Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-08-25

A dog barked in the distance.
When Count Remond reached the ter
race he found the steps half covered by
the thorny branches of an eglantine -
Throwing the bride upon the horses neck
be left him to Craze upon the lawn. while
he forced his way through the thicket of
roses which clung to his garments, and
tore his hands. At length he stood upon
the broad stone porch. and lifting the
heavy iron knocker Of the wide door, made
the whole place ring with his summons.
The magpie screamed. and siskin flew
chirpping into the thicket.
As the young count waited, his face
was in the shadow of the dark old yews,
fair brilliant face, affluent with youth
and bloom. The eyes were blue as the
heavens that peeped down at him through
the branches of the trees. A diamond
sparkled on the hand that gave the knock
er second impatient peal. Car looked
up from his luncheon of clover and whin-
ed.
A hasty hand was heard at the bolts
within.
"Wait only minute, father dear!'
cried a sweet voice.
A child? No The door came open
slowly, grating on the hinges. and girl
seventeen years old or more, but petite
and fair as rose, looked out.
At sight of Count Remond, her brown
| eyes dilated and her color paled.
Sir" she faltered, Il thought it was
my father. Did Timothy. He said yester-
day, that the hall door must be opened, or
would rust on its hinges, and 1 thought
''
She stopped. too confused by the stran-
gers attentive gaze to proceed.
Il am Count Remond. from St. Etien-
ne" he said, quietly. ''This is the Yews,
l suppose?"
eyes, this is the Yews." answered the
young girl, seemingly more at loss than
before, and the next minute she had quite
|sun awsy, leaving Rctneud alone upon the
threshold of his inheritance.
He walked into the hall and opened the
first door he came to. It was an old oak
en- dining-room. Adjoincd was large
sitting room, with tarnished brasses in the
yawning fireplace, painted screens set a.
gainst the well-fadcd easy chairs, sofas
and 'candelabras. He gave the hall cord
a vigorous pull, and was standing in the
centre of the apartment when an old wo-
man apparently straight from the wash
tub, rushed into the room.
: "Ah, sir count, to think you should
come home this way !''
Remond's blue eyes stared at her coldly.
Have fire here" he said. imperious-
ly. ''It is wretchedly cold. Where is
the man in trust here2"
"My husband, Timothy Brown, sir
my lord-count," stammered the woman.
"He has gone to the village for bit of
bacon for our dinners, sir. [ wish he
had but known! But there's fine fat pi-
geons in the yard, sir. I'll make pigeon
pie for your dinner. sir count. Timothy
will be back soon. He's old, sir; you
must excuse things you find amiss. You
have been SO long in coming. milord-six
years."
''Ah, yes; but make fire here, pray
dol" cried Remond, shivering.
Mother Brown hurried away. In few
moments lighter step approached the
door, and the young girl, her apron full
of splinters and light wood, came into the
room. She knelt down on the hearth and
laid the fire. Remond. leaning one arm
on the mantle piece, looked down at her.
She was the sweetest thing he had ever
seen. Her cheek was like rosc-leaf,
her hair clustered soft and golden upon
her shoulders.
"What is your name, pretty one?'
Matilda, sir" answered the girl, blush
ing, and her little hands trembling at her
task. Remond watched her until she ran
away. Presently she came back with more
wood.
''Ah, that is too hard for the little
arms?' he said, starting: and taking the
wood from her he laid it upon the fire him
self. With shy smile the girl slipped
away.
The splinters blazed, the oak snapped
Remond drew one of the faded velve
chairs upon the hearth.
By-and-by an old man. his cap in biz
hand and his grizzled hair all on end with
excitement, entered the apartment.