The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-07-14
10


whether they were all well at Cashmere, an
as usual Mark asked no other questions, and
in perfect silence the old man put his passen-
ger over to the Cashmere side Here had
once been well kept wharf, but now it was
much worn, and out of repair. Under the
shade Of group of elms on the right had once
stood pretty boat-house in the fornTpf Chi
nese Pagoda it was now heap of ruins. There
had once been little feet of boats moored
under its shadow there remained now one large,
dirty skiff half full of mud and water, and float
ing idly on the turbd stream and another
smaller skiff high and dry upon the beach, with
its timbers shrunken apart, bleaching in the
sun. As he rode on through the grounds to-
wards the house, he noticed further signs of
approaching desolation. Fences were broken
or down, and out-buildings were dilapidated or
unroofed. Passing through the orchard, he
saw the trees untrimmed some broken down
with their loads of Over-ripe fruit some blight
ed-a prey to yermin-and some dying or dead,
and wrapped in shrouds of cobwebs. Enter
ing the vineyard, he observed the trellis work
broken and falling, the vines trailing on the
ground and the ripe and luscious fruit rot
ting on its stems. He paused near the garden
on his right, and a glance showed him that ia
vorite resort of his youth, once the perfection
Of order and beauty, now wilderness where
thousands of the most lovely flowers and most
noxious weeds dried and decayed together un-
der the burning sun of September There the
deadly night shade grew ranker than the -r,aSSrr
which it crowded out of life; aS,5,-}}5s ,,oson
h YAK y5qss GGnast is death tssned in and out
among the tendrils of the honeysuckle and the
clematis.
Everywhere everywhere! all things beto-
kened indifference and neglect, and prophesied
Of ruin and despair While occupied with won
dering what could have been the cause of this
great and grevous change, Mark Sutherland
perceived the approach of an old negro, who
touched his hat in respectful salutation and fol-
lowed him to the foot of the Rose Terrace
where he stood in readiness to take the horse
Judge Sutherland dismounted, and threw the
rens to the groom, whom he now recognised
for an old acquaintance He held out his hand
and spoke kindly to the old man, inquiring az
ter his wife and children
"All well as can be 'spected-deed dey is,
honey Marse Mark! All, chile! young marse
things is changed since you was here-'deed
dey is, honey Tree year ham runnn' ole marse
crap fail-'deed, fore my blessed Hebbenly
Master dey did honey-tree year han run.
min Deed, den where we-dem had fuss rate
crap, come de tornado, an ruin eberyting and
nothn' cher been fix up right since An
pears like nothin' ebor gone right since. Den
ole marse, he turn darned etarnal fool in his
ole days, and went to speculatin,' and loss
heap o money - leastways 20 dey do say
D.u arter bit come de sheriff executionizn
down on top o we-dem poor colored people, as
madden nothin' tall to do wild it-an' carries
away all de besest Of us-all my poor dear gals
, I l. II Il
an good many Oders And since dat, pears like
we-dem colored folks amt had no heart to ten
to nothin'-a-pinin' arter our poor chilun-it |
kinder takes all dc strength out'n us"
With deep sigh, Mark Sutherland turned |
from the poor old man, and went up the stone
steps that led to the Rose Terrace, that was
also a neglected wilderness-but a wilderness |
of roses, and therefore still beautiful Unan.
nouuced he went up into the piazza and be-
fore he could retreat in an instant he saw and |
heard the following A manor perhaps !
should be expected to say, genteman--of very |
red faced boated, and slothfu appearance |
was lazly reclining upon a bench, with his |
feet on the top of the balustrades and with his |
right arm around tho waist of pretty fright
ened quadrOon girl who seemed from the fan
she still held to have been engaged in keeping
the flies off from her MASTER while he slept
She was now gently and fearfully struggling
to free herself from his clasp and saying, in
hushed, frightened tones
"Oh, master if you please, sir don't! Con.
slider. Indeed, it isn't right, What would nv
dear mistress say u
JAlsttIGss be id my pretty Oriole
wish che dare to say anything Let her You
shall kiss me0
" Oh, master! oh, sir"
At this moment Mark Sutherland had en-
tered, advanced and bowed, very coldly say
ing" Mr. st. Gerald Ashley if remember
right !"
The ruin of St Gerald Ashley arose to his
feet, and answered with something of his for. |
mer ease and selfpossession-" Yes, sir. Mr.
Sutherland, you are welcome to Cashmere
again Walk in. Or would you prefer to sit
down in the cool air here for few moments
The house is very warm. Girl go and let
your mistress know that Mr. Sutherland has
arrived
He added this command in tone of author
lty, in strong contrast of his tone of woong Of
n moment since. Orole, with her eyes filled |
with tears, and her face dyed with bushes |
went gladly to obey. Mr.. Ashley then con-
Quoted his guest, | suppose we may call him, |
into the house. In few minutes Oriole re. !
turned. Her mistress was too indsposed to
appear Mr.. Sutherland would please to ex.
cuse her. Within half an hour n servant sum-
moned for the purpose, showed Mr. Sutherland
to his room, and supplied him with articles ne
cessary to the bath and toilet. After refresh.
ing himself, Mark rang the bell, and requested
to know if Mr. Clement Sutherland was in
the house, and when he could see him. He
was answered, that Mr.. Sutherland had ridden
to the county town, and would not return be-
fore the next morning. And soon after he was
summoned to the supper table. No one was
present at the board beside Mr.. Ashley and
Mark Sutherland, except Oriole, who stood at
the head Of the table, and poured out the cof-
fee. With profound and melancholy interest,
Mark Sutherland watched this lovely girl
She had been beautiful child, and now had
ripened into a most beautiful woman. A slight
and elegant FORM well rounded and tapering,
plant and graceful as willow, oval face of
the purest olive, warming into pomegranatc
bloom upon the checks and lips large, dark
gray passionate eyes fringed with long black
lashes, "sweet low brow,' shaded with soft,
black, silky riDglets, countenance full Of
slumbrOus passion and emotion, with little
strength Of spirit or of intellect These form.
cd the complete and matchless beauty of the
maiden slave and Mark Sutherland noticed
he could not help but notice, his interest was
80 painfully excited-the baleful glances with
which Mr.. Ashley followed the gracefully
moving form of Orole
70 De CONTINUED.
GREAT FIRE AT OswEGo. -OSWegO ~ L.,
Itfls, Il A vppy 1aotr,,otiua fro oocurrod OF