The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-04-19


country-house is always fair TO see this was
very beautiful remembered it seven years
ago, only then it was ~autunap, and now spring.
Xiliah remembered il likewise she drew back
and l heard her whisper u~neasly /: HNow we
shall soon see Mr.. Sutherland | did not On
swer her a word We rolled up the avcaae
under the large chesruttfees. Isaw some One
standing at the portico; then / think the mo-
ton Of the. carriage must have made me dizzys
for all grew indistinct, eacepta firm, kind hand
holding me as l stepped down, and the words,
"Takc care, my dear Cassia!" 1t was MIR.
Sutherland! He scarcely observed zillah, till
in the hall ] introduced her to him. He seemed
surprised Startled, pleased. Talking Of her to
me that evening he said he had not thought
she would have grown up thus andNI noticed
him look at her at times with q pcnsiye Had-
nessg Mrs, Sutherland whispered me that Nhe
lady he had been engaged to was a half te
like Zillah, which accounted for il. His iaSther
had been right: be had come back as he went
-outA-unmarried.s a45s taaH4 iMa1sl EN-
When Nllah went to bed she was full Of adj
miration for her guardian. lie was SO tall, so
stately. Then his thick, curling, fair hair
Just like q young MANS, with scarcely a shadow
Of gray. She would not believe that he was
over forty-ten years older then mysclf-until
by some pertinacity I had impressed this fact
upon her. And then she said it did not signi-
fy, as she liked such I. dear old souls as him
and me much better than any young people,
Her fervor of admiration made me smile; but
after this night ! observed that the expression
of it gradually ceased. Though / was not SO
demonstrative as zillah, it will not be supposed
but that ! was truly glad to sec my old friend
MIR. Sutherland. He wassyery kind, talked to
me long Of past things, andsas he cast glance
on my black dress, | saw his lips culver he
took my hand and pressed it like a brother.
God bless him for that! But one thing struck
me-a thing I had not calculated on-the al
~teration seven years had made in us both.
When he took me down to dinner, I acct
dentally caught sight Of our two figures in the
large pier-glass. Age tells SO differently on
man and woman | remembered tie time
when lie was a grown man and / a mere girl
now he looked a stately gentleman in the prime
of life, and 1 a m~iddleaged, old-maidish woman.
Perhaps something more than years had done
this yet it was quite natural, only l had never
thought Of it before. So, when that first meet
ing was over, with the excitement, pleasurable
or otherwise, that it brought as a matter of
course to us all-when we had s~eyerally babe
each other goodnight, and Mr.. Sutherland had
said smiling that he was glad it was only good
night, not g~ood-by-when the whole house was
quiet and asleep, /, to use the Psalmist's solemn
words: "A night on my bed I communea
Nth my own heart IN my chamber, and uas
aiH.'
"Cassia, I want to speak to you particular
ly," said Mr.. Sutherland to me one morning
as after breakfast he was about to 90 into his
study. Zillah placed herself in the doorway
with the pretty obstinacy, haliwomanish, half
girlish, that she sometimes used with her guar
dian-mhch to my surprise. Zi!lah was on
excellent terms with him, considering their
brief acquaintance of three weeks. In that
lime she had treated him as l in my whole
lifetime had never ventured to do-wilfully,
iestingly, even Grossly, yet he. seemed to like it.
They were very social and merry, for his dis
position had apparently grown more cheerful
as he advanced in life. Their relation was
scarcely like guardian and ward, but that of
perfect equality pleasant and confidential,
which somewhat surprised me, until I recol-
lccted what opportunities they had of inter-
course, and what strong friendships are some
times formed even in a single week or fortnight
when people are shut up together, in. o rather
lonely country-house. This was the state Of
things among us all on the morning when Mr..
Sutherland called me to his study. Zillah
wanted to 60 likewise. "Not to-day" he an
swered her, very gently and smilingly. 81
have business to talk over with Miss Pryor.
4 knew he said " Miss Pryor" out of respect,
yet it hurt mel had been Z" Cassia with
him so many years. Perhaps he thought / was
outgrowing my baby-name now)
The business he wished to speak Of was
about Nillah's coming Of age next week, and
what was to be done on the occasion. Should
he, ought he, to give ID ball, a dimner-any
thing Of the sort? Would Lillah like it ,"
This was a great concession, for in old times
be always disliked society. ! answered that |
did not think such display necessary, but |
would try to find out Eillah's mind. / didSGea
1t WIS an innocent, girlish mind, kcenly alive
to pleasure. and new to every thing. The con-
sequences were natural-the bail must be. A
little she hesitated when | limited at her guar
dams peculiarities, and offered cheerfully to
r%enounee her delight. But he, his eyes beaming
with a deeper delight still, would not consent.
SO the thing was settled. 1T was Il very bril-
liant affair, for Mr.. Sutherland spared no
expense. He seemed to take a restless eager
ness i'll providing for his young favorite every
thing she could desire. Nay, III answer to her
hayward entreaties, he even consented to open
the ball with her, though saying, che was sure
he should make an old IDIOT of himself" That
waa not likely | watched them walk down
the room, together, and heard many people say
with a smile what a handsome pair they were,
notwithstanding the considerable difference of
age. 1t was u very quiet evening to me. Beng
strange to almost every one there, ! sat near
old Mrs. Sutherland in n corner. Mr.. Suli.er-
land asked me to dance once, but I did not feel
strong, and indeed for the last few years | had
almost given up dancing. / elaughed, aud said
merrily: at was not fair for him to be be
ginning life just when | eaded it.n--A true
word spoken in jest. But I only smiled.
CConcluded next weels.l