The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-02-15
SATURDAY MORNING, Fj

and Mademoiselle sleeps beside Madame, who
sleeps also, What will you that I do?'
i Mortimer turned round in surprise, and a
voice at the door answered the question that
was upon his lips
III 81 am Miss Blair" it said-"Delia Blair;
! and my mother has sent"
r.. Tho speaker, beautiful girl of perhaps
twenty, had by this time entered the room,
and paused, abashed and flushing with the
rosiest color even up to her pure brow.
| /, "I tlfought.I was to see Mr. Van SAINT, the
husband Of the sick lady" she said.
II am hcr: son, Mortimer fastened 20 re-
| ply. "Pray be seated, Miss Blair. Allow me
to present my friend Mr.. Franks. Perhaps
you are not aware that my mother has been a
widow for some years"
81 knew nothing my mother knew nothing
but that q lai!y lay very ill here at the village
hotel The mistake was my own; the cham
bcrnlad called the lady Mrs. Van SAINT, and
told mc'that should find Mr.. Van SAINT here.
1t makes no difference, L came only to say
thatmy mother and mysolf--any of our family
would be glad to be of any service to tho sick
lady. Ifthorc is anything We can do, pray
let us know, Mr. Van Sant-wc should Consider
it a privilege I will 50 now" shc added,
tiniidly "Pcrhnps, if wore to call in an
hour, could sec your sister, and learn from
hor what could do" "''ei' 'erf,!" i5s it.4a
"Your kindness, and that of your family is
very great. Ihardy know how to thank YOU
enough, Miss Blair. Pray wait if you can,
until my sister comes down Twill call her
she will know what to say better than T." q
"I had better come again, think Do not
disturb your sistcr-I have some errands to do
Pin the village" E
And before reply could be made she had
slidcd out, with a little bow and smile, of
half farewell to the gentlemen.
1 Mortimer stood staring blankly at the spot
she had left, and never uttered word.
IShes Il beauty, isn't shc?' quoth Charley
Franks. "And how nicely she's dressed. i
say Mortimer, do you thirk she's. farmer S
daughter EovGi,,a .,l.. a i-1l.,ai /.
Ifh, look could ihayc annihilatcd Charlie
Franks, ho would not hayo lived to utter an
| otherJrude speech. II -
HYou had better go out, if you wish to-"
said Mortimer, coolly, taking no notice of his
remarks or questions, except by the wi,hcring
contempt of his manner. II shall stay at home
/, 70 sec Miss Blair when she returns. That re,
! spcct is due her, at least from me-"
| Again Charlie Franks whistled, but he
\ hal ~ IL. =
dcrs, since, us he termed It, Mortimer was 'on
the high horse" AS soon as lie was gone,
Mortimer proceeded to his mothers room, en-
tered softly, and aroused his sister, without
disturbing the sick lady. When Miss Blair
returned, both were III the parlor, ready to re-
ceive her. She came in blushing and smiling,
yet with genuine pity and sympathy in her
sweet young face, SO fresh and untouched by
sorrow. Only moment was needed for the
three to draw together and they had pleas
ant, friendly chat in the COOL shady room, in
which Della Blair renewed her offers Of holp
and Kindness, which were received and accept
ed as frankly as givcn. p
Deacon Blair owned the beautiful farm with
its fine buildings and gardens at the bend of
the river below the village, which the brother
and sister had so admired in their walks; and
Della, though farmers daughter, was as
highly educated, and as true lady MS us the
Want SAINT belle and hcrcss No Blowsalinda
was, she, but firm health sparklcd in the bright
ness Of yer eye, and glowcd in the roses of her
cheeks, and betrayed itself in every movement
of her wcll-poiscd figure. Without the deli.
cate fairness of that hot house production. n
city belle, she posscsescd u beauty as far out
ranking hers Nature must always outrank-
the result of = sickly, but morbid Art.
Louise was charmed with her, and MS for
Mortimer, no words could express his feelings
but he thought, as he returned from handing
her into the open carriage that stood at the
door, that he was more than willing to spend
his life i'll Milford, for the chance of sometimes
fcnsting his eyes on the beauty of Della Blair,
and listening to the music of her voice And
an hour before he had thought himself b,rsc,
and pined for new sensation
And day by day the acquaintance grew
Day by day came Della and her gentle mother,
and deicacies from the farm, and n thousand