The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-05-17
TIE STRANGE PERFUME.

| with an open letter IN hef nan0S, was
u tall, tair-haired young man.
"What have you there, mother?' he
said, throwing his arms around her in
a caressing way. "fhat smile makes
you positively young declare
Losing his father in India, when
a child, a small legacy from his god
mother had, with the most severe
economy, given George Roberts lib
eral education, while his mother had
her small pension alone to depend up
on.
Long years had passed, her father
was dead, and her only brother, who
inherited the estate, had even refused
any overtures toward a reconciliation.
Not even in her widest day-dream had
Mrs. Roberts hoped to behold her
childhood's home again.
No wonder, then, that her cheek
flushed and her eye frightened over
the letter in her hand. for it contained
an invitation 10 herself and son to
spend the Christmas week at Locks
ley Grange. Though expressed i'll
cold and formal terms, it was cour-
teous, and the buried years of the past
were not alluded to.
The young man took the letter,
which she gave him without comment,
and, glancing through it to the sigma
tme-"Paul Edward Hsllowes''-
looked up at his mother.
"Your uncle, my son, she said
\ flush OF indignant feeling passed
over the pleasant face. Was this cold
and naughty uncle, who had so long
| ignored their existence, to summon
them 10 his presence by wave of his
hand? By hard study and persever
anee George had Won place ut the
bar, and he was content 10 labor and
trust TO time. But it WAS with an IN
ward struggle, as he looked mt the ca
ger expectation on his mothers face,
and thought OF her lonely life, that he
controlled his resentment.
/ You would like 10 20, dear moth
err" he said, pleasantly.
Yes, my hoy; ii seems as if ] could
die happier if saw the old place once
more"
Then we shall 60" he said. u
will make my arrangement for a holt
day, ana we viii leave toyu on We'd
uesday," and with kiss hc left her.
The master OF Locksley Grange, a
/ tall, erect old man, OF most imposing
presence, with snowy hair and wlisk-
ers, aud brilliant, piercing, deep-set
black eyes. shaded by shaggy eye
brows-like fierce fires oyerhung with
! Jagged snow crags-greetcd his SIS
ter aud her son with stately courtesy,
although no light Of love beamed
from his eye to the :gentlc woman
who had been his childhood's playtel
low.
One sharp glance he sho: at his
nephew, As he made some comment
on the journey, and then bade SER
want usher them to- their apartments.
When the dinuer-bell sounded,
I George conducted his mother-iook
ing so fair and gentle in her soft gray
silk, still with the delicate flash on her
cheek into the state drawing-room,
where they were daily presented 10
the rector of Locksiey and his curate.
Still they waited, and in a few mo.
ments = young girl entered the room
of such unusual beauty that George
Roberts stopped short in the middle
of a sentence addressed to the curate,
and never completed il.
She might have been seventeen,
with slight form, graceful as a deer,
hair of pale gold, which deepened
into shadows OF 4 tawny sheen under
| the mellow wax-ligbts, and soft brown
eyes, shaded by curling golden lashes.
4 dark silk dress, without ornaments,
displayed and heightened the delicate
ly-tinted skin and perfect figure. She
approached the group timidly, and
George, glancing 2t his uncle, saw, to
his astonishment seowl sweep over
his face as his eyes rested OH the fair
vision.
Miss Kedar," said he, carelessly,
presenting the young girl to his SIS
ter with wave of bis jeweled hand,
"a penniless orphan whom / keep out
of charity, as her mother was an old
friend Of mine. She made love
match" he continued with sneer-
l"Y oG can take her in to dinner" he
said to his nephew, with another wave
Hof his white band, as he turned to his
sister with formal politeness.
George felt his Indignation stir, as
he saw the deep flush rise on the
young girls face, and then fade to a
marble paleness. But she did no,
raise her eyes to see the sympathy ex-
pressed in his.
/ The dinner passed pleasantly. The
rector was fluent and graceful con
versationalist, and the host excited
young Roberts to bring forth his
knowledge of men and things, in bis
manly earnest way, by the display OF
his own versatile powers to draw him
out.
The young man had almost forgot.
: ten the silent beauty by his side, when
a glance from her soft brown eyes
lighted with appreciative feeling, mel
his, and revived the sympathy and
wonder he had felt at his uncle's crue
; nonchalanGe in aIluding to her depen
dent position.
When the ladies retired, aud the
political questions of the day came
: up. the young lawyer so startled the
: older men with his brilliant eloquence
with his fresh and racy opinions pow
erfully put, that they felt themselves
/. in the presence of master spirit
which would soar far upward wher
his wings were fedged.
/ Long did George Roberts sit by
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