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r-E wis >i. urist, Proprietor. J 5,ii |itbfj)fitiicitt Jfnmiln ftetospper: Jfor flje Ijromotiuu uf i|c Social, Agricultural anir Commercial Interests uf tire Soutjr. jTERMS?$3.00 A YEAR, IX ADVANCE. vht, an YOEKYILLE, S. C., THURSDAY, MiLY 38, 1874. NO. 32. * V_V _I?J rv w JVn Original jNflfg. Written for tlie Yorkville Enquirer. HOLLINGWOOD HOUSE. BY MRS. HENRY DEAS. CHAPTER VIII. Col. Hoi ling wood wrote to Mr. Sydney, ex pressing his hope that Sydney Teruple wouh visit them at Hollingwood at an early day and the same post conveyed a letter of invite tion to some friends of Ellinor's?Mrs. Rox bury and her daughter, who lived in Yorkto pay them a long-promised visit at the sam< time. Ellinor had not the slightest intention o accepting Sydney Temple as a lover, an* would have been very glad to put a stop a once to any expectations of the sort in every body's mind ; but her grandfather was so ui gent that she should at least postpone her d< cision until after the young man arrived, tha she consented to let the matter remain ii abeyance for the present. "I forewarn you, Grandy," said she, "tha he will only be wasting time in coming here but if he chooses to take so much trouble, won't hold myself responsible for his disap pointment." Under these circumstances, the old gentle man judged it expedient to tell Mr. Sydne; the exact state of the case, adding that hi would do all in his power to advance his ne phew's cause, but that at the same time h had promised his graud-daughter to lay n< constraint upon her inclinations. "Nellie, my dear," said the Colonel on evening, after these preliminaries had beei arranged, "isn't it about time for us to hea something from Columbia about the house keeper you wrote to engage ?" "Quite true, I think, sir; probably ther will be a letter this evening. Here come Jack with the mail-bag now." The expected letter #as there, and contains satisfactory news. Mrs. Norton, the persoi in question, accepted Col. Hollingwood's oi fered terms, and would be in Greenville oi the followiug afternoon. The lady who ha< effected the arrangement wiute to Ellinor a follows: "She is said to be a most efficieut house keeper, and is highly recommended by he last employers. She will, I think, strike yoi at first as being a little odd; at least, that i: the impression she makes upon me. Sh dresses in deep mourning, and looks as thougl she had undergone trouble ; her face is pal and wan, her manner very nervous, and he eyes have a way of roaming quickly and ap prehensively about while you are speaking t her, as if she was afraid of something. Bu she seems to be a quiet, unobtrusive little wo mon, sensible and well-informed, and will, . think, fall easily into the ways of your quie household." At the appointed time the carriage was sen to the station to meet the new housekeeper who soon after made her appearance at Ho! lingwood. Ellinor went down in the hall to receiv her, and found her, a3 her friend had describe* her, a pale, sad looking woman, dressed ii black, and wearing a close cap beneath he plain straw bonnet and heavy veil. She wa small in stature and very slight; her fac bore the traces of former beauty, now diramei and lined by care, and her manner was at th same time nervous and subdued ; she had j restless way of moving her hands while speak ing, and of glancing constantly yet furtivel; around. Ellinor was uot impressed with he at first sight, but gave her a kind welcome and conducted her herself to the room pre pared for her reception, at the same time ex pressing a hope that she would find everything to her liking. Mrs. Norton murmured he thanks, and then Ellinor left her aud went t< give an account of her to her grand-father "Grandy, she's certaiuly queer-looking, am has queer ways ; Mrs. Gray was right. Shi seems fluttered and uneasy, yet speaks an< moves very quietly, ?3 if she were putting i sort of coustraint upon herself." "And how is she queer-looking?" asked he grand-father. "Oh! she has such an old-young look,' said Ellinor, "a sort of contradictory look tha isn't satisfactory. I cau't form the least idei of her age. She is wan and careworn look ing, with a fixed expression of sadness, tha seems to say she has lived through years am years of trouble; yet very youthful in her fig ure and her walk and her hair, which look thick and glossy, what can be seen of it?ant her eyes are certainly pretty, though the) have dark circles rouud them." "Theu there are some redeeming point) about her, Nell ?" "Oli! yes, I dare say she has plenty; and poor thing, if she has seen misfortune, it's oul) natural for her to look and speak in tha downcast way. Perhaps she will cheer up ? little after she gets used to being here ; at ain rate I shall do ray best to make her." "That I am sure you will, my good child,' fondly replied the old gentleman. "No om ought to remain unhappy in your present long." Ellinor found it rather hard to accomplis! her charitable purpose. Mrs. Norton was j very unapproachable person, and for somi time it seemed impossible to meet her on an; footing but that of familiarity and reserve, es pecially as Ellinor, with all her kindness o heart, was herself seldom at ease with stran gers, and not by any means given to raakiuj special advances. She soon discovered, how ever, that Mrs. Norton, notwithstanding th? position she occupied, was evidently superio to the generality of persons iu her class, ant appeared to have very refined and lady-liki ideas. She was very retiring, and shraul from being brought into notice, or assuming auy privileges that were not consistent witl her occupation. Once or twice Ellinor askec her, when her duties were accomplished, i she would not come and