Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-06-27
AFTER MANY DAYS.

NdlDdu, tdNe udu Il leltSI lIOul NSN
York. Mrs. Grimsby writes that she will
spend the season in the White Mountains. y
"Ahn' Nathan calculated, in bis most
far away manner, hanGling his knife and
fork clumsily, as if they were weapons Of
defence, and gazing with a very un-Na
than-like expression away from the com
Portable tea table. with its delicate blue
trimmed service. and the placid, good NIL
turei lady behind the monstrous tea urn,
who sat with curious air of puzzled ex-
pectation.
care YOU not well, Nathan7 Is that
all you have to say p
Down fell war implement No. l, the
knife, at which little color mounted to
the brown, handsome face, and then a
grave, sweet smile that made one forget
in m instont the awkwardress of his every
movement.
"Good gracious, Aunt Roval. what
would you have me say? That Mrs.
Grimsby should have asked ou. consents
about the visit to the White Mountains.
Sne generally spends the season some
where. It's just as we'll White Noun
tains as Cape May. It's all right, sup
pose"
"Nathan, hope you don't mean to he
funny" said Aunt Royal, piteously. "You
know | am not. in the least apprecative.
Mrs. Grimsby's design ON the White Noun
tains has nothing to do with the subject
about which I wish to speak. Helen.
after long winter with those children.
must feel the need of rest and relaxation
She must be terribly tired of the city and
her hard, unvarying life of dependence.
wish it were possible to ask her down for
month or two"
Not knowing Just how this might be
received, Aunt Royal hastily made an
other cup Of tea, miStaking the salt spoon
for the sugar tOngs, IL her efforts to LOOK
composed, cyrmg the broad shouldered
Nathan opposite
Z" suppose you have written to Mrs.
Kaync, saving that the doors Of Carlings-
ford are ever open to her. Always, so
Tong as it would be pleasant for her to
remain here"
Nathan's smile was gone. and fever;sh
light cleaned down low in the depths of
his grey eyes. He stopped, replaced the
knife that bad fallen, with slight tremor
scarcely noticeable.
Aunt Royal left the cup of tea she had
in no wise wanted, it being the third cup
newly drawn, and came around the table
to lay her hand on t5e dark, straight hair,
and to tell Nathan how good of him to
grant her this.
"Helen has not been out of town but
once, think. since her husbands death
what treat it will be-Carlingsford IS at
its best, now, too. | shall write and ask
her 10 como at once; could not, certain
lv, before naming it to You, Nathan. Poor
girl, what surprise it will be-"
Aunt Royal, as Nathan Carlingsford
called her, was a dear good soul, full OF
am.able schemeS and surprises, which,
oddly enough. never seemed to turn out
satisfactorily in the end, more to her sur
prise than any ones of her acquaintance.
Car'inS>ford Willows, one of the most
beautiful talmhouSeS in the Hudson river
country, bad been left solely to Nathan
CarlngSlord, when a lad Of sixteen, ten
years before rbis SumHer evening, when
we find him taking tea with his house
keeper, foster mother, friend and adviser,
Mrs. North, distant relative Of his fathers
second wife, who had net survived him a
year. Aunt Royal h1i grown to look on
the CHEEKY old house. with its Knick"r-
booker gables and ponderous stone flag
glncs. as her home during the lie time of
the last Mrs Carling>fnrd. After her
CeceaSc. the place, without a mistress, fell
into ruins, and young Nathan, wOefuly
telling the need of woman about the
house 10 keer him from sharing the com-
mon tate when he returned rom his studies.
humanely offered her tho position, and it
was gratefully accepted. She had remained
all those years. making weak prctCnc;
of going back 10 Vermont every wear
though rhe good Nathan had never failed
to Ctlectnallv discourage this project.
Aunt Royal went away with her led
room candle. and sat for lono willie over
letter to her niece Helen Klvne anX
inus that it might he couched in Just the
words that would bring her down to the
pleasant old house tor few weeks "Sucb
dear girl as Helen. eai ming the bread she
eats by a life n drudocry and serfdOm TO
three ov"r-icd, luStv tyrants. ! dare say
those Gti"sbv children have wcrn hsr to
a mere shadow"
The delicate affair was at length des-
pitched, the letter closing with few
attecrionate remarks, lay enveloped and
sealed with the great prctentrouS seal of
the Royals, which had remained in the
good ladys possession an untold number
OF years. Aunt ROYAL extlnguiShcd the
candle, in which very many foolish moth
had Scorched themselves. and crossing the
worn crimson carpet, checked with great
oars OF light from a summer moon climb
ing above the laurc. tree tat grew against
her window, she gazed down on still
tgure below with t"awny arms folded
and finely poised head thrown back, a
coed natured hon at rest
" Nathan is a good fellow. | think he
once lancied Helen, at least admired her
bright face and companionable ways To
be sure there has been a great change in