The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-06-08
ELEANOR HERBERT.
ny MRS. CAROLINE oRNE.

The brilliant, yet melancholy glory Of
an Autumn's sunset vas weaving itself a.
mong the trees of graz old forest, bright
ening the gorgeous hucs Of their foliage,
and bronzing their trunks with dusky
gold. Though tho last day of October,
the breeze which was astir was mellow, al
most balmy, yet there were low, mourn
full cadences in its voice, rs it shook the
sere leaves from the trees, and sent them
rustling along the path which lay along
the margin of the woods.
A young girl, who had for some ten or
fifteen minutes been lettering along lane
which led to the forest, stopping now and
then to gather some wild flower still un-
blighted by the frost, turned aside ere she
had reached its termination, and assembled
little sharp hill, crowned with single
oak. From summit o. this elnineuce
she could look down on a large old mansion
house, of grey-stons about quarter Of a
mile distant. The central part of the
structure, which was three stories high,
was fauked on either side b. wings, of
such altitude as to be in keeping with the
architectural proportions of the main build
ing. The house itself, as well as all a.
round it, had home.like air, look of
comfort, which more than made up for any
lack Of modern cmbc cllishmcnt.
The counienancc Of tie young girl who
stood on the hill wore look of deep sad1
ness, for, as she supposed, she was for the
last time looking Oh n roof which had shell
tered her since carly childhood. She was
rot handsome; this her mirror told her
every morning, as she arranged the iich,
heavy tri!s Of her dark hair. She might
haze been aware that in her case it was no
iattcrcr, had she at limes been permitted
to see the hrautiful almost glorious trans.
formation " 'ught o, her features, and in
deed, throughout her whole person, by the
power OF Intellect.
As she stood there on the brow of the
hill, leaning against the broad-sprcad oak,
the sunshine shmmcring through the
boughs gave the rich braids of her hair, ar
ranged with simple grace, such n lustrous
brightness, that ut a little distance II gold
en- halo seemed to be circlng aborc her
white, still brow. At least, this was the
fanciful thought which presented itself to
the mind Of n youh5 man who, without
knowing that she Was there, had assembled
the hill on the opposite side. Though he
took some pairs to make his footsteps
heard rs he advanced towards her, she was
SO wrapped in her own sad thoughts that
he failed in purpose. She, therefore, when
he spoke, gave a sudden, nervous start.
"This fine estate should be yours, Miss
Herbert" said hc, as if in answer to what
he imagined was passing in her mind.
"Why so, Mr.. Stafford?" she inquired,
almost instantly recovering her self posses
sion.
"Bccause your late uncle intended it
should be yours. At least, so it is gener-
ally thought"
"He did intend il, one time, no doubt"
"For my part, l believe there's will in
your favor, somewhere in existence; that
is, if there's been no foul play"
81 don't believe that my uncle ever
made will in my favor. If he did, it
was at very early period, and am GER
tain that he mnst have subsequently can
celled it,"
"Artemus Carkley, the son of your un-
cle's half brother, is the heir-at-law, l be-
licve."
"He is."
"a man, as everybody knows, he heart
lily dislikcd."
81 don't think he bore him any good
will, though why, never exactly under
STOOD"
'lt was because your uncle Herbert was
an honest, upright man, and Carklcy is
unworthy any good mans regayd.'
81 wish that Hollis had lived" said Ell
eanor Herbert, Sand then this Carkley wo'd
have no claim to the cstat,. You may
have heard that my uncle had an adopted
son, who died carly"
81 have"
"And you have also heard that they
parted, for the last time, in anger, and
that Uncle Herbert told him he should dis
inherit him."
"Ycs."
"Tho threat, which Of course was made
under the influence of angry excitement,
was never carried into effect. When news
came that the ship in which Hollis sailed
was lost, and all on board had perisbcd,
my uncle used sometimes, after long fl
Of abstraction, to speak up suddenly and
say, with q good deal Of emphasis, that
Hollis was alive, and would some day re.
turn. This impression at times was very
strong, and was, as / believe, tho true
reason why no didn't revoke the will made
at on early period in favor Of bis adopted
son."
"You arc certain that il remained unre
voked at the time Of your uncle's decease r