Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-14

received my letter, and in it we're fully set |
forth tho day and hour of my proposed ar |
rival. "Ah George, my dear fellow, l
said, "you are not whit changed"
Arriving at this conclusion, raised my
glance, and met, full, the observsnt gaze of
8 pair of large, shrewd' grey eyes. My
little hostess for the time being was re-
gsrding me with such q curiously legibie
expression on her face, that 1 could not
but cad it and be amused. It said PLAIN
IL IA know more about you than you
think, and 1 pity you. You come here
with expectations which will not be full
filed. There is much modification in
store for you. Iwonder you came here at
all II I were once we'll outside these
gates, should never limp inside them
sgain. If knew q road out into the
world you coma from, would set out
brsvely on my crutches. No, not even
for the sake of stolen hour like this, in q
velvet chair weuld I remain here"
How any one glance could say all this,
was riddle; but it did say all this. The
language of the face was as simple to me
as though every word had been translated
into my ear. Perhaps certain internal
light, kndled long ago, before this little
orphan was born, or George Rutland had
become owner Of Rutland Hall, assisted
me in deciphering so much information
so readily. However that may
be, certain things before surmised be-
came assured facts in my mind, snd
quaint bond of sympathy became at once
me and my companion.
HMiss," / said, "whst do Ysu thing of q
man who, having been abroad for fifteen
years, has the impudence TO come homo
without shilling In his pocket Ought
he not TO be stoned alivef'
AZ thought how it was, said she, sha-
king her head, and looking up another Of
another of her shrewd glsnces. 1 knew
it, when they put you into such bad bed
room They are keeping all the good
rooms for the people who come next week.
The house viii be full for Christmas. It
won't do" she added meditatively.
| What won't dOP
Your not having q shilling in your
packet They'll sneer at you for it, and
ths servants will find It out. have q
guinea that old lady Thornton gave me
on my birthday, and if you would tske tie
loan of it 1 should be very glad. 1 don't
want it at ALI and you could pay me back
when you are better off
She said this with such business-lilbs
gravity, thst felt obliged to control my
inclination to laugh. She had evidently
taken me under her protection. Her keen
| little wits foresaw snsres and difficulties
besetting my steps during my stay at Rut-
lsud Hall, TO which my newer eyes, she
imagined, must be ignorantly blind. 1
looked st her with amusement, as she sat
there, seriously considering my financial
interests. l had fancy to humor this
quaint confidential relation that had sprung
up so spontaneously between us. l said
gravely:
Il am very much obliged to you foI
your offer, and will gladly take advantage
Of it. Do you happen to have the guinea
at hand 2"
She seized her crutches, and limped
quickly out of the room. Presently she
returned with little bonbon box, which
she placed in my hand, Opening it, l
found one guines, wrapped up carefully
in silver paper.
I wish it had been more" she said
wistfully, as coollv transferred it to my
pocket, box and all. "But l so seldom get
money!
AT this moment, the solemn person who
had escorted me hiLher and thither before
announced that my diAner was served.
On my return to the drawing-Foom, ]
found, to my intense disappointment that
my beneficient bird had flown. TeeeiC
Ray had imped off to the nursery.
Next morning, st breakfast, was intro
duced to tho family. found them, on the
whole pretty much what 1 had expected
My Cousin George had developed into {
pompous portly paterfG7niIiaS; and in spite
of his cool professions Of pleasure, was evi
IDENTIFY very sorry to see me. The mamma
Rutland inst countensnced me, in man
ner the most frigidly polite. The grown
up young ladies treated ma with the mos
Well-bred negligence. Unless had beer
very obtuse indeed, could scarcely have
me in Rutland Hall. l was expected tC
sit below the salt. was that dreadful
thing-sperson Of no importance. George
amused himself with me for few days
displaying TO me his various fine possess
ions and then, on the arrival of grandel
guests, left me to my own resources. The
Misses Rutland endured my escort On theil
riding expeditions only till more eligible
cavaliers appeared AS for the lazy vf the
house. her annoyance at having me quar-.
i tered Indefinitely on her premises was
K hardly concealed. The truth was, they
we're new people in the circle in which
they moved, and it did not suit them tc
have poor relation coming suddenly
among them, calling them cousin" and
making himself at home in the house. Fol-
me, was not blind, though none Of these
things did it suit me TO see. 1 made my.
self as comfortable as was possible unde!
the circumstances took every sneer an6
snub in excellent part, and was as smjablt
and satisfied on all occasions as though
believed myself to be the most cherished
inmate of the household. That this mean
ness of mine should provoke their con
tempt, l had hardly right to complain of
Nor did I. 1 accepted this like the rest O.
their hospitality, and smiled contentedly
as the days went on. The gloom which op
pressed me on my first arrival in England
had all betsken itself away. How could
feel otherwise than supremely happy 8
finding myself thus surrounded by my
| kind relations, thus generously entertain
cd under their hospitable roef2
As found that the guests at Rutland
Hall enjoyed q certain freedom in theii
choice of amusements and the disposal O
their time, l speedily availed myself o
this privilege. I selected my own asso
cistes, and entertained myself rs pleased
me best. Not finding myself always vel
coined in the drawing-room, contrived
by series Of the most dexterous articles
to gain the free entTes of the nursery. In
this nursery we're growing up some five Of
six younger branches of the Rutland fsmi
| ly. after a certain hour in the dsy none
Of the elders ever thought of invading it:
remote precincts. Five o'clock in the
evening was the children's tea hour, and
the pleasantest thought in the twenty.
four. Nurse was staid woman, who
knew how to appreciate little present
now and again, and to keep her'own coun.
sci on the subject. The children were moi