Holmes_Tempest_and_Sunshine.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
of death and
the dread hereafter made me tremble, it was preferable to the scorn and
contempt should necessarily meet if survived. came a reaction,
and when our angel mother glided so noiselessly around my sick room; when
you, darling , nursed me with so much care, and even father's voice
grew low and kind as he addressed me, my better nature, if had any, was
touched, and thought would like to live for the sake of retrieving the
past. the evil spirit which has haunted me from infancy whispered that
as soon as was well all would be changed. , , would hate me, and
father would treat me as he always had, only worse."
" dear child! didn't or'to do so, know," said , and
continued: " thought how the world would loathe, and despise
and point at me, until was almost maddened, and when . said
would live, the tempter whispered suicide; but dared not do that.
that time heard rumors of a marriage which would take place as soon as
was well; and will you forgive me? tried to be sick as long as
possible for the sake of delaying your happiness."
pressure of the hand was 's only answer, and proceeded: "
could not see you married to him. could not meet the world and its
censure, so determined to go away. had thirty dollars in my purse, of
which no one knew, and taking that started, knew not where.
reaching the schoolhouse something impelled me to enter it, and found
there a young girl about my own size. other circumstances might
have been frightened, but now utterly fearless, addressed her, and found
from her answers that she was crazy. sudden idea entered my brain.
would change clothes with her, and thus avoid discovery. willingly
acceded to my proposition, and in my new attire again started toward
, which reached about four in the morning. had no definite
idea as to where wanted to go, but the sight of the stage
drawn up before the determined me. had purposely kept my own
bonnet and veil, as the maniac girl wore neither. the latter over
my face, kept it there while securing my place in the coach, and until
we were many miles from the city. entered and left, and some
looked inquisitively at me and my slightly fantastic dress.
" reached about ten in the morning, and with a long glad
breath stepped from the coach, and felt that and my notorious
character were behind. stopped at the ---- , and the next two days
were spent in procuring myself a decent outfit. night went to a
different house, for the sake of avoiding suspicion, and as my bills were
promptly paid, no questions were ever asked. the ---- saw in a
paper an advertisement for a teacher in a school in one of the interior
towns. had formed some such plan for the future, and instantly
determined personally to apply for the situation. did so, but
credentials were required, and had none to give. weary of my
adventure returned to , and in passing through one of the
streets, my eye caught the sign ' and .'
knew had a taste for that, and concluded to offer myself as an
apprentice."
she told how she had toiled on day after day with dim eye and aching
head for over a year in the unwholesome atmosphere of a crowded workshop
conducted by a slave-driving, inconsiderate woman named , while
thoughts of home and remorse for the past preyed on her heart.
" why did you not come back?" asked . " would have received you
most gladly."
" felt that could not do that," said . " knew that you thought me
dead, and fancied that father, at least, would feel relieved."
", child," groaned , "don't say so. was mighty mean,
know, but never got to that."
a moment told them that she had had to deliver a party dress
to at . 's house one evening and, while waiting
in the hall, had heard read a letter from aloud to
. the letter, said that . was not
expected to live and that . and from were with
her.
news caused her to resign her position at 's and hurry
home. " reached ," said she, "about nine o'clock in the evening,
and as thought my baggage might incommode me, purposely left it there,
but hired a boy to bring me home. we reached the gate at the entrance
of the woods told him he could return, as preferred going the
remainder of the way alone. seemed surprised, but complied with my
request. had never heard of the new house, and as drew near was
puzzled, and fancied was wrong; but bounded forward, at first
angrily, then joyfully, and knew was right. about the house was so
dark, so still, that a dreadful foreboding filled my heart--a fear that
mother might be dead. remembered the little graveyard and instantly bent
my steps thither. saw the costly marble and the carefully kept grave,
and a thrill of joy ran through my veins, for they told me was kindly
remembered in the home had so darkened. another object riveted my
attention. was a fresh mound, and knew full well who rested there.
have shed such tears of anguish as fell upon the sod which covers
my sainted mother. the intensity of my grief was not conscious of
's approach until she stood near me. rest you know; and now,
father, will you receive to your home and affection one who has so widely
strayed?"
