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Fanny McDermot
by
Stafford’s vices were expensive, and like most idle, dissipated young men of fortune, he soon found his expenditures exceeding his income. He had no thought of sacrificing his vices to his wants, but only the objects of them. He had of late felt his mode of life to be so burdensome, that he resolved on reforming it, or rather, on reducing his pleasures, by marrying a young woman whose large fortunes would be a relief to him, whose beauty and elegance would adorn his establishment, and whose character would fill up certain awkward blanks in his own.
A person so gifted, and attainable, as he flattered himself, he had discovered in Augusta Emly. Miss Emly’s mother was a leading woman of fashion in the city, and she had received his first demonstrations with unequivocal indications of favour.
He deliberately determined to leave Fanny as he had done others, to shift for herself, quieting his conscience—it was easily pacified—with the reflection that he left her rather better off than he found her! As if simplicity, contentment, and a good name, were marketable articles, to be trafficked away for a few jewels, laces and silks, and a few months of luxurious life.
CHAPTER II.
FANNY MCDERMOT might have lain down and died in the extremity of her despair at finding herself finally deserted, or in her self-condemnation she might have done violence to her life; but her child was God’s argument to reason, patience, calmness, and exertion.
She sat herself to consider what could be done. In all this great city, Mrs. O’Roorke was her only acquaintance, and though poor and ignorant, she was too her friend, and Fanny was in a strait to know the worth of that word friend.
“She can, perhaps, tell me where to find employment,” thought Fanny, “and certainly she will be kind to me.” And to her she determined to go. She laid aside all her fine clothes, which were now unfit for her, and had become disgusting to her, and putting on a gingham dressing-gown, and over it a black and white plaid cloak, which, with a neat straw bonnet (her aunt’s last gifts), seemed, as she looked at herself in them, in some degree to restore her self-respect, “Dear, honest old friends,” she exclaimed, “would that I had never laid you aside!” It was with a different feeling that she took up and laid down, one after another, the pretty frocks she had delicately made and daintily trimmed for her baby.”She looks so pretty in them,” she thought; “and I am sure there is no sin in her looking pretty!” But after a little shrinking, she dressed the baby in a cotton night-gown, and took off her coral necklace, bracelets, and bells. She then wrapped her warmly in shawls, and left the house, and after walking two squares, she reached a railroad car. There were several persons in the car when she entered, and as usual, they turned their eyes on the new comer, but not, as usual, turned them away again. Those exquisite features arrested the dullest eye, and there was something in the depth of expression on that young face, to awaken interest in the dullest soul. One man touched his neighbour, who was absorbed in his newspaper, and directed his eyes to Fanny. Two young women interchanged expressions of wonder and curiosity with their eyes fixed on her. A good little boy, feeling an instinctive sympathy with something, he knew not what, expressed it by offering her some pea-nuts, and when she looked up to thank him, she became for the first time conscious of the general gaze; and thankful she was, when, at the intersection of Houston-street, the car stopped to let her out.”Have a care,” said a Quaker woman at her side, as she rose, “thee art young, child, to be trusted with a baby.” Fanny, overcome with emotion and fatigue—for it was long since she walked out—was ready to sink, when, after having walked nearly a mile down Houston-street, she came to her former home. The O’Roorke’s were not there.”They had moved many months since,” her informer said, “down into Broome-street, near the North River.” “Was it far?” Fanny asked.”Faith! it was!” “Might she come in and rest herself?”