sit with her for a lit tie while, instead ot remaining constantly alone. "Thank you, thank you?you are very kind," was the reply, with the habitual restles movement of her hands?they were small am delicate hands, by the way; "but I'm quit used to being alone. I don't mind it, and should only be an iutrusion on you." "Not at all," kindly replied Elliuor; "pray make yourself welcome, either in my room o the sitting-room, whenever you are inclined b come there. I should think it would maki you dull to be so much alone." But though the house-keeper again ex I " " "" " I pressed her thanks, she did not once avail j herself of the invitation, and showed so de cided a preference for solitude that Elliuor, after a time, ceased to try to prevail upon her to change her habits. ?She lent her books, ! however, placed flowers in her room, and , : showed her many similar little attentions, for ' which she seemed duly grateful. Ellinor . fouud that she quite deserved the encomiums j that had been passed upon her, for she dis- , J charged her duties in an exemplary manner, ; j and appeared most anxious to satisfy her em1.1 ployers' wishes in every respect. > | It happened that one night as she was _ about retiring to rest, Ellinor suddenly ree membered a suggestion she had desired to make to the house-keeper, regarding some j ,f little delicacy for her grand-father at break*; i ! fast, next morniup. and went down stairs, in- ! a I O' ,t' teuding to speak to her from outside the door, ' should she be in bed. There was a light j -1 burning in the room, however, and as she ! >- knocked, Mrs. Norton's voice said, "come in." t Ellinor opened the door, and could hardly o refrain from an exclamation of surprise. ; The house-keeper was standing before the j t! glass brushing out her hair, which hung in j . I soft curling masses over her shoulders, and a j I greater transformation it would be difficult to j j imagine, than that now presented in her ap-1 ! pearauce. The removal of the disfiguring ! j cap, the flowing hair and negligent attire, y ! gave an entirely new expression to her face, j e | which looked soft and youthful ; and as she j j. j stood there, visibly startled and embarrassed, j e with a crimson flush on her usually pallid ; 0 ! cheek, Ellinor found it difficult to realize that j | she was the sombre, faded-looking personage 1 e | she had said "good-night" to, an hour or two ! Q j before. r j She forebore, of course, from iudulging in i . | any comment, but merely apologized briefly : I for her unexpected visit, and after giving the e j necessary directions, again wished the house- j a keeper good-night and returned to her own i j chamber. j i "That woman has a story," she said to her- ! ! aolf oa qVio nQppmlpfl thp atuirfi. "I am con- I ? | viuced of it. Her singular manner, her love j a | of solitude, her melancholy fiice, her odd secret | ^ ' ways, all make me feel sure of it. How pretty | | she is without that prim, ugly cup! and how j put out she looked because I surprised her ; en deshabille. I'd like to unravel the mystery, ' | if mystery there be in tho case." j This little episode, though it afforded her j s | subject for speculation at the time, did not re-; e main very long in her thoughts, for they were ; I 1 taken up with matters more closely concern-1 ing herself. The nearer the time of Sydney ! r [ Temple's visit approached, the more reluc-! tant did she feel to see him ; she felt her posi-1 }' tion to be an embarrassing one, and heartily j t wished this candidate for her favor a hundred j _ : thousand miles away. He was a distaut j ! cousin of her3, on her mother's side, but she i II had seen very little of him, and when they ' : had met, their intercourse had been only of t a formal kind. i She was glad when the Roxburys arrived ; 1 ' ; Kate Roxbury was one of the few girls whom ! , she numbered among her intimate friends, ; and yet a completer contrast than there was ? between the two could scarcely be imagined. ! Kate was a lively, hair-brained creature, al-1 1 wjivs readv for a frolic, and seldom inclined i ' "J J , : to think seriously about anything; she was; 3 the greatest chatterbox in existence, and, in * consequence, talked a great deal ol' nonsense, , : while at the same time she was quick-witted | B and intelligent, aud could, when she chose, j % converse as ratioua'ly as the generality of her ! fellow creatures. Her mother was a quiet, i ^ placid old lady, who never disagreed with any-1 r 1 body, aud always had a huge piece of knit-! ': ting in her hand. Ellinor was at all times ' pleased to see them, but never more so than ! at present; for she felt that they would be 5 j quite a support to her during her coming orr deal. Sydney Temple's expected visit would j J; not, at any time, have afforded her much grat-1 ' ! ification ; but coming, as he was about to do, ! * in the character of a suitor on trial, and a i e suitor, moreover,whom she had resolved should j * be an unsuccessful one, the anticipation of; 1 seeing him was fraught with special annoy- j ance. i'. "And so, Nellie, my dear," said Kate, when ! ; they were alone in Ellinor's cosy dressingroom, "you have made up your mind to be j t the obliging medium of au alliance between i 1 the illustrious houses of Hollingwood and | leraple. t "Indeed I have made up my mind to noth- j 1 ingof the sort, Kate," replied Ellinor. "On i '* j the contrary, I am quite resolved that such an s ! alliance will never be e dec ted through my in1 ; strumentality." r "What!" said Kate. "Do you mean to 1 i tell meseriously that you have the conscience ; 3! to allow that deluded young man to come ! j here, in the expectation of securing to himself, j j 'an heiress in her own right,' and all the time ; 