The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-02-24

returned At night; and always on his appsaraaes, he
Vas besieesd BY q host OF questions respecting the ease
Of Pyots kenmore. The usual reply Vas that it was
standing still, As everything in law always is, but on the
ance with q countenanee that was . perfect series Of ex
clamation points.
what Is it, papa? p was demanded, in five di8eren,
keys; but an unaceosntable trembling seized me and
tensined silent.
The strangest story l ever listened to! = said my
uncle. 1t length. IN a solemn manner, i cannot posi-
sWhy?' exclaimed the volatile Emma. has old Miss
Pyott appeared to her nephew, and told him, in {
sepulchral voice, where to find her will p
Something very like it, was the reply, in . tone
that drew Eve eager faces closely around him.
IN apology. 1t seems that the walled up room is not
walled up At al, but only boarded, aud to one ~acquaint'
cd With the locality, It is very easy to elect nm entrance,
nnpsrceived, from the outside. Knowing, he says, that
i would not interfere With the arrangements OF the fam
lily, be had been accustomed to spend hours in what is
called the haunted room and there he loved to sit,
thinking Of the past, and deviating meaus to prove his
hwful claim to the beloved house.
s Last night, he discovered in an ancient secretary,
some old letters written by his mother to his aunt before
he was born and losing all thoughts Of the present, be
had been reading them for at least an hour, when sud
denly . rustling sound attracted his attention, ana the
figure Of his aunt Eleanor stood in the doorway. She
seemed to gaze upon him inquiringly. and her hand
grasped a roll of paper. But at the sound OF the
exclamation which he could not suppress, heimmediateIy
started, aud throwing the paper towards him, vanlsned
from his sight.
He lost bis consciousness for a time and when ne
recovered, he found himself lying on the door where lie
must lave fallen. Although a man Of great strength OF
m:nd, it was impossible to persuade him that he did not
really see his aunt Eleanor; and the strangest part OF
it is, that, when be came to himself, the roll OF paper
was there before him, and what do you think 1t proved
to be?
sThe will = whispered several awe-stricken voices.
Actually the will! which says, beyond all doubt, -
give and bequeath to my nephew, Pyott Denmore, the
Old family mansion with all its belongings; and after q
few leeacies to servants and dependents, the whole OF
her property, personal and real estate, gives to the sa'd
Pyott. So, you may prepare to change your quarters
"a soon as possible.
The GIRLS looked anything but unwilling, and a sort
of subdued horror pervaded the party.
Now don't be such FOOLS said uncle Althorpe, a.
70 suppose that Miss Eleanor really.appeared, in Prepr."
personoe, to her dreaming nephew; if he believes II,
that is no reason why I should and it is my cPin'on
that some old family servant ha: managed to discover
shall make diligent inquiries in the village, and l nave
no doubt that It will turn out just so-dont you agree
s
with me, Becky|
mo. sir! / replied abruptly, withouta moments
reflection. -
what y exclaimed my uncle, have the girls then
infected you with their ridiculous Tears! "nere - u
your boasted courage? -,
pretended to De absorbed in a book; but l could
sae that nv clear headed uncle was observing me closely
through his spectacles. -.
.WTell, papa said my cousin Celestine, are We not to
obtain a sight Of this hero and %ghost.seer before we
vacate his establishment?
If nothing happens to prevent replied my uncle
I'VE shall be favored with his company tomorrow. /,
Tomorrow eveding !! Such a state Of excitement !
All the next day my i've cousins were discussing the
respective merits of various hued dresses; and one m,gn.
have supposed, from their conversation, that, instead Q,
spoiled beauties, they were una'sracnVe glsls WIZ "a"
never had q beau in their lives.
Hilly. who was but sixteen, was gravely ADVISED n5
her elder sisters to be sweet simplicity in white muslin
and a sash tied behind to which that damsel retorteo
by declaring that I ought to present myself before MI.
Denmore dressed as Miss Eleanor Pyott:
This took place at the breakfast table.
sWhyi' asked my uncle, sharply, does Becky bear
an c,ose a resemblance to Miss Eleanor when dressed IN
her clothes +.
so they choose to imagine was my reply.
sThen they have no means Of proving their supposs<
sion ? -
mot the slightest said ], as unconeernedly as posi-
bic. -.
Uncle Althorpe gave me another penetrating look,
and then departed for the dry. ,ge1 t9ila, -.
In the evening came Mr.. Denmore, and one glance
satisfied me. l had seen that face before. f'
NY beautiful cousins were presented to him in sue.
session, and l brought up the rear. l saw his look OF
admiration, as his eyes turned from one lovely lace 70
another but when they fell upon me, he started v's''
bly. and l ,rembled SO that | could scarcely stand.
Uncle Al.horpe was watching us ; and Is be aaid,
INV niece, Miss Entwick, Mr.. Denmore bowed low, and
his voice had q faltering tone Of tenderness that l kne"
was called forth by thoughts of the departed: II was
decidedlv uncomfortable, this looking 40 much like some
BODY else and as soon as l could politely DO 30, lett
M. Denmore's neighborhood, and watched him from a
distance. ss., s.g.
He was a fne-looking man not handsome enough to
he distinguished for his beauty az far as mere features
were concerned, but he had a good look, and his face
wore an expression Of mingled resolution and weetness,
which I had always admired and seldom seen. ne m
serested me and at the end Of the evening, l was fully
convinced that he deserved the term gentleman in Its
widest sense. A thoroughly polished gentleman, I'M.
obstrusive. yet attentive, one who had acquired an entre
foreetfulness Of self. was a character | had very rarely
met with ; / had rather a contempt for men IN general
and / studied Mr.. Denmore as a pleasant discovery.
When he left us, his eyes again rested on me with
that tender, yet melancholy expression; and rather
oioued that I had made q sort Of escspe-vaIve Tor
thoughts that we're busy with another, fastened up
stairs. . qT
My little cousin Hilly was laughingfy boastins Of Mr..
Denmore's attentions. ~
Talk of words indeed = exclaimed Emma, as | en-
tered. swords are nothing believe in looks, and here
comes the magnet for Mr.. Denmore's eyes: III tell you
What it is, Becky she continued, Il don't like 1t at all
for when he babe me good night, he looked at you.
1t is not fair t1.
sWhat a pity it is,' I said, rather bitterly, 'that You
don't all look like Miss Eleanor Pyott!,
At this outbreak, lilly tenderly embraced me, and
thew all declared their unboundsd affection; but | felt
provoked With the world as general, and went modify
to bed. .li 81 - 80,
Mr.. Deumore kindly insisted that my uncle should
Occupy the mansion during the full lime for which he
bad engaged it; and We were, therefore, just A. com.
Portable ~ before, with the addition Of . very agreeable
visitor. Fu e~-~sTs act / bib
He had a habit Of staring 1t me that Was by no means
pleasant. but as his conversation was most ~freequent'y