Tempest and Sunshine

This morning, however, the mystery was explained, but in what way he could

not tell.

Soon after he appeared on the balcony, Nellie pointed to a gentleman who

was crossing the street and inquired his name. On being told she replied:

"He looks very much like a Mr. Barnard I used to know years ago in ----,"

mentioning the town where she was born.

"Used to know where?" asked Ashton quickly.

Nellie repeated the name and Ashton said, "Why, that's my native town, and

I knew Mr. Barnard well." Then as if the light of a sudden revelation fell

upon him, he added, "And your name, too, was Nellie Ashton? I once had a

sister Nellie, on whose rosy cheeks I dropped a tear the night I ran away

to sea. Can it be that you are that Nellie?"

A few moments more sufficed them to discover what we have long surmized,

viz., that Henry Ashton and Nellie Stanton were brother and sister. The

surprise and pleasure of their recognition is better imagined than

described. We will only say that when Stanton, on his return from the

office, stepped out upon the balcony in quest of his wife, he was greatly

shocked at beholding her in Ashton's arms, and his amazement was increased

when he saw that she not only suffered his caresses, but also returned

them in a manner highly displeasing to the young husband. Fanny, however,

soon explained all, and Stanton gladly received Ashton as a newly found

brother.

It is unnecessary for us to repeat what Nellie and her brother had to

relate concerning themselves since the night when Ashton so

unceremoniously took leave of his home. With the important points in their

history the reader is already acquainted, so for the present we leave

them, while we take a brief glance at Mrs. Carrington. The reader will

doubtless think that for once in her life that estimable lady has done a

good deed, although her motive was not the best in the world. Before Julia

went to New Orleans, Mrs. Carrington so far overcame her dislike as to ask

her to write. Julia did not promise to do so, but probably concluded she

would, for soon after her arrival in New Orleans she wrote to her a

letter, in which she hinted at the probable result of her visit. She was

then a guest of Dr. Lacey, and she spoke of his attention and politeness

in the most extravagant terms. This so provoked Mrs. Carrington that she

determined at once to write to Dr. Lacey, and give him an insight into

Julia's real character.