7; deliberately resolve to blast his hopes ?" t! "It is no fault of mine," said Ellinor, grave 1; ly. "I have tried to persuade grand-father . ' that it is quite useless to let him come, and wrong to encourage his expectations ; but he ; is so anxious tor me to Jet linn make the trial. j ' 2 and Mr. Sydney is so absurdly pressing?" a "Mr. Temple, you mean," said Kate. j I "No, his uncle, Mr. Edward Sydney. That's j 1 : the worst of it, Kate; do you know, I believe : i Sydney Temple has actually less voice in the i e matter than his relations." p! "Enchanting!" cried Kate. "It's altogeth- j -1 er like an affair ofroyalty?courtship by proxy, j f and all the negotiations carried on by outsi* ' ders." I i "I find it exceedingly disagreeable," said ; - Ellinor, in a tone which conveyed no doubt e of her sincerity. "I look forward to the man's , r visit with real apprehension, for I know what! 1 a trial it will be." e | "What a trial to your equauimity, my peerc less Ellinor! But after all, he is the most to I be pitied of the two, since the result is to be \ y fn liic linnnc TT/iti'mrof* wnAMn * I 5U UWilOUUUO LU tug IIWJ/VC, AAW TIVI V?) Uiiw Vi?*i 1 tell? Perhaps you raay relent, after all, aud f say with Beatrice, 'Come, I will have thee; but by this light, I take thee for pity.'" 7 "Never?never!" said Kllinor with great I energy. "Neither for pity or?or anything 7 else, will I ever marry Sydney Temple." "Is he so objectionable?" asked Kate. 1 "Come describe him to me, for I want to know e how your pet aversion looks." I "He is not my pet aversion ; I know too little of him to dislike him." <7 "Dear me! I thought he must certainly { r have done something to merit your displeasd ure, from the vehemence with which you j e spoke. My dear Nell, this looks suspicious." "Plow so ?" asked Ellinor. -; "Why, your positive determination not to I like a man whom you scarcely know, looks very much as if?as if?may I dare to say it?" "Say anything you please," said Ellinor ! with rising color. "As if you liked somebody else. Oh ! pardon, Ellinor, please don't be vexed with your J poor little harum-scarum Katy !" and in pretended apprehension, she hid her face with one haud and caught EUinor's dress with the other, peeping furtively through her fingers to watch the effect of her words. Ellinor's color deepened to carnatiou, but she reared her queenly head with some hauteur, and al'tcr a moment's pause answered very quietly? "Your pardon is granted, Kate ; but if you i want to preserve my opinion of your common sense, don't advance such a silly suggestion again." "Such excessive dignity is certainly suspicious/' thought Kate, "aud I believe I've hit i /] Art nftn V oil I" Rllf alio wiqoI v rp. lu^ li^iib (uca aitui an xruv uu v ...uv.j . v pressed this reflection, and merely replied, in j a tone of mock humility, that she would be very, very careful, not to say such stupid things any more. "I must confess," said Ellinor, returning J to her former tone, "that I am extremely grateful to your mother and yourself for com- i ing here now. If it were not for that, I: really don't see what I should do." "You need our formidable presence as a protection to your nerves, eh ? I assure you, I am delighted to be here, under the circumstances ; it will be as good as a play to me to watch your manceuvres; I may take some lessons in regard to my own conduct, when I have such a part to play. But I suppose I am too insignificant to be courted in such a high-aud-mighty way?that is, if I am ever j courted at all, which I am beginning to think ; doubtful, from present appearances. I think, j Nell, I'll write a romance when I go home, with the characters drawn from life. Xouj shall be ray heroine?" "And Sydney Temple your hero ?" "That depends upon circumstances. If I | like him, he may ; if not, I'll create another, j By the way, his real name isn't Temple, is it? j It seems to me I've heard some story about it." "His name is Sydney ; but his grand-father Temple, who had no male descendants, left him some property on condition of his taking his mother's family name." "Why, that of itself is quite interesting," j said Kate. "I confess I am quite anxious to j see him, for on the whole, he does appear to I be like the hero of a romance." "I wish, for my part, you could have your ; hero all to yourself," said Ellinor, "for I am j sure I do not want him." The young gentleman in question arrived j in due time, met with a cordial welcome from ; Col. Hollingwood, and a somewhat distant one from Ellinor, who, as usual when embarrassed, comported herself with exceeding dignity and reserve. Kate watched the meeting with secret glee, and though she assumed a demure air of propriety, her black eyes sparkled with suppressed fun when it came to her ' turn, and the hero of romance was presented ! to her. She afterward told Ellinor that she ; was rather disappointed, for she could not find ' anything heroic in hitn to admire. He was a tall, rather fine-looking man of about twentysix, with handsome dark eyes and a heavy brown moustache, and a conspicuous air of j lazy indifference which brightened into a bare-1 ly sufficient show of animation in his inter- i course with the ladies. Even toward Ellinor I his manner displayed no empressment, a eir- j cumstance for which she felt too grateful to resent it as a slight. There was certainly | nothing about him suggestive of the ardent or j doubting lover; on the contrary, he walked, ! talked, moved and looked with ali the self- j possession of an ordinary individual, who had come to pay an ordinary visit of friendship, j and nothing more. Kate, however, who watched him like a j lynx, detected frequent protracted, though ' furtive, glances from his large sleepy eyes, to-1 