The Placer herald., 1871-12-23
Casting contemptuous glance at the

"Are you Mr.. Arthur Camron p
Eyes. Did you not know it before p
"No, and l am sorry to know it now."
"Why SO, you elf?' retorted Arthur,
smiling in spite of himself.
"Oh, because don't like you, and don't
think ever shall.
"But why do you not like me, Etna ?
You don't know me yet.
"Because YOU look SO cold at me, and
gave my dog such hateful push just now.
If you don't want me and Carlo to stay
here, Mr.. Camron, we can 60 away" and
she drew her little form up proudly.
The stern mans heart was softened. His
fancy was won by the independence and cam
dor of the friendless child, and, drawing her
to his side, he said:
"And suppose do want you to stay very
much, what then"
"Why, then, sir, shall be very glad to
do so (that is, if Carlo is welcome too), for
it is beautiful place now, with the snow all
over it, and | know that it must be grand in
Summer. Then you have no naughty wife
to torment me like Cousin John has, whose
house staid at before came here. hate
ladies'; they want little girls to behave SO
nice and proper. Can't l always do as !
please here?'
Arthur smiled at the originality of the
child, and replied:
"When you please to do right, certainly
And, Etna, let me say to you that you are
very welcome to my home, and that wish
you to stay with me.
Arthur Camron's heart was won by the
simple candor and artlessness of the child
Of one thing he was sure, she would never
deceive him. She was as different from her
far-haired blue-cyed mother in nature as she
was in appearance.
Times soft and silent footsteps passed on,
and each day the orphan became more and
more dear to her guardian. The compact
made on the bright December eve, was
faithfully kept, and little Etna's bright face
became the sunlight of Camron Hall. 1t
was she who welcomed Arthur each morn
ing to the breakfast table; il was her hands
that warmed his gown and slippers in Win
ter, and ornamented his library with flowers
in Summer True, old Prudence complained
bitterly of the wild freaks of the little saw
age, as she termed her. Bette Carter fled
from the outbursts of temper, but Etna said
it made no difference, that she didn't want
troublesome maid. Helen, the house girl,
apprised Mr.. Camron that it was impossible
to keep house in anything like respectable
order where Miss Etna was. Books were
strewn all over the house, sheet-musc was
tossed in every corner of the drawing room,
and heaps of weeds (thc young lady called
them flowers were piled on chairs and ta
bles, and then, TO crown all, that ugly for
egn beast was always on the hall and parlor
sofas, and sometimes on the beds. Com
plants of similar nature came from old
Jones, the gardener, who expostulated
against the ruthless destruction of his finest
roses and rarest blossoms, which were fre-
quently converted into garlands for the adorn-
ment Of Carlos neck. But all of these
misdemeanors were regarded by Arthur
Camron with indulgence, and he allowed no
one to interfere with the pleasure of his pet,
who did as she pleased, and forced the
household to submission to her wishes.
And so time passed until Arthur awoke to
the consciousness that his pretty, wiful pro-
tege was growing up in comfortable state
of ignorance, music being the only science of
which she had any knowledge. And, as he
was on the eve of starting for Europe, on a
tour of several years, he determined to send
her to a boarding school. So at the close of
a delightful Summer, Etna departed from
Camron Hail. In few weeks Arthurs
departure followed, and the Hall was left to
the care of the servants.
Five years had gone on the wings of light
and shadow. Years that had wrought great
changes, like the sunbeams that come and
60.
1t was Christmas eve again at Camron
Hail. The night was bitter cold; the snow
had fallen since the early dawn, and now lay
in glittering heaps beneath the dancing moon
beams, but no breath of cold penetrated the
crimson curtained windows, or chilled the
occupants of the library. Arthur Camron
had but short time previously returned to
his native land, and put a week before sum-
moned home his ward to grace the Christmas
festivities at Camron Hall. The morrow
would bring hosts of gay young company to
the now quiet abode, and the proprietor al
most regretted it as he gazed upon the beau
tiful dark face of Etna as she sat opposite
him robed in simple dress of crimson me-
rino, in which she looked fairer to him than
when decked in silks and laces. In classic
contour of form and features she was as
faultless as any marble creation of genius,
and as Arthur Camron feasted his eyes on
her loveliness, he sighed at the thought of
how soon some one would bear away this
little girl from his home.
"Etna, my dear, have you concluded
where YOU would like to spend the remainder
of the Winter after our guests depart? 1t
is far too lonely for young girl here. and
unless you can prevail upon some of your
friends to visit you, it will be unpleasant to
you," said Arthur. ever eager to contribute
unselfishly to the girls happiness.
"And yet, Mr.. Camron, the happiest
Winter of my life was spent here, with no
friends hut uonrself old prndanca and moor