The Placer herald., 1870-09-17
THE SECOND COUkTSHlP.
BY ELLEN FORREST GRAVES.

The soft, hazy glow of early summer was
in the air; the white lilies, in the big, old
fashioned garden at Mordaunt Grange tossed
their royal heads in the scented gale, and
the wild strawberries were beginning to Grim
son all the slopes. "A square, antique old
house, with red brick gables, and sheets of
glistening, green ivy, draping every point
md angle, it seemed capacious enough for a
host-yet all the dweller it contained was
George Medford.
The solitary squire of Mordaunt Grange
was walking on his lawn, under the feathery
shadow of the dropping elms, his cigar leav-
ing blue trail of scent and vapor wherever
he passed.
He was past thirty, and well moulded
with bron ze-brown hair, hazel eyes and a
square cut, kindly face-not handsome, yet
very pleasant to look upon.
AT an early age he had been left utterly
dependent upon his own resources. AT
twenty, he had committed the usual folly of
youth-in falling madly in love with dark
eyed girl, who had come to his native vii
lage, brimful of New York airs and graces,
visiting some school-friend--an been scon-
fully rejected; and at twenty-one he had
gone to India, to hew out his own fortunes.
Fortune, however, forestalled him; and
when old George Mordaunt, of Mordaunt
Grange, died, and left all his estates and
wealth to his young cousin, Medford found
the labor of his life completed, almost with
out an effort on his part
He was musing over all these things, as
he walked on the daisy-spanged lawn at
Mordaunt Grange-a rich man and a solitary
man, and likewise man afflicted with the
dire visitation of ennu.
81 suppose, he thought, Il must marry
and settle down as other county gentlemen
do, and build up home, and hopes, and as
piratons for myself. | wonder and a
dreamy, half-sad smile came over his face,
"what has become of Sophy, with the spark
ling gray eyes, and pink, satin cheeks, and
hair that always would twist itself into curls.
| was very much in love with Sophy once.
Well, so runs the world away | was poor
and obscure then; am rich now, with the
prestige of Mordaunt Grange surrounding me;
and Sophy is married to some stock broker,
and wears her diamonds and her cashmere
shawls."
Yet there was an unwonted softness in
eye and face, as he remembered the light OF
those marvellous gray eyes, which had been
his beacon stars for so long.
81 think, he pondered, "Sophy Kneeland
did fancy me after certain fashion; but she
was a coquette, both by nature and educa-
ton. She was a city belle; was nothing
but a raw, country youth. We should meet
on more even grounds now, if"
And then Mr.. George Medford suddenly
became aware that in the earnestness of his
reverie he had allowed his cigar to 90 out.
AS he stood there, leaning against the
moss-covered trunk of huge cedar tree,
older by half century, than himself, with
the picturesque gables of the porter's lodge
rising out Of miniature thcket Of dense
growing evergreons just beyond, the savage
growl of Leo, the huge Newfoundland dog,
sounded ominously on the air, and a child s
cry Of apprehension echoed it.
Medford stepped forward.
"Down Leo p he said, laying his hand
on the dogs collar, and perceiving at the
same instant, an elfn-lke child, with great
gray eyes, and hair blown all about her face,
while upon one arm she carried covered
basket.
care you the gentleman of this placer
she asked, still eyeing Leo, rather obviously,
as if she was not quite certain whether he
might not yet break away from his restrain
ing chain.
"Yes, am" said Medford. "Did you
wish to see me?"
She came frankly and freely toward him.
"Please buy some of my shells" said
She "My uncle brought them from NADIA
gascar We had them in cabinet before
papa lost all his money and died; and peo-
pie used to say how pretty they were. Will
you buy some?"
To Medford this was novel style of So
Letting patronage. She sat down on the
sloping bank.
''Iet me look at them," said he.
you're sure the dog won't run at me
again?" she asked, somewhat irresolutely.
"Not while am here.
AS if treasured by this she came to him,
and kneeling on the soft green grass at his
feet, began to seek out her little stock of
shells, and arrange them to the best advan-
tage.
Don't you see how pretty they are?"
she asked, triumphantly.
She was right; the shells were exceeding
ly rare and beautiful, gold streaked and tip
ped with carmine and pearly gray, and
twisted into every possible variety Of convo-