ward his fair young hostess; glances iu which : she could read no special interest or adinira-' tion, but rather curiosity, as if he were en-\ gaged in trying simply to discover what sort \ of girl she might be. Ellinor, on her side, j never looked at him at all, except when po- : liteness demanded that she should address ! him whir>h wjis ns sp.liinm sis she eisiihl man- 1 age to let it be. Things went on in this man-1 ner for two or three days, during which the j party would have been a rather stiff and j stupid one, but for Kate whose animation j never Hagged, and her mother, who, being! one of the most unobservant of human beings,: and always in a good humor with herself and everybody else, never thought that anything j was going wrong, and was, consequently, in a delightful state of perpetual complacency and I placid enjoyment, most soothing to behold, j Ellinor felt as if her securest stronghold was j the corner of the large, old-fashioned sofa, 1 where, entrenched behind the cumbrous mass,; through a portion of which the old lady's gi- j gantic knitting-kneedles were never weary of; moving, she could listen to the comfortable , soft purring tones of her voice, and seldom ; have occasion to make any reply ; while Syd- i ney Temple lent a deferential ear to Colonel J Iioilingwood's remarks, or exchanged lazy 1 witticisms with Kate, whom he seemed to like j the best of the party?probably because he , found her the most entertaining. It did oc cur to Mrs. Koxoury a dull perception alter a while, that the young man talked more to her daughter than he did to Elliuor, and that this ! could not be exactly right. "Kate, my dear," she said to her privately, "if I were you I wouldn't let Mr. Temple fol-' low me up. Dear Ellinor might not like it." i "Follow me up, indeed, mother!" said Kate, laughing. "He's not likely to take that trou- j ble with anybody. I only talk to him because I Ellinor won't, and it's a great relief to her to have somebody amuse him." "But he's courting Ellinor, ain't he ?" asked the old lady. "May be so ; but it's a funny kind of courtship, I should think. Bid you ever see one like it before?" "Well! I don't know, dear, I'm sure. Peo- . pie have such different ways. He may not like to display his feelings before all of us; , but we can't tell how he may act when he is ] alone with Ellinor." 1 ( "He's never alone with Ellinor ; she never i i gives him a chance. "When we go out riding ' together, if I don't do the talking, or most of it, I do think there would not be six words i j said from the time we start until we come j' home. I declare," said Ivate, laughing, "I i never saw such a thing in my life. He's the I most indifferent wooer that 1ms ever come I within the range of my observation, or of any body else's, I do believe !" "Hush! my child, don't make such remarks," j said the old lady, cautiously. "We never know who may be within hearing; and it wouldn't do to let dear Elliuor suspect that j we thought the young man was indifferent to her; it would hurt her pride very much." CHAPTER IX. Mr. Sydney Temple, pacing the moonlit piazza with a cigar between his lips, after the family had retired for the night, indulged in meditations that were not of an exhilarating ~ ifi-nin fl*/\ rv? st/isl \r <1 nrl pnfl PPH - lllllUIU, IV JUUgo UV/IU HIIW (? <? W..?.v.. trated expression of his face. He was, in I fact, studying a problem?how, having suf- J fered himself to be got into a fix, he could , get himself out again without compromising J himself or any one else. "It's always the way with me!" he sighed, j at last, in a weary tone, as, having finished his ; cigar, he threw the end of it away, and leaned j agaiust a pillar, whence, with a contemplative i eye, he regarded the clouds as they chased j each other rapidly across the moon. "I'm the j most unlucky fellow in creation ; I'm always ! going wrong, and I can't help it. Now, why j on earth should I have allowed myself to be j persuaded that it was the right and proper j thing to come here, and ask a girl to marry i me whom I don't want to marry? It has to j be done, I suppose, since everybody expects j it; but I must own it will be an uncommon bore. My only comfort is, that she'Jl most j likely refuse me. She certainly does not evince any particular softness toward me; she is as cold and unbending as steel. That other ! little one, I think, would be much more apt j to have me, if I were to ask her?which I have no intention of doing, however. The ; fact is, I've a serious objection to marrying? j I never cared but for one person, really, and that person . Well! let the past rest. ! I wonder when George is coming. He said he'd run up in a few days' time. I suppose : the old gentleman will ask him here, if he I discovers that he's a particular friend of mine. 1 I'm sure, if he'd take all this trouble off my j hands, and marry the heiress for me, I'd be j uncommonly glad?if I can ever be glad of anything again." Another sigh, deeper and more prolonged j than the first, ended the soliloquy. Evident- j ly the pressure of circumstances was bearing ; heavily upou him. Irresolute still, and wa-j veringas of yore, Charles Sydney Temple was j forever finding himself the victim of the most complicated toils of fate, forever vainly trying to shift the responsibility of his conduct ou shoulders more able or willing to bear it than his own. One dark deed in the past had left a cloud hanging over him which could not be ; dispelled, and Memory was constantly holding j it up to his view. And yet, in this, as in almost every other sin and error of his life, he had been but a tool in unworthy hands. 