Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-02-13
w. ID. WALLACH.
THE MAYFIfLD MYSTERY.
TCONrINUED.

and thought tins matter over, and We have
something to say to you which we hope will be
agreeable to you. We have no son now
Mrs Cattley began to cry.
No son now" added Mr.. Cattley; "but you
were the friend Of our lost one. You have been
with Us long enough now to know u.s. and we
know you to be as good and kind as our lost
Edward. What we have to propose to YOU is
that you should stay with us and take his place
an our affections, and become, as he would have
become, the heir to our fortunes and to our
love. Think Of this, and believe that if you
say yes, we shall be well pleased"
Mr.. st. George could not conceal the sparkle
OF his dark eyes as he listened to this speech
from Mr.. Cattley, who fancied he was such q
judge of human nature, and he replied at once
Sir, and You, too, dear madam, believe that
want words in which to express my graft
tude. What shall say, but, that with feelings
which cannot express, i accept your offer"
And so all was concluded and Mr. ST. George,
late of the Island of Bourbon, became the
field.
The old couple heaped benefits upon t.is son
Of their adoption, and seemed never tired of
gratifying every possible wish he could have;
and so twelve months passed away since that
night Of storm and grief, when Mr.. st. George
first arrived at the house on the hill.
The Christmas time was close at hand, and
Ms. Cattley had resolved TO try to smother her
still ever present grief for the loss Of her son,
and to make the house look rs cheerful as pos
slble. Some ten or twelve guests from Lon
don-old friends, with troop of joyous chill
dren, of the Cattleys-had promised to pass
the Christmas week at Mayfeld.
The 2lst of December came, and with it
some of that mild, out-of-the-way weather,
which, In our capricious climate, will occasion
ally make May look like December and De-
cember like May.
1t was positively day of sunshine
The bee-hives at the door of the lodge, by
the avenue that led up to the house of the Gait
leys, seemed as If they would warm into life
dormant tenants. The evergreens that grew
by the porch put ON their brightest green;
and, for the few hours that the pleasant sun
shine lasted, you might have walked out in
the open air and fsncied the sweet spring time
YVES coming.
1t was nearly four O'Clock, and the shadows
were lengthening a5 that brief winters day
with its unusual iueness, was about to pass
away, when young man, leading by the bride
horse from which he had just dismounted
applied for admission at the lodge.
young girl, the niece of the ledge-keep
ers wife, who had only been there about a
year, and who knew nothing of Edward Gait
ley personally appeared at the door, and
looked with a smile at the young stranger and
his horse.
81 want to know" said the young man,
''how Mr.. and MrGaCattley are ~
There was a thickness kind of huskiness
in his voice which bespoke much emotion, and
he listened eagerly for the girls reply.
"Oh, they are quite we'll, sir" she said.
Quite we'll ?"
Yes, sir; and so is Mr.. Pierre, their SON.
Mr.. Pierre, their son? ?" said the young
man, with such look of surprise that the
young girl laughed again. Pierre, their SOM
My good and pretty girl, what do you mean
They have no son named Pierre"
NO, sir; but since their own son, Mr. Ed
ward, died, you see, they adopted Mr.. Pierre
St. George"
Adopted ?"
"Yes, sir; and he is to have all the prop
erty''
.:Oh ~
And he is up at the house now but don't
like him, and he is brute, think; but Mr.
and Mrs. Cattley are quite as fond Of him as
they were of their own son, l fancy, though l
never saw him. My aunt and uncle are up at
the house, hanging up the holly, you see, sir,
and that's why am here all alone"
Good Heaven"
"Ah, OH Well. we'll 1t seems like
dream; butt suppose that am awaken
'Sir2''
Il thank you for your kind Information
very much thank you. will 90 up to the
Z Shall take your name, sir, to Mr. Gait
ley 2"
me, or they used to know me-"
While this little collOquy was going on b;-
tween the young stranger and the girl, the
sun, that had looked so pleasant, had passed
away, and bowling wind began to sweep over
the scene.
Huge clouds came from the southwest, and
in about five minutes more it was nearly dark
The stranger bowed courteously to the young
girl at the lodge, and with the horses bride
over his arm, he slowly paced up the long av-
of chestnut that al fo al
House.
And this was Edward Cattley, returned from
the Mauritius within the three years he had
specified, and this was the strange reception
he had got, and the strange news that awaited
him What basis of truth there was in the
story told by Mr.. st. George, and how much
falsehosd was built up upon that basis, we
shall soon see.
With the dim shadows of the evening gath
erirg more and more thickly about him as he
wenf,youDg Edward Cattley slowly approached
his fathers house; but about half way up the
long chestnut avenue he paused moment, and
then turned aside into narrower path which
led to the stables.
81 will put up my horse" he said, in tone
Of some bitterness; 81 will put up my horse,
on the chance of being made welcome, at ali
events, for the night"
The young man thought it somewhat strange
to find the stables SO completely deserted as
they were; but the fact was, that all the SER
wants were up at the house assisting at the
Christmas decorations; SO Edward put up the
horse himself, and then took his route again
TO the old house.
How familiar to him was every foots.ep of
his route and what q host of recollections came
ccroes him as he trod the vel. known path to
the hall door. He felt as If he had left the
house a boy to come back to ii q man, and as
if half lifetime bad passed over his head, in.
stead Of short three years. And what was
he TO think Of the news that he had heard
A stranger held his place in the affections of
his parents He was believed to be dead, and
with that belief he appeared, too, to be for
gotten.
1t was in the midst Of these anything but
pleasing reflections that Edward Cattley reach
ed the hall Of the house, and from there he
heard voices in the dining room; and one voice
In particular, " hich said, "Don't you be afraid,
mother, i shall not fall. Now, Samuel, hand
me up the flag"
II am mad :" thought Edward Cattley; /" l
am mad This is some strange dream :"
BE careful, Pierre-be careful !" he then
n q. - D. -TY1