The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-01-26
VOLUME 25.l
Another Past Ledger Reports his EZpeFiSHce
As q Poor Relation.

| | remember it well, that snow, though II
was fifteen years since | had last seen lts
cherries face There it lay in the same OLD
ruts, and spreading the same Old snares on
the side paths. Only few hours arrived
from South America via. southampton, !
sat in my room at MorIey's Hotel Charlng
4 Cross. aud looked gloomily out at the toun-
tains, walked up and down the floor dis
contentedly, and fiercely tried my best to
feel glad that [ was wander no more aud
that / had indeed got home at last
poked up my fire, and took a long look
backward upon my past lte' through the
embers. | remembered how my childhood
| had been embttered by dependence, how my
rich and respectable uncle, whose ruling
passion was vain glory, had looked or my
existence as nuisance, not so much be
cause he was obliged to open his purse TO
paw for my clothing and education, as be-
cause that, when a man. he thought could
reflect no credit upon his name. remem-
bered how in those days had soul Tor the
beautiful, and certain almost womanlsh
tenderness of heart, which by dint of much
sneering had been successfully extracted
from me. remembered my uncle's uncon-
ceaIed relief at my determination to go
abroad to seek my fortune, the cold good
bye of my only cousin, the lonely bitter
| farewell to England hardly sweetened by
| the impatient hopes that consumed rather
than cheered me-the hopes Of name and
gold, won by my own exertions, with
which should yet wiring from those who
| despised me the ~ orthless respect which
they denied me now.
Sitting there at the fire, rang the bell,
and the waiter came to me: an old man
whose face | remembered. | asked him
some questions. Yes he knew Mr.. George
Rutland; recollocted that many years ago
he used to stay at Morley's when he came
to London. The old gentleman had always
STAYED there, But Mr. George was too
grand for Morleys now. The family always
came to town in the spring, but, at this sea-
son, Rutland Hall, Kent, would be pretty
sure to be their address.
Having obtained all the Information L
desired, | began forthwith to write my let
| ter:
DEAR GEoRGE-I dare say you will be as
mnch surprised to see my hand writing as
you would to behold an apparition from the
dead. However yoI know | was always a
law
to die yet. [ am ashamed not to be able to
announce myself as having returned home
with my fortune made; but mishaps will
follow the most hard working and well
meaning. am still young man, even
though fifteen of the best years of my life
may have been lost, and am willing to de-
vote myself to any worthy occupation
meantime am anxious to see you and yours
A long absence from home and kindred
makes one value the grasp Of friendly
hand l shall not wait for your reply to
this, but go down to Kent the day after to-
morrow, arriving, | believe; about dinner
time. You see am making myself assured
of your welcome for few weeks, till have
time to look ABOUT me.
81 remain, dear George,
Your old friend and cousin,
Guy RUTLAND"
| folded this missive and placed it in its
envelop.
Il shall find once, for all, what they are
made Of" said complacently, as | wrote
the address, George Rutland Esq, Rutland
Hall, Kent"
1t was about seven on frosty evening
when arrived at the imposing entrance of
Rutland Hail. No cousin George came
rushing out to meet me- 'Of course not"
thought; Il am unused to their formal
manners in this country. He is lying i'll
wait for me on the mat inside" | was ad
mitted by solemn person as quietly and
and mechanically as though my restoration
to home and kindred were thing that had
happened regularly in his presence every
day since his birth. He ushered me into a
grand hall, but no mat supported the impa
tent feet of the dignified master of the house.
'Ah !" said |, ''even this, perhaps, were
scarcely etiquette. No doubt he stands
chatting on the drawingroom hearth rug, and
| have little enough time to make myself
presentable before dinner" &c. resigning
myself to circumstances, | meekly followed
a guide who volunteered to conduct me to
the chamber assigned to my especial use.
had to travel a considerable distance be-
fore | reached it.
''Dear me !" remarked to myself when
did reach it, Il had expected to find the
rooms in such house more elegantly APP
pointed than this"
| made my toilet, and again submitting
my self to my guide, was conveyed to the
drawing room door. All the way down
stairs had been coming pleasant speeches
with which to greet my kinsfolk. am not
a brilliant person but sometimes succeed in
pleasing when try, and on this occasion |
had the desire to do my best.
The drawing room door was at the dis
tant end of the hall, and my arrival had
been so very quiet, that conceived my ex
pectant entertainers could hardly be aware
of my presence in the house. l thought
should give them surprise. The door
opened and closed upon me, leaving me
within the room. looked around me, and
saw-darkness there, and nothing more.
All, yes, but there was something more
There was blazing fire which sent eddy
ing swirIs of light through the shadows,
and right in the blush of its warmth, a lit
tie figure was lounging in an easy chair
rhe little figure was girl of apparently
about fifteen or sixteen years of age, dressed
in short shabby black frock, who was evil
! IDENTIFY spelling her eyes by reading by the
| fiIe-hght She lay with her head thrown
back, mass of fair curly hair being thus
tossed over the velvet cushion on which it
rested, while she held the book aloft to
catch the light. She was Illustrating in her
solitude, and little dreaming Of any inter
ruption.
She was 50 absorbed in her book, the door
had opened and closed SO noislessly, and the
room was so large, that was obliged to
make sound to engage her attention. She
started violently them and looked up with a
nervous fearfulness in her face. She dropped
her book, sat upright, and put out her hanG
eagerly graspinga thing had not noticed
before, and which leand against the chair
a crutch. She then got up and leaning on
it, stood before me.
The poor little thing W & lame, and hac
two erutches by her.
introduced myself and her fear seemed
to subside. She asked me to sit down, witt
prim little assumption of at-homeness
which cid not sit upon her with ease Sh,
picked up her book and laid it upon he
lap; she produced net from the recesses Q
her hair, and with blush gathered up th
curls and tucked them into its meshes-
= ! I L