"'ly, most willin'ly," said , as he folded her to his
bosom, "and if had done as or'to, a heap of this wouldn't have
happened. , didn't or'to do so, didn't; and ain't goin' to any
more. shall live with me when 's gone; and we would be so
happy, if your poor mother could only see us and know it all."
that time nothing could exceed 's kindness to his
daughter. seemed indeed trying to make up for the past, and frequently
he would whisper to himself, ", didn't or'to do so. see more and
more that didn't." his fondness for was undiminished, and
occasionally, after looking earnestly at both his children, he would
exclaim, " me, if don't b'lieve is a heap the handsomest";
but if these words caused any emotion, 'twas never betrayed.
's story there could be no doubt that the maniac girl was laid
in the grave which had thought belonged to his daughter.
tidings of her had been heard, although one gentleman thought that he once
had met with a girl answering to her description in the stage coach
between and . search in that quarter was
unavailing, and over her fate a dark mystery lay, until suddenly
appeared and threw light on the matter. afflicted father (for she had
no mother) was sent for, and when told where his child was laid, asked
permission to have her disinterred and taken to his family burial place.
request was granted, the grave was opened, and then refilled and
leveled with the earth. monument took care to have carefully
preserved as a memento of the olden time.
will be supposed, 's return furnished the neighborhood and
surrounding country with a topic of conversation for many weeks. first
nearly all treated her with cool neglect, but as she kept entirely at
home, curiosity to see one who had, as it were, come back from the dead
triumphed over all other things; and at last all who came to see
asked also for her sister.
the few who at once hastened to give the penitent girl the hand of
friendship was ; and as she marked her gentle manner and the
subdued glance of her still somewhat haughty eyes, she wound her arm about
her neck and whispered, " shall in time learn to love you dearly for the
sake of more than one."
comprehended her, or thought she did, and answered, ", .
, that one dreadful crime has troubled me more than all the rest.
killed him, your noble brother, and from the moment deliberately
determined to do so became leagued with the tempter, who lured me madly
on. outdid myself, and was entangled in the snare my own hands had
laid."
" is ever so," answered . " most secret sins will in the end find
us out."
reader is perhaps anxious to know whether back across the ,
brought his bride. , he did. .
accompanied him to the house of , whom they found to
be dying; his property was gone, and he feared that he must leave the
youthful to the cold charities of the world and a miserly brother.
. made himself known, the dying man pointed to , and
said, " once loved the mother; care for the daughter when am gone,
will you?"
" will," answered . , "on condition that you consent to having
a young friend of mine share the care with me." the same time he
presented .
recognized him immediately and answered, ", most
willingly. was a fool to spurn you once as did."
a few hours was dead, and was an orphan. her grief
was soothed by the presence of , who, a few days before sailing for
, made her his wife. the voyage . informed
that as soon as he reached home he intended making his will, by
which he should bequeath his property to . he, " have spent so
many years of my life in that find the climate of more
congenial to my feelings than a colder one would be, consequently shall
purchase a house in that city, and as look upon you and as my
children, shall insist upon your living with me if you have no
objection."
the winter wrote frequently to her father urging him to visit
her; but this he declined doing, and early the following , he stood one
evening impatiently awaiting the arrival of , who had gone to
with the expectation of meeting and her husband. had been
put in readiness. parlors and best chamber were opened and aired.
carriage and carriage horses had been brushed up, a new saddle had been
bought for 's pony, and a new dress for each of the black women, and
everything and everybody seemed expecting a joyful time.
the carriage approached the house looked wistfully toward
it, trying to catch a glimpse of "," whom he had not seen for
nearly a year and a half. only the face of a little negro girl was
seen looking from the window, and exclaimed, ", what's
possessed them to fetch that yaller gal! 've got niggers enough to wait
on 'em."
the "yaller gal" knew very well why she was there, and so ere long did
. steps were let down, and there, blithesome and gay as
ever, sprang from the carriage and ran into the arms of her father,
who kissed her again and again, holding her off to look at her and then
again drawing her to him and saying, "'re handsomer than ever."
this process the yellow girl, , had brought from the carriage a
mysterious looking bundle of flannel and white cambric, which now in .
's arms was crowing with delight as its little nurse bobbed up and
down, making at it all sorts of grimaces.
" the ----, no, forgot, didn't mean so. what--is--that!" said
, releasing and advancing toward . , who proudly
placed in his arms a beautiful nine-month-old baby, saying, " have
brought you a second ."