'A poor vindication, truly; yet how many men, ! not wickedly disposed, have sinned, and do i sin daily, for lack of firmness to combat a ; stronger will than their own. George Russell, Sydney's evil genius, had j made arrangements to pay a little visit to Greenville, hoping to be invited on his arri- J val there to join his friend at Hollingwood i House. He was anxious to ingratiate him- i self with the family there, and to promote, if possible, the desired uuion between Sydney and Ellinor. He foresaw that this match, should it take place, would be of immense advantage to him, for Ellinor's large iuheri- j tance, once in Sydney's hands, would be as i good as at his disposal?at all events, he hoped and expected to reap considerable benefit, therefrom. His influence over Sydney had ' grown and strengthened with years; a portion j of the not very large property, which old Mr. i Temple had bequeathed to his grandson with j the family name, had already passed iuto his j (Russell's) hands, and thence iuto the hands of sundry of his creditors, a class of iudividu-! als whose name was Legion : but Svdnev's rel- ! " """ O ' -J atives were not cognizant of this, nor of the : many pecuniary entanglements in which his so-called friend had managed, in one way or j another, to involve him. In order to extri- ' cate himself from these, it seemed as though ; the only course left open for him to pursue j, was to form a wealthy connection ; and it was ( this consideration which had induced him to listen with some favor to his uncle's represen-!. tations of the extreme desirableness of his tin-!: ion with Ellinor Hollingwood?a plan which <, had been agitated in the councils of both i families while yet the parties whose interests ! it most nearly concerned were nothing but j; children, as Col. Hollingwood had informed : ] his grand-child. . i "Are you young folks going for a ride this : pleasantafternoou ?" enquired the Colonel, one j day, as they sat around the dinner table. 11 "I shall not be able to go," quietly answered i Ellinor, "for I have something to attend to at i home." "And so have I," said Kate, who was, per-! force, obliged to follow her friend's lead. j 1 "In that case," said Sydney, who had of j ] course, waited for the ladies to speak first, "I, i think I shall ride into town and see the train i cotue in ; I am expecting a friend of mine up ? this evening, and should like to meet him." ' i "A friend of yours, ha ? Who is he ?" asked ! the old gentleman. ! i "Russell is his name, sir?George Russell; j ( perhaps you may know something of the fam-! 1 ily," | ] .//-\ * .1 . L!? T) 11. 0?) i , "tjue or tne ixuumuiu ivusseiiB : I ? "Tlie family are from Stateburg, sir, but j they have lived in Columbia a good many c years." j 1 "Let's see; is he a son of Judge Russell, 1 c who died about three years ago ?" j s "The same, sir." j t "I used to know his father well, once upon j t a time; but that was long ago?this sou you j ? speak of must have been a mere lad at the , r time. Who is he goiug to stay with ?" "No one that I know of, sir?he will most 11 likely put up at the hotel." ! e "Pray ask him to do nothing of the sort, t Mr. Temple," said his hospitable host. "We I shall be very happy to have him consider I Hollingwood his headquarters as long as he is , up here; most happy, I assure you. Bring t him home with you, by all means ; any friend h of yours will be welcome. Nellie, my dear, I a am sure you will join me in extending the in- j li vitation to Mr. Temple's friend ?" a "Certainly, Grand-father," said Ellinor c frigidly, and with a scarcely perceptible ele- p vation of the eyebrows, denoting anything but, r unqualified delight at the proposition. a "I am extremely obliged to you both," said ! tl Sydney, "and my friend will, I am sure, appreciate your kindness as much as I do, even if he should not be able to avail himself of it." "Kindness?pshaw!" said the old gentleman. "Nothing pleases me better than to have a houseful of young folks about me, and the more the merrier, say I. Mind, you accept no excuses from your friend ; I shall consider myself really slighted if he prefers the doubtful comforts of a country hotel (asking the good people of Greenville's pardon) to the substantial ores which I can safely undertake to offer him under my roof." "Sydney bent over his plate as he reiterated his thanks. He knew that to offer any excuse was the most unlikely thing in the world for Russell to do, but he scarcely knew whether to feel glad or sorry that the invitation had been given. He believed George to be his friend ; but he felt a sort of iudefinable relief when ho was out of his reach, a dim consciousness, scarcely acknowledged to himself, that he was beyond the influence of an unwholesome surveillance and restraint. He drove over in the afternoon to Greenville, as he had arranged to do, and waited for the train to come in. He had no difficul ty in distinguishing Russell's tall figure, and flowing black whiskers, among the crowd on the platform, and in a few moments they had exchanged greetings, and Sydney was informing his friend of the invitation he had been instructed to deliver. "It's all right, George; the old gentleman says I'm to bring you along with me, and won't hear of a refusal." "Is that so ?" said Russell, with a well-satisfied look. "You've managed pretty well for me; I'm sure I'm much obliged to you for saving me a hotel bill." "To tell the truth, there was no management in the business," said Sydney. "I merely mentioned that I was looking for your arrival this afternoon, and the Colonel immediately proposed?nay, insisted?that you should come to his house instead of stopping in the village." "Hospitable old codger, eh ? Well, it suits my book exactly. Here, can you get my traps up behind the buggy, or will they be in the way?" "As they don't look