The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-12-20

Won sre an bsrrarn. e justice = done,
your proud fhther slesps to-morrow inse
lelon's cell.
col, heaven have meroy |" walled -
wifs.
Sir Eustace made desperate move TO
wards the door, and thrust one hand into
his breast
stake care, you shall not cheat jus
tice.n cried ont the other, springing upon
him aud wrenching away . pistol.
At this moment the door was opened
and the chief Of the livsried servants en-
tered.
Your lordship, the guests are oil as-
sembled, and it & past the hour for sup
per. Is there anything FOR me to say TO
them %
"Noin Numbered the wresched mas
ter; sor, yes. Say ! am taken ill-let
the banquet be served. And 60 on-go
at once" IS
And now, suddenly, without sounded
the sweet, deep tones Of the Waits who
had come to chant the arrival of Christ
mas morn"
How solemnly sweet came the we'll
known holy words: "Peace on earth,
good will to men,"
A thrill rang through the agitated
group. Paler, more rapt grew every face.
All but one. Suddenly the statute moved,
the dumb lips broke their spell of silence.
With face shining with light such as
painters dream Of giving to seraphs, but
never quite succeed in leaving upon their
canvass, little Madge stepped forward.
She held up the poor, thin hand as if it
had been the sceptre of queen.
"And now it is my turn. Speak, Sir
Eustacel answer me, man Of LAWS it
true what he asserts, which 10 as much q
marvel to me IS to you? Am ! really
the rightful owner heref Shall my will
be law? my opinions be needed 2"
She moved forward slowly, that golden
hair floating like an aureole around her,
that strange, sweet, solemn look upon her
face.
. Sir Eustace drew aside his shaking
hands. and stared wildly, yet with the
look as of a drowning man seeing help at
hand.
"You are-T acknowledge everything.
You are my brothers heir. You are Lady
Marguerite Wharnley. Everything here
is yours. On my Bonded knees confess
my crime and ask you to forgive me and
the angelic look upon your face tells me
that am speaking to one above our
human weaknesses, who will hear my
prayer"
She Turned slowly, still with that rare,
sweet smile, to the lawyer.
"And you-you acknowledge it like
wise +? am the rightful mistress here
/ am the rulerP What l say shall be
done 2"
81 cannot deny it. It is the solemn
truth. 1t would be madness in Sir Eus-
tace to try to deny your claim"
A glad, bright light broke over the
whole face, and made it more than beau
tiful.
ooh, hear me then, hear me / choose
to have friends and family. /. who have
been go dreary and lonely, choose to be
happy in this glad change of fortune.
Uncle, take me for another daughter.
Aunt, let me know a mothers care and
kindness. Cousin, give me sister to love
and rejoice in. Hear me, all of you, hear
the one who has the right to command.
All things shall go on as they have done,
but you shall have a niece to love and
care for. l will have daughters por-
ton like Annabel's, no more. ALI things
shall be as they have been, except that
you have new child in the family"
There came a startled chorus of sobs
and cries. The next instant Annabel.
who had shrank away at her appearance
in the room as from some communicating
presence had rushed forward, flung her
arms about her and covered hands and
cheek with wild tears and wilder kisses.
ooh, grand, heroic creature angel
deliverer came in broken accents from
her quivering lips, "Iet me fling myself
in the dust at your feet. /"
ooh, noble child oh, precious one | .
burst also from the mothers laboring
breast.
But Sir Eustace knelt down before her,
and hid his face in the folds of the shabby
dress, and only deep, dry sobs revealed
his strong emotion.
The other uncle stood staring at her,
as if he truly believed she had taken
leave of her senses.
Then again broke in the sweet strains
of the holiday Christmas hymns.
The girl approached him with uplifted
hands.
"Uncle," she said, softly, your Christ
mas gift is indeed beautiful. Share it
with me in love and peace, burying ha-
tired and anger out of sight"
He stood . moment blankly, then the
slow tears rose TO his eyes, and FLASHED
down upon the thin hand outstretched to
him.
Niece Madge," he said, hnskily, "per-
haps your way is best; they in heaven
may know it." F
Then indeed were her smiles glorious.
'Ah," she cried, p the waiting company!
Uncle, Aunt, fly to them, and my sister
Annabel shall find me something in her
of which we shall not be quite
even though IL hangs loosely on
my spare figure. And we will come down
together, and viii be very quiet aud not
betray my lack of culture. But / shall
enjoy seeing everything; oh, how shall
enjoy i'll And it will be such Christ
mas for me, who have found friends, fam
lily, home!"
"GOd bless you! He aoiN bless you,"
cried one and oil as, with Annabel's arm
around her waist, she retreated towards
the dressing-room.
Proud Annabel stopped to marvel, even
In the midst Of her great haste, when her
new sister came forth from the dextrous
maids swift hands, robed in pale-blue
satin with waves Of lace shading its sheen,
~ the clouds vail the azure sky or the
mists soften the rivers blue.
And ! thought she was creature of
another texture from myself" was her
self-accnsing thought. All, and che lie