Persis Blair.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 579, 5 February 1876, Page 2 (Supplement)

Persis Blair.

Tt was a glad, bright morning in i June. Tbo birds were singing thei'sweetest sen 1 ,"-, the sky was wearintr its deepest blue, while soft fleecy < loud seemed to chase each other to and fro, or, meeting, embrace ea -bother. Flowers were s ( mling forth their beauty and frag™ nee. while the glad voices of happy children — their counterparts — rang out. sweet and clear on the morning air Ou this lovely morning a carriage stood in waiting at the door of a li- c residence m Winthrop Square. Soon a lady diesaed in the deepest mourning descended the ste;w. and saying, ' lo the hospital, John,' entered the carI riage and was driven away. ! Tbo lady's faeo and form were youth- ! ful, though tho face wore a look of sadness and suffering, which made it appear some yea.s old?r than it was. Mrs Lorraine for such was the lady's name, had within a few months, buried her earthly idols - a noble husband and a fair sweet child having been snatched from her loving clasp in one short hour. Mr I orraine bad purchased a pair of borses which be wished to drive uiuitvelf and as Mrs Lorraine was engaged with her callers at the time he drove to the door to take her and his little daughter to ride, he took the child alone. Ihe moVier gazed fondly and proud. y Upou them as they drove away, tho lovely little Estelle throwing Uib3es uutill out of sight. the absence was brief, but bitter and agoni/.ing the return. Husband land child were brought home by strange hands. The wife and mother was a widow and childless. Crushed to tho earth by the blow. Mrs > orraine only asked that she might only go with her beloved, but this was denied Heaven needed her not as | yet, for earth must hold her a while I longer, that; from the depths of her woe there might yet spring blessedness for other and even sorer hearts than her own. Tho carriage rolled slowly out from the city to a quiet, shaded avenue on which was che hospital. A lighting Mrs. Lorraine entred the (reception room and win sooo met by a i i matron whose gentle, tender tace and i ! quiet subdued movements, suggested what she truly was, a compas«ion.sty tadv, devoted to works of charity and mercy - s Mrs. Lorraine elaspea hands vith the matron there seemed to come into her face a look of rest and even hope, as if implanted hj ches gontle woman by her side. " How if> our paiient thla morning, Mrs North ? " " Better, forever better At early dawn the tired, broken heart ceased its painful throbbing, and now with a face as calm and peaceful as her sleep- ! ing babe's, she rests. I doubt not that i her sbirit has ahvady winged its way to the eternal res-t of heaven " i " nd so Margaret is dead. Poor ' child," said Mrs Lorraine. <l h, I almost enry her." 'jNo, no ; do not Bay that, dear Mrs i Lorraine. In fcJod'a own good time the rest will come to you, but not yet, not 1 yet. You are needed here.' i j 'But tell me,' said' Mrs Ijorraine, after she bad conquered tho emotion th.it bade fair to utterly overcome her. ' Did you learn any moreof Maigaret's history betore sac died ?' 1 Tes, a little. < ome with me to my 1 private room and I will tell you all I know.' ' Would you like to spc Margaret 'once more?' said Mrs North as they walked quietly down the long hall. 'Yes, if she looks so peaceful ' Opening a door, Mrs iNorth and ber companion passed into a small room. Tho two woman gazed in silence upon a fair giilish face, with rings of 1 flnft brown hair clustering around a , broad white brow, while long golden lashes vailed the clear blue eye. Tt was a lovely face in life, save its hopeless sadness, and now death had brightened and glorified it. ' lhank God for the 'rest that remaineth,'' said Mrs. orth, as she gently stroked the hair of thcquietsleepor. ' ow/ said Mrs. North, as they were seated alone in her pleasant mttipgroom,'l will tell you all I know I gathered it by degrees from her, last evening She knew she was dyin», and for her child's sake she told me as much of her history as she had atrength to utter ' Mrs. North then related to Mrs' Lorraine the history of the poor suf- i ferer who had just passed from a world of trouble. She was the daughter of a Colonel in the regular army. Her mother died when she was three years old. Her father sent her at the age of 12, to a fashionable boarding-school two or three hundred miles from where he was then stationed "he remained as pupil jfor four years, when her father met with sudden death by the accidental discharge of a fellow-officer's uiußket. She found herself suddenly orphaned, friendless, and penniless, bhe had shown skill in drawing, also great musical talent, and Madame Le lloy, tho Principal of the school, being very kind-harted, offered to allow hor to continue her studies a year more, in order i to perfect herself, if she would teach a class of younger schoolars as compeni sation. Thin Margaret gladly consen-

