New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-09

ance of Miss Eastwood with a vague hop
as TO the effect which might thereby be pro
= duced upon his undutiful son. That sell
5 willed young man lounged near, cheerful.
conversing with LADY WINE Lena cameron
) very pale and quiet, was bending over bi
. of embroidery, with fingers that trembled
little. and eyes that were rarely uplifted.
Suddenly the sharp notes Of a bugl
pierced the ears of the assembled company
"There is Joel" said Mrs. Page. "Tn
glad that she is come, as now we can hay,
dinner"
.Joe'" doubtfully inquired one of tn
lady guests.
The Squire looked from the window, a
invited, and beheld figure in a mans ha
and coat, as he thought, and woman
skirt, dashing at full speed up the avenue
toward the house, with halt dozen dog
accompanying. Springing unassisted to tn
| ground, she unlOOsened the saddle ant
threw it to the ground she then walked
several times around the horse, evidentl.
examining into his condition, and discussing
the same with the groom, who had now ap
| peared
Ii Squire Chester regarded this unex
pected appearance of his sons chosen wit,
with any emotion of surprise or disappoint
ment, he at least did not express it. Or
the contrary, he bowed and shook hands
with the true old school gailantry anC
courtesy, as that young lady entered the
room, followed by two of the dogs afore
said, TO whom she whiStled an encourage
| ment to enter.
ooh. my DEAR the dogs" demonstrated
Mrs. Page, peteously. 1--WE are not accus-
toned TO have them in the drawing ROOM"
Dear me! not have dogs in the drawing
room? Why, have mine with ME there
and all over the house Could not live
without them, declare. Like dogs, sir p
she inquired with draw!, of her future
father-in-law.
Every much-in their proper place. the
old gentleman was constrained to say. To
which Miss Eastwood replied with a just
perceptible shrug of her graceful shoulders.
And then they went in to dinner.
"No turkey, thank you said she. "I
and badies-so insipid. I'll take roast beef,
rare, if you please, though l prefer steak
| and onions"
And besprinkling the CORY slice with an
abundance of cayenne sauce, Miss Dash
wood commenced her repast, while the
| Squire turned away, his eyes meeting those
| of Lena Cameron, his wite's niece, who had
| been regarding these proceedings Of the
''dashing" young lady with an expression
| akin to horror. Poor child, she was not in
| the secret. But the Squire thought, as he
| fined and lady-like she appeared.
Miss Eastwood declined sherry, but &C.
| cepted a little port instead, though express
ing preference for French brandy and
water. 1t is quite the style now for la
dies to prefer brandy. Indeed. some even
prOfessed partially for Bourbon, though
she herself considered it inferior to brandy
in point of taste and real retreshment, and
the Squire felt provoked at the assiduity
with which his son retilled the young lady's
glass, and listened admuingly to all she
said.
Give lis some music. joe" said Mrs.
Page, when they were again in the drawing
room. And the Squire, who was devoted
Ia music, looked up and frightened. 1t
was one OF his favcrite ant;cipations. that
of his son wife playing to him and sOoth-
ing him in his after dinner hours with the
melodies he loved. and now he came up to
the piano and stood eXpectant.
Miss Eastwood played a rafting prelude
and then suddenly broke into a bravura
which caused one lady to vacate her seat
near the instrument. The Squire, I'M
dannted. kept his post until IA hunters song
with all the accompaniment of ''hOrn.
and rider halloo,' overcame even his court
eSy, and he too retreated.
Now, Lena, one OF your favOrites,' said
her aunt, quietly. and the girl sat down,
and in sweet, low, and somewhat plant
i've voice, sang Bonnie Doom" and Annie
Laurie"
That's the music that ike remarked
Squire Chester to his hostess, soto roce.
" Those charming old songs are worth all
the modern tal-derals that have ever been
written And he looked thoughtfully at
Miss Eastwood, and then at Miss Cameron.
Likewise he hearkeued to the discourse
then going on between the former and his
son.
~ do so doat on horses observed the
young lady. II couldn't be happy under
any circumstances. without 1T least two of
my own, a rider and hunter. | delight
in hunting, whenever it is to be had, and
generally. on that account, spend my sum-
mers among the mountains, though deer
are becoming very scarce, and woodcock
almost as much So | wish we had fox
hunting here as in England. ] prefer nov
els where fox-hunting comes in-.Guy
Livingston, for instance. What a splendid
fellow he was, and what humdrum country
is ours, where there is hardly anything to
amuse one except the theatres. If l had
my way l should be an actress. Don't you
think so. Mr. Chester.
Capital" responded the young man:
with emphasis, and pleased, halfamused,
and half-earncst look, which didn't escaDe
his watchful sire, though he might not
understand it.
He's ninny." was the mental reflection
of the latter. what sort of wife would
such woman make ~ was his next invol- |
untary thought, until it suddenly occurred
to aim, with something like shock. that |
TINS was really, after all the woman he had |
chosen for his sons wife, for his daughter
ln-iaw, for the mistress of the house and |
household And again he looked at Lena !;
very kindly this time
You must see my Beelzebub," resumed !
Miss Eastwood, enthusiastically, ''such d |
charming creature full OF spirit yet so
tractable and affectionate, that / assure
you, sir, addressing the Squire, hell walk
into the breakfast room and drink out of |
your coffee cup at the table"
Tins assurance appeared to have no par |
ticular charm for Squire Chester, for he |
turned away with very little ceremony. |
Miss Eastwood went up stairs on some cr- |
rand, and they heard her whstling as she |
crossed the hall.
phillip" whispered the Squire IL think |
we had better be going"
Mot yet, sir, Miss DashwQod is about to
show me her pistols: and then she will teach |
me q new game of cards, and atterward we
are going to the stables
'''1'O go where ~
''To the stables, sir, to look at the horses
The Squire cast on him a look of concen-
trated Indignation.
ais that's Miss Eastwood, or Joe. or
whatever else she is called, man or
woman!"
"The latter, l presume, sir. 1t is the
fashion nowadays, you know, for dashing
young women like her to adopt masculine
style III general. 1t sits well OH Miss Joe
don't you think so. sr!'
Miss Joe be -"
The Old gentleman recollected himself IN
time. But he had seen enough of the dash
ing young Josephine, his old friend Simon