The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-05-21

face, Laura could not help OBSERVING,
wore sort Of angry scowl. Miss Stan
hope soon gave vocal proof that she an
noyed.
Laura" she exclaimed. "you have
ho-rid habit of coming down to dinner.
You almost always enter the dining
room after soup has been served. Per
hans YOU would be able to appear more
punctually if we rang several peals OF
huge bell.
Laura volunteered no response, under
standing how useless such course would /
prove. She seated herself, and, with the
exception Of few words to Mrs. STAN |
hope to excuse her, received the lady's |
acquiescence, and left the dining room.
She knew that her calm, patient si- |
lcnce had Ia no manner shamed or hum
bled the naughty, supereilious nature of
her cousin Coruclia. She knew that
nothing could ever change that cousins
contemptuous, cruel notwithstanding
except either her own absence, or that of
Cornelia, from Mrs. Stanhope's house. 1t
was very hard, poor Laura tearfully med
itated, being called upon almost daily and
hourly to bear the covert sneers and
SCOTS of one she f ftlt to be her moral in-
ferior. How pair of manly blue eyes,
that she had once known and loved to
gaze upon, would have flushed with in
dignation, in the old days of courtship,
had she told that brave lover of hers any
story of injustice and insolence like that
| which she could now tell.
"Oh, let me bid good bye to all hope
| less longings." the girl at length mur-
INJURED. 's He can not know-he is far,
far away-he has, perhaps, forgo,-''
/ She somehow could not tell herself
that he had forgotten her. And SO she
sat in her little chamber, and dreamed
that he loved her still very, very dearly,
and that they would one day meet.
Again there came knock at the door
This time servant said, &c Miss Cornelia
wishes, Miss Lyon, that you will please
come down stairs and arrange her hair for
the opera this evening"
Five minutes later, Laura stood meekly
behind her cousins chair, arranging Cor
nelia's glossy tresses as somehow only her
nimble fingers could arrange them. This
work performed, in countless minor details
of her toilet Cornelia did not hesitate un-
blushingly to ask Laura's taste and assis-
/ tance.
You really would make o capital
maid" Miss Stanhope remarked, as she
surveyed her costume in the opposite
mirror, being now thoroughly dressed for
the opera. g Maria" glancing toward her
femme dc chans6re, q will have to look
out for her laurels. Here. Laura, jus,
carry my white merino cloak down stairs
won't you, while I follow ! | want you to
pull out the folds of my dress when
reach the dining room, SO that these
fiounces may not look tumbled as [ re
ceive Viscount Ellery."
" Certainly" Laura said, receiving the
cloak which her cousin offered.
Miss Stanhope and her cousin had beer
in the dining room about five minutes
when the former glanced impatiently to
, ward clock on the mantle, exclaimlng g
's 1t certainly is very odd that Lord Ell
lery dosn't make his appearance. HI
= ought undoubtedly to be here by five
! minutes to eight O'Clock; besides Faust
, is my favorite opera, and don't want tt
: miss note of it, " Mamma ito he
I mother. who had just entered" isn't i
t strange that Lord Ellery is so late !"
/ just as Cornelia finished speaking
f double knock sounded at the trout door
. sThat is he !" exclaimed the youn!
: lady. {" am so glad" Then, afte
d about three minutes had elapsed, aud th
# knock had again sounded, 6 What is tn
i. reason, mamma, that our door is not al
v tended to p The idea of Lord Eller
! being obliged to knock twice 1t
perfectly scandalous."
IT 81 sent Robert on an errand just afte
j. dinner" Mrs. Stanhope began, "an
\. ooh, of course" snapped Miss Co
nelia then, turning sharply toward he
le cousin, {. Laura, go to the door,"
as But Laura stood as still as statue.
ID {" Do YOU hear me, Laura p exclaime
n. Miss Stanhope.
d Perfectly" was the calm response.
ly g told you to go to the door,"
" know /"
is "You mean to disobey me, I suppos
h. impertinent creature :"
at " "Cornelia !" interposed her mother
on pleading voice.
81 'sOnce again, Laura Lyon, [ ord
ON you to answer the knock" ;"
he g Is my position in this house no be
We ter than servant
is Laura spoke these words in ton
ot which faint, almost imperceptible, qul
so er shook; otherwise her demeanor W
perfectly calm.
of NO." was the unhesitating answe
ad i" You are merely menial-nothil
.s- more"
or Very well; in that case, will OBJ
en- orders
I'll She left the room with a steady ste
n though her wounded heart was beatil
n passionately, rebelliously, in her bosol
,st With steady hand, too, she unfasren
or the hall-door A gentleman was stan
of ing outside.
er Are Mrs. and Miss Stanhope
= home? he asked politely. And his vol
ed made poor Laura's heart beat quick
of than ever.
Id q Ernest" she could not help murm.
ar ing, " can it be you
I'M aLaura." The gentleman had caug
10 her hands in both Of his, and was gazI
ali eagerly upon her face. oh, Laura :