ted to do Of the girl's beauty ivnd grace 1 need not tell you, for you have seen n 't. Tlu> year had expired. Madame Lo py finding Margaret a competent and suvce^sful teacher, retail 1 pJ her aa in- ; Bt-nclor, wi'h. a fair salary lua'^arcl'fl Wo went on 1 appily until the ol°«e of the spcoiv 4 year of her teac 1 »ig and the eighteenth of her life j when ."„, one of the evening parties, in j which Madame Le boy occasionallyindulged her pupils, she met a young stranger, \vho, with a fellow student was travelling through the country. Percy Blair was about twenty years of age, the son of a wealthy Englishman Ho was captivated by the charms and accomplishments of the fair Margaret, wooed and won her. ' Margaret was happy beyond oxpressiou,' sin said. 'Madame Le Jtoy rejoiced in her good fortune, but told Margaret she bad better state frankly to young Blair her whole history, and not marry uutil she heard from his parents their approval of the match. But Percy was impatient and wag many miles from home, and beside he wished to continue his travels, but not without Margaret, 'his pearl,' as he called her, and urged an immediate marriage. 'It will be all right ; you need not fear,' he pleaded, 'they will all luve you when I take you home to them as my wife. I will write them as soon as we are married, darling. I have pleuly for our use until lny travel sjarp over.' But Margaret bpeded Madame Le Roy 'a advice and refused to accede to his wishes, for two mo iths Percy I.l'i'r remained at G- , to enjoy Margaret's society. A sad night it was in. the stillness and darkness of whirh Mad.ime Le Koy passed unconsciously from nature's sleep to that which no waking again on the glad earth, leaving Margaret entirely without hum in adviser. Then Percy Blair again pleaded eloquently his cause Margaret yielded, and one Summer evening they were quietly married. Peiry wrote immediately to his family of the step he had taken. It would be home mouths b< fore he could hear from them, and feeling in his young r -id hopeful heart not a shadow of anxiety hp was supremely happy with his beautiful bride. There was some alloy mixed with the gold of M.irg.iret's ha^pin^s, hut she hoped for the best, '^hey h.id taken lodgings in a beautiful village a few miles from Gr , and were quietly waiting to hear from fcugland before continuing their travels. Percy's fellow student had gone on 'tis way alone, laughingly declaring .himseif the unhappy third who could easily be spared. Pc ey entertained and delighted Uatg*ret with descriptions of hn beautiful anc stately frughsh home, o( his fond and indulgent, parents and. three fair sisters. extolling again and again his father's affectionate goodness he would add : ' >ow do you think my pearl, that he will give us anything but a hearty blessing and loving welcome wheu we return ?' and Margaret would feel hopo and courage rising in her breast, and be and even confident that all would be well At last the anxiously-expected letter came. ' JNow, my darling,' said Percy, springing to Margaret's side aad and flourishing the letter abo v e his head 'we will read the wo'cOiue from the hearts at dear old Bent m UaU to the new daughter and bisier whose presence shall ere long add a new grace to its already exceeding loveliness.' 'J hrowing himself into a chair, Penjy opened the letter while Margaret s to o«l i by his side in eager anticipation. He read a few lines, and then with a face of ashy paleness and hands tha trembled, he tore the paper to bits Seeing the look of foar and lismay on Margaret's face lie recovered himself, and drawing the trombling girl to his side said, ' t will all be right yet ; do not rear; I was foolish to write, w« ( should haveyone. It is only a mistake , darling, wo will set it all right' I ' But tell me, Percy, what was in the letter ; surely something terrible to have affected you so strange y ' | ' 'It was rather different from what I had expected — not so cordial, you know,' said Percy ' I was taken by surprise and rather overcome But never mind, a steamer sails for England in a week. By starting to-mor-row we can roach it and sail for home.' 'No, Percy,' said Margaret, 'you can not deceive me. I cannot go to your home, 1 know too well the letter you have destroyed forbids it.' Jn vain Percy pleaded. At last he decided to go alone, although Margaret begged him not to leave her. 'I must meet my father face to face,' was his answer. "I know I shall come back to you only to bear you in triumph to his side.' He \rent, and Margaret, with a heart heavy with foreboding, saw him depart. lie never came back to her, neither did she hear one word from him. After waiting a long weary year, in which her ch ; ld was born and named Persia Blair, but called Percy, blio came long miles to this hospital, of which she had hoard, and as I laid the poor girl upon the bod in No. 6 that cold stormy night, and took her child to my arms, 1 knew she would nerer leave it Again.