particularly bulky," replied Sydney, "I'll undertake to answer for !. T.._i 1 ? J _ i their accommodation, ousi jeuu u, uuuu at fastening this strap, will you ? There, that's safe; now jump in, if you are ready, for it's getting rather late." "Well, Syd," Russell commenced as soon as they were fairly on the road, "what success have you had ? Are you ready yet to receive my congratulations ?" "Not that I know of," said Sydney, lightly touching the horse with his whip. As to success, one can't expect to succeed unless one tries, I suppose." "Unless one tries!" echoed the other. "You don't mean to tell me that you have nothing to report except lost time, neglected opportunities, and so forth?" "I don't know about neglected opportunities," said Sydney, "for I don't find any opportunities to neglect." "Find any ! Can't you make them ?" "Not easily." "Does she nlav shv then." "Shy, or as proud as Lucifer ; she seldom honors me with a word beyond what civility requires; and I never get a chance of seeing her alone. I believe she has taken a dislike to me." "What a soft you are, Syd," said his friend, with some contempt. "Don't you know that's a woman's way? You don't expect her to throw herself into your arms, do you ?" Sydney could not forbear laughing at the idea of Ellinor throwing herself into anybody's arms. "You don't know anything about the matter," he replied. "Wait till you get there, and you'll find that what I tell you is true." "Wait till I get there," rejoined Russell, "and see if I don't make opportunities for you, since you areuot helpful enough to make them for yourself." "You don't know whom you have to deal with." "What?in you?" "In Ellinor Iiollingwood." "Pshaw !" said Russell. "A fig for her j shyness, or pride, or whai.ever you choose to j call it; I'll find a way to circumvent it, never fear. It's only natural for her to seem reserved and all that sort of thing when she finds that you are holding back. Is anybody staying at the house besides yourself?" "Yes, a Mrs. Roxbury and her daughter. I declare if it hadn't been for Kate Roxbury I'd have perished of the blues since I've been here." "Nice sort of girl ?" "Capital; she's got plenty of life in her, ind talks as much in one hour as Ellinor joes in twenty-four." "Look here, Syd, I trust you haven't forsaken the lawful game and strayed off on a wrong scent ?" "If you mean that I'm at all captivated by ;he black-eyed Kate, I can assure you that; pou are mistaken ; I'm merely thankful to her for her charitable offices in relieving the tedijm of my visit. But I say, George, drop the subject of likes and dislikes for the present, ind tell me something of your own affairs." "Heaven forbid! My dear fellow, can't! rou understand that I leave home in the hope j )f escaping from all such nuisances as my af-1 'airs ; I don't want to discuss them as long as ' ['ra breathing free air. So just bear that in , nind, if you wish to merit my gratitude." The rest of the drive was filled up with j lesultory talk, and at dusk they reached Hoi- j ingwood. The family were sitting, as usual, >n the nift77.a eninvinc the eveninc air. Rus- 1 '** ""? I? y ?J~J?o o j lell's critical eye took a satisfactory survey of: he group and all the surroundings, as he flighted from the buggy, aud advanced under j Sydney's pilotage, to pay his respects in the ; nost approved style. "Haughty enough, in all conscience," he bought, as Ellinor acknowledged his defer- i mtial obeisance with one of her most distant j >ows. "But I'll thaw that frozen surface yet, | >cfore I'm many hours here, or ray name's not lussell." In pursuance of this object, he proceeded : i o talk, not to Ellinor, but at her, or rather for J ler benefit; addressing himself chiefly, with i n air of marked courtesy and respect, to his j iost, whom he soon charmed by the fluency j 1 nd address of his conversation, and skillfully ! i boosing subjects which he knew would irove of interest, not only to hira but to the i est of his hearers. He was a clever talker, i nd soon had the satisfaction of perceiving ' hat he was making the desired impression, at j ' least, on the majority of the party. As to Elj linor, she sat somewhat apart, taking little apparent interest in any remarks not addressed directly to herself, and answering those in as ! brief a manner as possible; and the grave dignity of her countenance and manner were, as usual, impenetrable. In her heart she was wishing that all these people?except perhaps I Kate?were away, and that she could again enjoy the undisturbed serenity of her customary life. The evening was nearly over, before Rusj sell drew his chair to fltr side. "I can never be sufficiently grateful to : chance, Miss Hollingwood, for bringing my j friend Temple and myself to this part of the country at the same time, since I have therej by become the recipient of such a piece of I good fortune." "To what good fortune do you allude ?" I asked Ellinor. j "Can you ask ? That which brings me unj dor your graud-father's hospitable roof. I am . i - i : j A,, d.a most graterui 10 nun uuu hj )uu iu> mv, ?. tatioD." "My grand-father, I am sure, did not expect his invitation to excite a feeling of grati itude," said Ellinor, disclaiming for herself j any share in the transaction. "It does, notwithstanding. I cannot sufficiently express my appreciation of the kindness?to a perfect stranger, too ; one who, perhaps, was unknown to you even by reputation ?" "Yes," assented Elliuor, and though the admission was not flattering to his vanity, he could not help thinking that it was just as well for him that his reputation, in some respects, had not come to their ears. "I thought Sydney might have spoken of me," he continued ; "we have been intimate friends for many