Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-05-10

arm lifted Miss Stirling from the coach.
and supported her trembling steps to a
| sledge close at hand, and almost before
she knew where she was, she found her
self in huge hall, brilliantly lighted by
a blazing wood fire. Numbers of rosy
glowing faces were gathered around her,
numbers of bright, eager eyes were ga
zing curiously upon her-kindly hands
were busted in removing her wraps, and
pleasant voices welcomed her and con-
graduated her on her escape:
" Ay, ay, Mary" said the host ,ad-
dressing his wife ;''I told you that the
sleigh would have plenty of work this
winter, and you see was right"
" AS you always are, UNCLE" merry
voice exclaimed. owe all say at Haw-
tree, that Uncle Atherton never can be
wrong"
Atherton Hawtree !" repeated Miss
Stirling, in some amazement, uttered in
that familiar voice Elleni Ellen Mid
dleton, is it possible, indeed that you are
here ?''
A joyful exclamation and rush into
her arms, was the young girls ready re-
ply to this question as she cried, "Uncle
hLuGtIOuS EAunL MdEIB uOn W huOn
your old friend. Miss Stirling %
Mrs. Atherton fixed her SOFT blue eyes
on the stranger, in whom she conld at
first scarcely recognize the bright-haired
girl whom she had not seen for eighteen
or twenty years but by and by, she sa-
tis6ed herself that, though changed, she
was Ellen Stirling, still, with the same
sunny smile, and the same laughing eyes
that had made every one love her in her
school-days.
Heartfelt, indeed. were the greetings
which followed, and cordial the welcome
Mrs. Atherton gave her old friend xas
she congratulated herself on having dear;
Ellen under her own roof, more especiaT-i
ly, as she owed this good fortune to Mr..
Athcrton's exertions in rescuing her.
1t is the merest chance, too, that he
is at home at present" said she, =. g he
ought to have been in Scotland, but the.
state of the roads in this bleak country
has kept him a prisoner here for several
weeks"
"And others as WE'LL" Ellen Middle
ton added, "but both children and grown
people are only to be thankful to have
so good an excuse for staying longer at
Belield." And then laughing, she ask
ed Aunt Mary how she meant to dispose
of Miss Stirling for the night, for the
house was as full already as it could
hold.
"Oh," said her Aunt, we shall ma
mage that very well. Bel6eId is very
elastic"
She smiled as she spoke, but it struck
Miss Stirling that the question was ne
vertheless puzzIing one, so she took the
first opportunity to entreat her to take no
trouble on her account a chair by the
FIRE was really all the accommodation she
cared for, as she wished to be in readiness
to pursue her journey as soon asthe coach
could proceed.
G" We shall be able to do better for ou
than that, Ellen" Mrs. Atherton answer
ed, cheerfully.
81 cannot, it is true, promise you a
'state-room' for every bed in this house is
full, and 1 know you will not allow any
one to be moved for your convenience !;
but have one chamber still at your SER
vice, which, except in one respect, is
comfortable enough" -..
Haunted, of course" said Miss Stir
I ling, gaily.
" Oh, no, no, it is not that. had it
fitted up for my brother William, when he
used to be here more frequently than of
late, and is often occupied by gentlemen
when the house is full but. as it is de-
tached from the house, have of course,
never asked any lady to sleep there till
now"
ooh if that be all am quite willing
la - Co1H Miss
Stirling. heartily. So the matter was set
tied, and orders were given to prepare the
Pavilion for the unexpected guest.
The evening passed pleasantly; music,
dancing. and ghost stories made the
hours fly fast. 1t was long past ten-the
usual hour of retiring at Belield-when
Miss Stirling under the guidance of her
hostess, took possession Of her outdoor
chamber It really was a pleasant.
cheerful little apartment. The crimson
hangings of the bed and window looked
warm and comfortable in the flashing
freight and when the candles on the
mantle piece were lighted. and the two
easy chairs drawn close to the hearth. the
long parted friends found it impossible to
resist the temptation of sitting down to
have, what in old days they used to call "a
two-handed chat There was much to
tell of what had befallen both. of che
quered scenes Of Joy and sorrow, deeply
interesting to those two, whose youth had
been passed together there were mutual
recollections Of school-days to be talked
over mutual friends and future plans to
be discussed; aud midnight rang out
from the stable clock before Mrs. Ather-
ton said good night She had already
crossed the threshold to go, when she
turned back to say. 1 forgot to tell you,
Ellen, that the inside bar of this door is
not very secure, and that the key only
turns outside. Are you inclined to trust
tn the bar alone. or will you, as Will