksgiving, that we had
both suddenly subsidized into silence
after one Of our extended conversa-
tions. Ethel, seated upon a low OF
toman Just opposite my favor1tt
nerch on the side of the bed, sudden
| Il turning, cried merrily: Why those
n;ercing orbs of midnight darkness
fiyed upon this innocent counte
/ nance. as if to pierce the very deptf
I oct onnlYS