years; since Doynooa, in fact." Ellinor's countenance expressed absolute indifference to this announcement. "I don't wonder, however," pursued Russell, "that he has not spoken of me?here?lately ; for doubtless he has had but little leisure to indulge in memories of absent friends." "Is he, then, so very busy ?" asked Ellinor, seeing that some rejoinder was expected. "I meant only that his thoughts were particularly engaged." "Indeed," said Ellinor, carelessly. "You, of all persons, Miss Hollingwood, should not need enlightenment on that point." But Ellinor turned upon him such a look i of cold enquiry and surprise, that he deemed it advisable not to pursue this style of conversation, which was, perhaps, not in very good taste, considering that he saw her now for the first time. "Do you live altogether in the country ?" he asked, by way of changing the subject. "Yes, altogether." "Do you not, occasionally, find it rather lonely ?" "Not at all." "Well, no doubt you have so many re * * ' * J sources, within yourseu, tnai your surrouuuing3 are of little importance to you." "I find ray surroundings particularly pleasant," said Ellinor, coldly. "Pleasant?they are beautiful, charming! but I merely alluded to the absence of society." "I do not care for society." "Therein you differ from the generality of young ladies?I am safe in saying so, am I not?" "I really don't know." "What a charming friend you appear to have in Miss Roxbury," he continued in a lower tone. "Miss Roxbury is a general favorite, I believe." "So I should suppose. She has so much animation?such vivacity; I find her extremely entertaining. So, apparently, does Mr. Temple, at this moment?don'tyou thiukso ?" Ellinor vouchsafed the briefest possible glance across the room, and replied? "I am glad he has some entertainment to compensate for the dullness he has to endure here." "Dullness!" echoed Russell. "I am sure he ought to be the la3t man in the world to find it dull." Ellinor was silent. "What a fine old place this seems to be ! I had no idea there was anything like it in this part of the State." "Yes, it is a nice place." "There is such a look of comfort about everything. In these large, elegantly appointed houses, one often finds that cosy, home-like air lacking, which is so indescribably charming?don't you think so ?" "I can hardly judge?I visit very little." "Ah ! there's nothing like the atmosphere f * f. 11 1TTI _ A_ _ 1 L.i oi nome, auer an. >v nai pleasure?wuai | gayety, can compensate for its loss ? I speak j feelingly, Miss Hollingwood, for I have no home." Ellinor slightly raised her brows, and said, "indeed." "Yes, indeed ; it's a melancholy but undeniable truth. Our household was virtually broken up by my father's death ; my mother had died long before; ray only sister went to live with an aunt, and my brother was married ; I could not keep house alone, you know, so I've been a waif aud stray ever since. Living in lodgings is a horrid life, I assure you. You can imagine, therefore, that I do not use an idle form of words, when I say that I owe you a debt of gratitude for permitting me to enjoy a glimpse of the happiness which I am debarred from enjoying." Just then Mrs. Roxbury, to Ellinor's great satisfaction, rose from her seat, where she had been indulging in a comfortable nap behind her huge turkey-tail fan, and announced her intention of going to bed. The antique silver candle-sticks, which did duty on this occasion, were brought aud lit, and the party, after exchanging good-nights, retired to their several apartments. "She is a hard case," was Russell's reflection, "but I think she can be brought round in time, provided Sydney does not act like an ass. 1 never saw any one so entirely insensible to his own interest as he is. Something must be done to stir him up?if he lets such a golden opportunity as this slip, he'll deserve hanging. But he can't?he's bound in honor to go on." Bound in honor to go on I Russell knew the history of Sydney Temple's past career, ind could say that! I "Of all detestable, forward, impertinent nen, that one takes the lead," was Ellinor's nental comment on her new acquaintance. 'I shall never say a word to him that I can i lossibly help." < ! It is not difficult to believe that she kept to i her resolution. But, unluckily, Afr. Russell was a gentleman not easily kepUtt a distance, and for politeness' sake she was forced to give j him a much larger share of her attention than she at all desired. What was fully as disagreeable to her, she found that he managed to throw Sydney and herself into each other's i companionship much oftener than had at first j been the case. As there were now faur of them, it was only natural that Russell should, I in general, constitute himself Kate's cavalier, ( and leave the other two together?an arrangeraent which did not appear to afford very . great enjoyment to either of them, but which could not be helped, and therefore had to be | endured with equanimity. [to be continued next week.] NOTHING TO SPEAK OF. ! It was at the Essex bar that Rufus Choate i first appeared. His business confined him ! there but a few years, his reputation and success as an advocate sending him to all the j courts in the State, and giving him a name ; wherever eloquence had power. We never A rtnoA nrkl'/iK Ko(/WO if. j KLIOW Uilii IU Ilttvo a \jaov tu niiibii) wv/.vr.w .V was concluded, he did not give the peculiar [ cast of his genius, and for which, however apparently insignificant, by his management he did not-secure a place among those reckoned "the great cases." In one instance, in our court-house in the Mall, a witness was put upon the stand by the government, from whom, as Mr. Choate evidently concluded, evidence had been drawn fatal to the