The Path of Duty, and Other StoriesCaswell, Harriet S. (Harriet Sophia)
General
The Path of Duty, and Other Stories
Caswell, Harriet S. (Harriet Sophia)
Country life -- Fiction; Family -- Fiction; Friendship -- Fiction; Pastoral fiction; Short stories
lady passing in the street, saying, "there, Sir, is the young lady from
whom I purchased the ring." He waited to hear no more, but, stepping
hastily into the street, followed the lady at a respectful distance; but
never losing sight of her for a moment till she entered her home two
streets distant from the shop of the jeweller. He approached the door
and rang the bell. The door was opened by the same young lady, whose
manner exhibited not a little embarrassment, when she beheld a total
stranger; and he began to feel himself in an awkward position. He was at
a loss how to address her till, recollecting that he must explain his
visit in some way, he said: "Pardon the intrusion of a stranger; but, by
your permission, I would like to enter the house, and have a word of
conversation with you." The young girl regarded the man earnestly for a
moment; but his manner was so gentlemanly and deferential that she could
do no less than invite him to enter the little sitting-room where her
mother was at work, and ask him to be seated. He bowed to Mrs. Harris on
entering the room, then seating himself he addressed the young lady,
saying: "The peculiar circumstances in which I am placed must serve as
my apology for asking you a question which you may consider
impertinent. Are you the young lady who, some months since, sold a
diamond ring to a jeweller on Grafton street?" Mrs. Harris raised her
eyes to the stranger's face, and the proud English blood which flowed in
her veins mantled her cheek as she replied, "before I permit my daughter
to answer the questions of a stranger, you will be so kind as to explain
your right to question." The stranger sprang from his seat at the sound
of her voice, and exclaimed, in a voice tremulous from emotion, "don't
you know me Eliza, I am your long lost brother George." The reader will,
doubtless, be better able to imagine the scene which followed, than I am
to describe it. Everything was soon explained, many letters had been
sent which never reached their destination; he knew not that his sister
had left England, and after writing again and again, and receiving no
reply, he ceased altogether from writing. During the first years of his
sojourn in California, he was unfortunate, and was several times brought
to the brink of the grave by sickness. After a time fortune smiled upon
his efforts, till he at length grew immensely rich, and finally left the
burning skies of California to return to England. He landed at New York
and intended, after visiting the Canadas, to sail for England. The
brother and sister had parted in their early youth, and it is no wonder
that they failed to recognize each other when each had passed middle
age. The brother was most changed of the two. His complexion had grown
very dark, and he had such a foreign look that, when convinced of the
fact, Mrs. Harris could hardly believe him to be one and the same with
the stripling brother from whom she parted in England so many years ago.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account