The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-12-27
Madam Mollineau2" my aunt

| y
rous Mollineaux heirs, but she
seemed to hate them all save
one, who had spent a month or. so
with us~the summer l was four,
teen. After that, had govern
ness, and was kept rs strict az
prisoner. 1 had such longings for
youth and brightness, for gayety,
and affection; I enyied the young
people of the village when I saw
their cheerful faces on Sundays.
Sometimes l used to think of run.
ming away.
I was about seventeen when the
goyerness was called away to her
own family; but her absence
brought me no liberty. My aunt
guarded me with a curious watch
fulness, forbidding novels and
young companions. l was ready
( for revolt at Christmas.
! Only year ago! Why did the
bells, pealing through the clear,
frosty air, call it to mind ? 1t
came like a picture over the page I
was reading, and for a moment 1
saw it again.
Pauline" my aunt had said, Il
expect a guest this evening. Go
up to your room, and put on the
dress you will find hanging there"
obeyed, wonderingly. A GRIM
son cashmere, with soft, rich laces
at the wrists and throat, and a
pearl necklace. What was to hap
pen? Her austere maid came in
and assisted me.
"Who is to come ?" I asked
eagerly. '1s it to be party %
For it seemed to me that a party
with dancing and music would be
the crown to life.
ga party! No! No such foolish.
ness, indeed. 1t is Mr.. Vernon
Mollineaux to spend week. There
he comes now. Don't 60 down un-
til your aunt calls
/ turned up the light and looked
at myself. Yes, I was pretty now,
with this soft pink in my cheeks.
and the bright, light in my eyes. I
was of medium height, but my
slenderness made me look small.
My complexion was fair, my hair a
rich chestnut brown, my eyes many
shades darker.
When l was tired Of admiring
myself, l opened the window and
| said bit Of Longfellow. There
was no moon, but the stars were
shining, and the bells pealed so
joyfully. How many happy hearts
there would be tonight! Why
was shut out of It all?
I was summoned down stairs.
Mr.. Vernon Molliaeaux arose to
receive me.
| l had preserved a little girls re.
melnbrance Of young man, but
this one seemed rather old and
grave--twenty-eight, as I after
wards learned; but there was an air
of quiet authority and experience
about him that chilled my bright
mood at the moment.
NY aunt waved me to a seat.
"We may at once begin the truth"
she said, in her business-like way.
although no outward token may
be visible, l know | have not much
longer to live, and I desire to let
you now my plans. You, Vernon,
have treated me with great respect
and less servile sel6shness than the
other members ofthe family. Molli-
neaux Manor is mine to dispose of as
like, but it ought to be handed down
with the old name. I have no
nearer relative than this girl, but I
have some pride for my family as
we'll. If you are willing to marry
her, the property is yours /; if she is
foolish enough to refuse, I shall not
alter my mind. She has been
brought up in the strictest seclu-
sion, so you need not be afraid of
old, forbidden love affairs. ! have
not told her Of my plans before,
because I meant to give her no
chance to set herself up in opposi.
ton to me. Here is good hus-
band for you, Pauline Delphy; and,
Vernon Mollineaux, you are man
enough, Tfancy, to manage your
own casetP
1 agastonished. All the rebel.
lious blood within ue came to the
SURFACE.
| V4taon turned the conversation
presently, and, in spite of myself ]
~ A not he1u iaininp now and