Miriam Monfort

th and refinement, emigrated to America, rather than subject her and himself to the commentaries of his own fastidiou

istress of her own acts and fortune, would, no doubt, have absolutely prevented it. As it was, a wild wail went up from t

t, especially when the broad Atlantic was placed, as it soon was, between her and her p

although a mysterious disease of the nervous centres, that baffled medical skill either to cure or to name, early laid

and beautiful widow of a brother officer, who, in dying, had committed his wife and her orphan child to his care and good offices, on a battle-field in Spain, and with her hand he had received but little of this world's lucre. The very pension, to which she would have

nd all considerations were lost sight of at the time, in view of this unexpected and stunning blow-for Reginald Monfort was devoted, in his chivalric way, to his beautiful and fragile wife, as it was, indeed, his nature to be to every thing that was his own. Her very dependence had endeared her to him, nor had she known probably to what straits her exactions had driven him, nor what were his exigencies. Pe

elplessness. Two years after the death of his wife, he espoused my mother, a bright and beautiful woman of his own age, with whom he met casually at a banker's dinner in London, and who, fascinated

his was the sum my parents brought with them from England-a heritage sufficiently large to have en

she dispensed with most of its open observances. That she clung to it with unfailing tenacity to the last I cannot doubt, however, from memorials written in her own hand-a very characteristic one-and from the testim

elves, perhaps our different temperaments might, even in this thing, have asserted themselves, and we might have embraced sects as diverse as our tastes were several. I shall come to this third sister presently, of whom I make but

ose very enjoyment, sorrow. I have said my mother died of an insidious and inscrutable malady, which baffled friend and physician, when I was five years old. She had been so long ill, so often alienated from her household for days togethe

rred the first of those strange lethargies or seizures that afterward returned at very unequal intervals during my childhood and early youth, and which roused my father's fears ab

a void is felt rather than expressed, and when all outward observances return to their olden habit, as a car backs slowly from a switch to its accustomed

k to be swung, for the comfort and pleasure of his children. With one foot listlessly dragging on the floor of the portico so as to propel the hammock, and lying partly on my face while I soothed my wide-eyed doll to sleep, I lay swaying in childish f

or the slow, sad smile that seemed to entreat my affectionate acquaintance. The effect was immediate and electric. I sat up in the ha

Have they not told you of me? I am Co

from my eyes and fixing them once more steadily on the face of the new-comer. "

I heard Evelyn whisper. "Don't mind

let eyes, at which I wondered. Yet, understanding not her words, I remembered them for later co

peated it eagerly. "Did my dear mother send

heaven, I trust; where I hope we shall all be some day-w

ery bad last week-very wicked; he kill

er wicked; you must not say s

s. Austin says; only a Jew. D

rowned, but Miss Glen was int

know of religion. Yet we must all believe God and His Son were one."

ved me so much, so much!" and, in an agony of grief, I caught Miss Glen around the neck, and sobbed conv

r's sufferings. They are very severe, I doubt not, young as she

eaning to me at the time, but the kind and deprecating tone of voice in w

ll show me the way yourself," she said, pausing. "Bring Dolly, too;" and we walked off hand-in-hand together to the larg

use her surname seemed over-formal. She wished us to regard her as an elder sister, she said, rather than mere instructress, deeming rightly that the law of love would prove the

ntle and fostering rule; and, when it ceased, all th

at time her vocation and sphere of action were enlarged, not changed,

tion powerless to save! Alas for the van

we occupied was situated in the old and fashion-forsaken portion of the city. From its upper windows a view of the majestic Delaware and its opposite shores was afforded to the

n storehouse and counting-room, on mart and shipboard and quay; but

e largest inclosure, and was the finest residence of the three, architecturally speaking; and the inmates o

e our acknowledged wealth, which, with some other attributes we possessed, had not failed, if

e and nervous people we sometimes encounter without detecting the fire beneath the marble, the ever-burning lamp in the sarcopha

es when once engendered. I do not think his affections kept pace with these. He loved what belonged to him, it is true, in a quiet, consistent way, and his good breeding and

ver very boyishly at times, and his confidence, once bestowed, was irrevocable. Like most men of his temperament, he was keenly susceptible to deferential flattery, and impatient of the slightest infraction of his dignity, which he guarded punctiliously at all points. It was more this disposition always to wait for overtures from others, and to slightly repel their first manifestations, from

y, as years passed on, into his own shell, which may be said to have comprised his household, his comforts, his hobbies,

