Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-03-22

|
"What do you want, my good woman p
E began Mr.. Oliver, blandly. "Did you asl
:, to see me? think you have made sOmt
mistake"
"No. sir, said the woman decidedly, "nC
mistake at all. Is not this Rutherford Placer
at is" said Mr. Rutherford. waving his
hand with dignity.
"And are not you Mr. Oliver Rutherford?'
continued the woman drawing nearer.
/; Certainly, am"
{ And were you not expecting us to-day?
said the strange woman.
"No," said Mr.. Oliver gravely "upon
my word, no. We expect no one tonight
but my niece, Miss Rutherford, and her
maid"
81 thought SO, said the invader, triumph
antly. "All right, sir / am Miss Ruther-
ford's maid'
"You?" said Mr. Oliver, bawildered and
surprised; 'you bless my soul and where
then, is my niece?"
"Of course she's with me only she's fal
len asleep, tired with the ride"
"Oh, yes l understand in the carriage
said Mr. Rutherford, recovering himself, and
fastening forward 81 will go and assist her
out
"No," said the woman, quietly, intercept
ing his progress. "She is not in the carriage,
sir"
Mr.. divers patience began to give way
"What in thunder" he began: Il mean,
where is Miss Rutherford -
Here !" said the woman; and hlnging
open her cloak, she laid very diminutive,
but very pretty golden-haired little girl in
Mr.. Rutherford's arms.
Brother Oliver was brave man /: had it
been young grizzly bear. homb-shell, or
"an Internal machine, he would have borne
it--but baby Never in his whole life had
he held baby in those strong arms before
and here was the little soft cheek, all flushed
with slumber, resting against the glossy sur
| face of his immaculate black coat Just at
this moment his two brothers, brimful o.
mischief,a and quite unable longer to restrain
their curiosity came into the hall. Roland
came first.
''Is it all right, Oliver ?' be asked with
| half-smothered laugh. ''And where is Miss
Rutherford ~
"Here !" said Oliver, transferring the
| child to Roland's arms almost as adroltlY as
the nurse had given her into his but RoI-
and was quicker yet-repeating the magical |
"Here - he passed her over to Herman,
who was just behind him. Herman did not |
| speak but he was a naturalist, given to the |
| investigation Of all new specimens and he |
showed such unmistakab.e signs of an inten-
ton to take her by the nape Of the neck, and /
hold her up at arm 's-length, as he did his /
young dogs, that nurse instinctively drew
near, and regained her little charge.
"And this is Miss Rutherford, is it - |
said Mr.. Roland, in a tone Of pity and con
tempt. This is Tom Rutherfords daugh /
| ter p
''Yes, sir, she is, said the nurse, tossing |
the now awakened child in the air.
GLOW old Is she :" asked Mr., Oliver, look
| lug at her through his eye-glais
"Can she trot ? Sit her down on her hind /
legs, will you - said Herman.
''Can she talk any ?' inquired Brother
Roland.
"She's got n good eye" said Herman,
surveying her with the air of q connoisseur,
| 'and a fine, thick, bright mano.' he said,
| laying his hand on the little girls golden
| tresseS /; "aud nicely groomed, too, by
| George :" he added, with an approving nod
at the nurse.
Can she eat Whatdoes,,she feedIon p
asked the provident Oliver, the family man,
thinking Of the larder.
"Oh, indeed, anything that comes along, /
sir but mostly bread and milk and pota-
| toes" said nurse ; ''and indeed it is quite /
time the poor baby had her supper, and was
asleep, poor thing she's had a long ride /
Kiss your uncles good night Miss Ruther- |
ford and well you may, they are so near
like your own dear papa, poor Gear gentle
man - And taking up the little girl again,
she held her out at arms length to each Of |
the gentlemen in turn, as If presenting her !
| for baptism
If the gentlemen were unused to earess |
! children, certainly the child was used to ca
ress gentlemen and possibly some family
resem blance they bore to her lost father
stirred dimly in the heart Of the little one
for it was laughable to see how resolutely
the little, dimpled, white hands held fast to
the faces, and how persistently the sweet
rosebud lips sought out the lips Of those
grave, dignifed, bearded men, and crushed
out upon them their own wealth Of laughing
sweetness. Laughable, tOo,Iit was to see
how these grave men received this pretty and
unwonted tribute.
Mr.. Oliver was the first victim but his
suferings were short. He was spared the
pain of anticipation. The kiss was given and
over before he had time" as the children
say, " to know what hurt him - and he
stood breathing short. and shaking himself
ike a great Newfoundland dog, just out of
the water, while the nurse and baby passed
! on,
Mr.. Roland turn came next but he met
his fate bravely, lie was as we have said,
the very soul of chivalry, and devoted to the
memory Of woman. Young as the child was,
| she was an incipient woman and Miss
Rutherford, and to be treated with honor
due in both capacities so he bent to her
caress with an air of graceful impressement,
and kissed gaily in return the little hand
scarce bigger than a rOse-leat.
But Herman-ah, poor brother Herman
he was the greatest sufferer. lie saw the
blow impending and could not escape 1t.
Like all nervous and bashiul persons, he
doubled his own embarrassment, and pro
ivnsvl Ills sutlerings by useless attempt to
evaIe them-in vain. The child, screaming
with laughter, emboldened by his resistance,
and excited by opposition, held him tightly
by his whiskers, and gave him a double por-
ton of kisses, until, in answer to his half
breathless cry of 60 Take her of, take her
off ~ the laughing nurse again took possess
ion of her.
"And now, If you please, gentlemen, may
| take her up stairs? said the nurse.
Roland thought of his ''bower of beauty"
with its graceful and costly adornments, and
hesitated. He looked at the child. She was
a Rutherford; she had the Rutherford smile,
his fathers brow, and Cousin Toms eyes,
and he himself showed the way up stairs.
When Mr. Roland came back to the draw
ing-room, he found his two brothers standing,
one on either side of the chimney-piece, with
an arm of each resting on the marble,
like the dropping figures seen doing weeping
duty over some monumental urn in mourning
pieces. He came up to them, and silently
placed hand upon the shoulder of EACH
Had Canova seen them standing thus, the
world of art might have possessed a male
companion piece to his 4" three Graces - but
he didn't
"Rolla -
Herman -
''Oliver -
And they laughed long and loud.
Fairly done 80 said Herman, at last.
"And so that is Miss Rutherford :" said
Brother Oliver
And 'the ring-tailed baboon :! " said
Brother Roland
Herman rang the bell.