Strange that at times Margaret felt thai Percy Blair was innocent of the crin.c so plainly apparent, i Just before she died she acorned to sleep, when suddenly she raised herself in bed and stretching out her arms «iaid in a glad voice : ' Percy, I'm com ing, my darling, ' and sinking back upon her pillow soon parsed forever I beyond her hoi row and a^ony. Her last ! dream on earth must have been a glad one. ' What a sad, sad story,' said Mrs Lorranie, as she 'wiped the tears from her eyes. ' Poor Margaret's woe was deeper far than mine. Mrs North I think I wili take Margaret.s child. I had almost decided to before 1 heard her story and now I am quite ready, for there is no possibility of her ever being claimed." Mrs North rang the bell and ordered the child to be brought. Soon a little girl of eighteen months stood before them —a ebild of rare beauty. The httlo slender form moved with baby grace towards Mrs North, to whom the little arms were uplifted, 'Take Percy , Mamma North,' said the child. Mrs *orth lifted the little one to her lap, wliero she sat in sweet contentment, clasping her hand with her tiny fingers. The child had the same rings of golden brown hair around the same brow as that of the mother, but the eyes were different, being large and dark brown, with a pleading, persuasive look in them which appealed at once to one's sympathy. 1 How much she looks like Margaret,' said Mrs. Lorraine. ' Tes, but a" much like her father,' said Mrs. N orth, and rising she took ' from a drawer a gold locket and handed it to Mrs. I orraine, who opening it, beheld the face of a young man — a noble, honest, handsome face, with eyes the very same as tho innocent child's before her. ' Could the possessor of this face be the villain who caused Margaret's suffering? 't does rot seem possible.' ' But it i",' paid Mrs. North ; ' <md here is his child, who, if she does not die, will grow up to a weary life because of him ' ' It shall be years before she shall know of it,' «aid Mrs Lorraine. ' I wi'l take i>er for mv own ; her name shall be no longer Percy Blair alone, Lorraine shall b" added. L feel happier already in the anticipation of making the child happy,' Tnki lg the child in her arms she aa'd, 'Call me mamma, dear' ' vfamtna Blair gone?' asked the child looking wistfully t nvard the lounge where she had often seen her mother, when Mrs. No th had borne the frail form there for change and rest ' Tes, but mamma Lorraine has come darling, and she will come again soon and take you away to a beautiful placo. Wjll Percy go?' ' Yes, Percy go, 1 was the answer. In due time Mrs. I orraine took the little Percy to her home, and very sonn the child found her way to her heart, and her sorrow was lightened and her life gladdened by tho child, wbo grow imre and more beautifal in person and spirit. Time rolled on Percy Lorraine stood the acknowledged queen in a large circle of friends. As yet Mrs Lorraine bad kept the sad story from her, but she knew the time was coming when she must tell her all. That time must not long bo delayed, for she read plainly enough what perhaps as yet Percy did not know — that R">ger Stuart loved thefair girl with all tho strength of his noble manly nature, as she also knew that Percy bad mire regard for him than any other of the many who worshipped at her shrine. (To be continued )