The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-05-21
Chr A1baag Register.
MERELY a MENIAR..

since she became a member of our fami- |
ly- The poor girl has more than once
noticed, l am very certain, your naughty,
supercilious behavior"
" Let her notice it. mamma" was Cor
nelia Stanhopes scornfully spoken an
ever, while the young lady's handsome
dark eyes flashed imperiously enough.
I" For my part, find it quite impossible
to restrain my dislike for that girl. As
for her being member Of our family,
must say, mamma, that / decidedly OBJ
ject to her being called anything of the
sort. She is dependent upon our kind
ness-an orphan to whom VIC have char
itably given shelter nothing more. !"
But she is your cousin, Cornelia-
the child of your dead fathers dead Sis
ter"
Who made horrible low marriage,
by the way" retoreed the young lady,
" if report speaks correct. 1t is useless
for you to seold me, mamma, about my
manner of conducting myself toward
Laura Between ourselves, / think it
very probable that shall treat her much
worse before I treat her much better.
She is an out and out nuisance"
You are shockingly wicked to call
her so,' exclaimed Mrs. Stanhopc, who,
though what is termed weak woman,
was now and then given to trausitory fits
ofstrongmindednes in her mode ofdefend-
ing those she loved ss There is nothing
which you have asked Laura to do since
her arrival~in the house that she has re-
fused, or even hesitated-
Nonsense, mamma; 1 know what
YOU are going to say +" Miss Stanhope
nf o1,,rea 7 aura boc
my hair for the opera aud for balls when
ever have asked her. She has also
done several other DaeRiaE services. [
don't know that 1 am particularly obliged
to her for performing them. She is GER
tainly wellfed and clothed at the house
hold expense and she should consider
our kindness in thus feeding and clothing
her ample payment for the slight favors
which are required at her hands. And
now, please discontinue this argument
on the subject of Laura. Apropos of the
opera, Lord Ellery has sent word to know
you and desired to occupy his box this
evening. l Immediately wrote his aecep-
tance in reply to the note, feeling sure
that you Hould like to see Faust once
again"
Will he accompany US ?"
4 faint tinge of color stole into Cor
nclia Stanhope's olive cheeks. "Of
course, mamma" she answered.
I" suppose So" Mrs. Stanhope said.
g Do you know, Cornelia, that consider
the attentions of Lord Ellery most mark
ed and devoted towards yourself 2"
Do you, mamma "a short, nerv.
Gus laugh followed the words.
His father, the Marques of Fancourt
is very rich, is he not
g Worth two hundred thousand year
l believe
"And you would marry hinl-if he
asked you, Cornelia ?"
The young lady bit her lip. The sen
fence, ''if he asked you," grated yer,
disagreeably upon her year. During th'
past two or three weeks, it had grow
she ruling purpose of Cornelia Stanhope'
thoughts to be come the wife of Siscoun
Ellery. She had resolved that no amour
of stern, steadfast endeavour shoulC
be lacking on her part, in the matter o
attaining this object. It is, indeed, YER
probable that she had not yet fully salts
fed herself as to whether love for Lor'
Ellery formed even slight motive c
her present course of action, but it is al
together sure that she was aware ho1
dormant motive worldly interest form
ed
How do you know that he has nc
already asked me, mamma ]" she sale
in answer to her mothers question. g II
calls here very often, and you sci 1om il
terfere with our tete q tctes."
Then Cornelia gave musical lit
laugh, that left her mother in doubt
to whether she was serious or in fun, an
disappeared very abruptly from the room
But the truth was that she only hope
the viscount would propose he real
had not done SO as yet.
Meanwhile, on the afternoon of tn
conversation between mother and daug
ter, pretty blonde haired Laura Lyon S
in her small, out-of.the way chamber,
the third floor of Mrs. Stanhope's re!
5ence, and wondered what special reast
Providence had for sending her into t
world, any way since she seemed to ha
been created to be snubbed, and d
pised. and trampled on, would 1t n
be much better if her thoroughly uscle
existence came to clese altogether.
These were very wicked thoughts,
course but then poor Laura, who hi
u
ent one, was excusable, perhaps,
thinking them. Hers had; indeed, be
a life of quiet, domestic happiness, un
that dark eighteenth year, in which dca
followed death with such fearful sudde
ness, and she was made an orphan alme
before she had cemprehended the bitt
fact. Then had come the knowledge
her fathers insolyent condition, and b
pennilessness.
Silently to bersclf-while she look
that afternoon on the snowy pavements
the streets beneath her, and felt the co
of rapidlY-strcngthening Decemb
wind sweep past the panes, and chill the
more and moro with every gust-sileni
TO herself, say, did Laura Lyon rec
the handsome, genial face of one who
sne nad known and loved four years as
itwas the cid story. They had swo
very passionate vows to each other !.
the course OF true love had run ropos