The Mysteries of Montreal | Page 5

recovered to
return to her home, he pressed me so strongly to keep the baby till it

was a little older, and not to leave it to the tender mercies of an ignorant
nurse, that I consented to keep it till it was two years old, and then to
obtain for it, if possible, adoption by some respectable married persons.
Margery, the baby aforementioned, turned out one of the most beautiful
children I had ever seen. Her father and mother visited her frequently
during the time she was at my house, and on my giving her for
adoption to Mr. Walker (a respectable Vermont farmer without any
children of his own) they were both deeply affected. Dombey was
anxious that Mrs. Trotter should take it to her own home, but, as "Mrs.
Grundy" had already been discussing her movements, she dare not,
without fear of ruining her children, take the baby under the roof. As
there was no help for it the baby was allowed to go to Vermont, and
grew up a beautiful girl, passionately devoted to the only parents she
had ever known; Mrs. Walker dying during the child's infancy, Mr.
Walker had her educated as well as his means would permit, and they
passed their time in the most perfect harmony and sweet content. After
the war, however, Walker found himself almost without a penny in the
world, and, thinking to better his fortunes removed to New York, where
he managed to make a poor living as a subordinate in the Custom
House. Margery regretted this change of circumstances very much, but,
being thoroughly devoted to her father, she did not repine, but did all in
her power to make his home as happy as could be under such
conditions. She missed her accustomed amusements very much, and
although in New York she saw many things and found many
opportunities which would have been altogether unknown to her in the
country, yet she was a long time in becoming reconciled to the close
and stifling atmosphere of a great metropolitan city.
One night her father promised her a great treat, they were to go to
X----'s theatre to see Mademoiselle B---- in Romeo and Juliet. Margery
sat with strained eyes gazing wistfully at the play, laughing and
weeping by turns as the great master's power was exerted on the
audience by the artists engaged, and at the close she heaved a deep sigh,
consequent upon having held her breath so long, and without thought
exclaimed aloud:--"Oh, what would I not give to be able to act like
that." The manager who was close by, and who had been watching the

attentive beauty for some time, overheard the remark, and intercepting
the pair on their way out of the theatre said:-- "I noticed that you were
favorably impressed with the piece; would you like an introduction to
Miss B----, the principal actress?" Margery was overcome with delight,
and besought her father so earnestly to allow her to go into the green
room that he accompanied her thither, and they obtained an
introduction to the famous artiste. Miss B---- was quite taken with the
innocent enthusiasm of the girl, and invited her to come to her benefit
on the following evening, when she was to appear as Parthenia in
"Ingomar;" Margery, having obtained her father's permission, readily
consented, and all the way home was full of praises for Juliet, Romeo,
the manager, and all concerned. On the following evening the manager
drew her father aside and whispered in his ear:--"You have a fortune in
that girl of yours." Walker, misunderstanding the purport of his words,
replied:-- "Yes, she is a good and affectionate child, as much so as if I
were her natural parent." "You do not understand me," said the other; "I
mean she has immense emotional power, which, if artistically
cultivated, would, coupled with her personal appearance, make both her
fortune and yours."
"Do you think so?" replied Walker; "well, if we had only the means I
would certainly have her trained, for, since she has seen Mademoiselle
B---- act, her great ambition seems to be to occupy a similar position."
After further conversation it was agreed to place Margery under the
care of Mrs. L----, with a view of becoming a professional actress; for,
although Walker did not at all care for the stage or its concomitants,
still he did not wish to throw any obstacles in the way of his adopted
child's prosperity. Margery, therefore, was allowed to pursue the bent
of her inclinations, and such an apt pupil was she that in a little over
eighteen months her debut was announced in the papers, and a crowded
house showered floral and other trophies on the beautiful debutante.
Offers of engagements from different cities came flowing in,