interest of his client, unless in some way it could be invalidated. In his questions he scarcely referred to the point that so much troubled him, but brought out every other, putting the county attorney to his trumps. At last he touched upon the personal habits of the witness, asking him if he drank any liquoj^ to which he replied, "Nothing to speak^of." "No," said Mr. Choate, "of course not; we all take a little, and it's all very well. But," inquired he, "when do you first drink during the day?" "When I first go out," was the answer. "You need it," said Mr. C., "to give you an appetite for your breakfast. Then I suppose you need a glass to settle your breakfast!" was the next question, to which was smilingly responded "Yes." "And when next do you drink ?" "Not till eleven, uuless j some of the boys come along, and some one of I us has to treat." "Then there must be a treat in return before you separate ?" "Yes," again was the answer. And how often would such treats occur before eleven?" "It might be once, and it might be three or four times," said the witness. "You would need a little something to sharpen your appetite for dinner ; and then, I suppose, as after breakfast to help digestion. I suppose the afternoon would pass off much as the forenoon ?" "Yes," again was the answer, and as Mr. C. put the question?how about supper??the court interposed and said, "Why, Mr. Choate, you have no right thus to question the witness." He answered, with a smile, "I know it, your honor, but if the witness does not object, I certainly do not." Witness took his seat, and Mr. Choate rose to address the jury. At length he reached the pointjon which the county attorney, relied. Said he, the last witness told you so and so, giving the substance of his testimony. "This," he went on to say, "would be fatal to his client, if the witness could be believed. But," said he, "gentlemen, I saw in your very ex| pressiou you did not believe him, and I saw j too that the court did not credit a word he i said. And how could either of vou, after hearing that hedrank, but 'nothing to speak of.'" Mr. C. then went on to show what was the significance of the terra. He made* out fifteen times before tea, "and then," said he, "if the court had not interposed, I would have added fifteen times more from his own statements, as his practice before he went to bed ; and all nothing to speak of, in the estimation of the witness; and that is the man by whom " the government propose to send ray client to State prison." Mr. Choate took his seat, looking defiance at the county attorney, who made but a feeble argument. It need not be added that Mr. Choate's client was rescued from a sentence to the State prison, which all, before Mr. C.'s review of the evidence, thought awaited him.?Newburyport Herald. Ways of Carrying Babies.?In the Vienna Exposition were a number of models illustrating the style in which women of different nations carry their babies. The Asiatic Indian woman carries hers in a blanket hanging in front somewhat below tho traicf tho T^onrrolnao nnrnnn with thfl child astride low down upon her left hip, and her left arm supporting its back. The figure seems quite indifferent as to the difficulties in this style of carrying, which must be a highly artistic performance if done so cleverly in reality. The Egyptian woman carries hers in a stately manner, the child sitting astride her shoulder, with its hands upon her head, and without any clothing to speak of. The Brazilian woman carries hers in a somewhat similar manner, also in full undress, it sitting astride her neck. The Chinese baby is carried upright upon the back, in a blanket, and the South African in a bag in front formed by a blanket, round the hips of the mother. The lower Australian woman carries hers by swinging it in a blanket over one shoulder upon her back, while the Northern Australian woman carries hers bound upon a board, after the style of candy models in confectionery stores. The Lapland baby is carried in a sledgeshaped cot, made of leather. It seems to have been chucked in feet foremost, and then a frame tied over the opening for its face, whether to prevent it from crawling out, or to keep the dogs from kissing it, is more than can be imagined. The most unique style of all is that of the Esquimaux woman, who wears wide, high-top boots, and puts the baby, right-end foremost, down in the outside of one of them, and doubtless, according to Dr. Kane's description of her style, carrying her cooking and eating utensils in the other. The North American woman carries her papoose strapped to a board, and that strapped upon her back by a band over the forehead. Sex of Eggs.?Science and experience have sufficiently demonstrated that every thing that bears must possess both the male and the female qualifications; but perhaps it is not generally known that such is the case with eggs. I have found by experience that it is, and by the following rules : I raise as many pullets among my chickens as I wish to, while some of my neighbors complain that their chicks are nearly all roosters, and they cannot see why there should be a difference. I will tell you here what I have told them, and for the benefit of those who do not know, that the small round eggs are female eggs, and the long, slender ones are males. This rule is good among all kinds of poultry, and I dare say all kinds of birds. So, if you wish to raise pullets, set the small, round eggs; if you wish to raise roosters, set the long, slender ones; in this way you will be enabled to raise which ever sex you wish to. ? a?" Only thirty-nine new national banks were started in the country last year, and many of those were established at business centres east of the Alleghany Mountains.