Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-07-19

o~sAH'NSNAS'At
and I stay in this pretty room when we
like p
Arthur moved uneasily in his chair. The
undisputed master of the hall from his
infancy, he had never had any one to
interfere with his privacy or comfort. The
Library was his favorite retreat, his usual
sitting room, and he was by no means well
pleased at the prospect Of continual intru-
sion from the wild, uncultivated little girl,
and her ugly dog, so he replied, ''This is my
library, and I do not like much Interrupt
ton, but when you are a good quiet little
girl, you may sometimes spend an hour with
me-"
Casting contemptuous glance at the
speaker, the girl said:
ssAre you Mr.. Arthur Cannon p
eyes Did you not know it before ~
"No, and I am sorry to know it now"
"Why SO, you elf?" retorted Arthur,
smiling in spite Of himself.
sob, because I don't like you, and I
don't think I ever shall" 49,
"But why do you not like me, Etua p
You don't know me yet"
because you look so cold at me, and
you gave my dog such hateful push just
now If you don't want me and Carlo to
stay here, Mr. Cameron, 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
candor Of the friendless child, and, drawing
her to his side, he said:
"And suppose l do want you to stay very
much, what then p
"Why, then, sir, l shall be very glad to
do so, Chat is if Carlo is welcome too), for
it is beautiful place now, with the snow
all over it, and I know it must be grand in
summer. Then you have no naughty wife
to torment me, like Cousin John has whose
house [ staid at before I come here hate
ladies' they want little girls to behave so
nice and proper. Can't [ 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 I wish
you to stay with me-
Arthur Camron's heart was won by the
simple candor and artlessness of the child.
OF one thing be was sure, she would never
deceive him. She was as different from her
fair-haired blue-eyed mother in nature, as
she was in appearance.
Times soft and silent fortress passed on,
and each day the orphan became more and
more dear to her guardian. The compact
made on the bright December eve, was faith
fully kept, and little Etna's bright face be-
come the sunlight of Cannon Hail. 1t was
she who welcomed Arthur each morning to
the breakfast table, it was her hands that
warmed his gown ard slippers in winter,
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 fed
from her outbursts of temper, but Etna said
it made no difference, that she didn't want
troublesome maid. Helen, the house girl,
apprised Mr.. Cannon that it was impossible
to keep house in anything like respectable
order where Miss Etna was. Books were
strewn all over the house, sheets Of music
were tossed in every corner of the drawing
room, and heaps Of weeds (he young lady
called them flowers were piled on chairs
and tables, and then, to crown all, that ug-
ly foreign beast was always on the hall and
parlor sofas, and sometimes on the beds
Complaints of a similar nature came from
old Jones, the gardner, who expostulated
against the ruthless destruction of his finest
roses, and rarest blossoms, which were fire.
quently converted into garlands for the
adornment of Carlos neck. But all Of these
misdemeanors were regarded by Arthur
Cannon with indulgence, and he allowed no
one to interfere with the pleasure of his pet,
who did as she pleased, and forced the house
hold to submission to her wishes.
And so time passed, until Arthur awoke
to the consciousness that his pretty wilful
prestige was growing up in a comfortable
state of ignorance, music being the only
science of which she had any knowledge
And, as be was on the eve Of starting for
Europe, on tour Of several years, he deter
mined to send her to boarding school. So
at the close of a delightful summer day,
Etna departed from Cannon Hall. In
few weeks Arthur's departure followed, and
the Hall was left to the care Of the servants.
x x * * Il x 4
Five years had gone, on the wings of
light and shadow. Years that had wrought
great changes, like the sun beams that come
and 60.
It was Christmas Eve again at Cannon
Hall. The night was bitter cold the snow
had fallen since the early dawn, and now
lay in glittering heaps beneath the dancing
moonbeams, but no breath of cold penetra-
ted the crimsoned curtained windows, or
chilled the occupants Of the library. Ar
thur Cannon had, but short time previ
ously, returned to his native land, and but a
week before summoned home his ward to
grace the Christmas festivities at Cannon
Hall. The morrow would bring hosts Of
gay young company to the now quiet abode,
and the proprietor almost regretted it as he
gazed upon the beautiful dark face of Etna,
as she sat opposite him, robed in a simple
dress Of crimson merino, in which she look
ed fairer to him than when decked in silks
and laces. In classic contour Of form and
features, she was as faultess as any marble
creation of genius, and as Arthur Cannon
Toasted bis eyes on her loneliness, 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 remain
der Of the winter, after our guests depart
} 1t is far too lonely for a young girl here,
and unless you can prevail upon some of
your friends to visit you, it will be unpleas.
l ant to you," said Arthus, ever eager to con-
tribute unselfshly to the girls happiness
HAnd vet. Mr.. Cannon, the happiest