, and it may be doubted whether the crowned heads of the world r

et, with its stately row of ancient Lombardy poplars on one side, and blank, high-walled lumber-yard on the other, h

n his friends could bestow simply to sustain him-no danger of inflation in his case! He was shut away from self-complacency (the only vice to which virtue

our home, which, after all, like the shell of the sea-fish, most frequ

nite steps (imported at great cost, before the beautiful white-marble quarries had been developed which abound in the vicinity of, and characterize the dwellings of, that rare and perfect city), and remodelled its interior, leaving the outside front of the buil

th great cost and labor, and indifferent success. The lofty ceilings and massive walls formed outlines of strength and beauty to the large and well-ventilated apart

ours, and a fine telescope, rose from the octagon library which my father had built for his own peculiar sanctum after my mother's death, and which formed an ell to the building. The green, grassy, deeply-shadowed lawn lay behind the mansion, sloping down into a dark, deep dell, acr

basking in the sunshine, and violets and lilies lying in the shadow such as I see rarely now, and which cost us as little thought or trouble in their perennial pe

d answered no thrilling voice of Nature, no internal impulse in their hot-house growth and development. What stirred me so deeply in April, stirred also the hyacinth-bulb and the lily of the valley deep in the earth-warmth, moisture, sunshine and shadow, and sweet s

from her painted muslin robe, the butter-cups, heavy with moisture and radiant with sunshine, which I had laid upon her knee. "She ought to have bee

wspaper, then looked at me a little g

e yours needs greater care for its preservation than if ten shades fairer. Little daught

l her. Miss Glen is the only one that seems to have any influence over her nowadays." She said this with a slight, impatient toss of the head, as she paused in her progress through the room w

ng clauses of beauty and refinement; these she will never attain, I fear, and with much of the characteristic persistence of that singular race, which in my wife, however, I never detec

d her mother b

ir lineage from; but you question as if it were Pocahontas there was re

quietly; "I only asked for information. Certainly there

claimed such descent. Let us never forget that! He, the universal brother." She spoke with feeling and dignity, and led me away, lecturing me greatly as she did so for not obeying Mrs. Aus

mplete between us that endured to the end, but as yet th

fate of which vessel is still wrapped in mystery, though that it foundered suddenly seemed then, as now, the universal opinion. Miss Glen some time before had made up her mind to this, and was ste

er, by the development he saw in his children, the work of her hand. That he was ever profoundly in love with her I do not believe, nor did she pretend to any passionate regard for him. Respect, friendship, confid

uld think he might have had enough of marrying by this time, and funerals and all that. Your own precious mamma first, an earl's own daughter (Evelyn Erle, never forget that, if your father was a poor soldier! you have grand relations in England, child, if you are not as rich as some others I could name), and then your mother and Miriam's, Miss Harz that was, such an excellent woman for all her persuasion, to be sure; better than some Christians, I must say; and she just

d she grieves about him; his picture is most beautiful, I think. He ran off and went to sea, and it almost killed her. That was some years ago, and since then she has been teaching in a great school until she came t

ike your own precious mother as two peas. Yes, that would have been a nice connection truly! The two young Stanburys forsooth, to divide every thing with you and Miriam, and her rigid economy the rule in th

ind was turned to any subject save that of marrying and giving in marriage, stood confounded by her superior wisdom and discretion. I gazed upon her open-mouthed and wide-eyed as she spoke, dri

n, just as soon as you can, Miriam, do you hear? Don't

see about my mole, now-my poor mole that Hodges wounded with his spade this morning. It suf

another time-little blab! There is nothing safe where she is, and as to keeping

finger in the candle to make me tell you where the squirrel was, and I

id Evelyn, derisively. "You s

ly, and in cold blood. I would not have believed it of you, my Evelyn-that was not like your mamma at all,"

u, Mrs. Austin, you will have a great deal to swallow, that is

r hand on her arm, and shaking her slightly as she was about to leave the room. "Com

yn, struggling stoutly, "nor questioned either about a pack of fibs. Mir

t have told Mrs. Austin (but I didn't promise about her, you know), only you twitted me so meanly, and made me so mad-and it all came out. For I can keep a secret! I know where that squirrel is now, Evelyn Erle, bu

w, with real concern, that I had justice on my side. She had relinquished her hold on Evelyn, who stood now sullenly

a," she said, sharply. "It was mine. Norman Stanbury said so when

tyrant, Evelyn. Constance told you so a month ago, when you twisted Laura Stanbury's arm for not teaching you that puzzle; and there is a wicked word I know th

, and marred its symmetry for a season. As it was, I screamed wildly, until Miss Glen came in, attracted by my cries, and, receiving no satisfactory explanation as to their cause, led me to her own apartment to compose, question, and rebuke me in th

-nor did my cheek flush at the derisive taunt that followed me from the room after this obligation to self was discharged-"Now tattle again, lit

he topmost branch of an English walnut-tree, from which it cheerfully, but cautiously, descended at my call when I went out to carry it almonds or filberts from the dessert (invariably served with wine to my