Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-03-28
THE STRANGE PERFUME.

was a tall, falr-naircd young uhaH.
What have you there, mother?
he said, throwing his arm around her
in caressing way. "That smile
makes you positively young, I de-
clare.
Losing his father'in India, when a
child, a small legacy from his god
mother had, with the most severe
economy, given George Roberts a
liberal education, while his mother
had her small pension alone to depend
upon.
Long years had passed, her father was
dead, and her only brother, who IN
herited the estate, had ever refused
any overtures toward a reconciliation.
Not even in her n;ldest day dream
had Mrs Roberts hoped to behold her
childhood's home again.
No wonder, then, that her cheek
flushed and her eve frightened over
the letter in her hand, for it con-
tained an invitation for herself and
son to spend the Christmas week at
Locksley Grange. Though expressed
in cold and formal terms, it was
courteous and the buried years Of
the past were not alluded to.
The young man took the letter
which she gave him without COM
ment, and g'ancing through it to the
r;rnotrra-.: :: Poul Edward Hailowes
looked up at his mother.
"Your uncle, my son. she said
A 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 to his presence by a wave OF
his hand? By hard study and perse-
verance George mad won ;tplace at
the bar, and he was content to 'abor,
trusting to time. But it was with an
inward struggle, as he looked al the
eager expectation on his mother $
face, and thought of her lonely life,
that J.. controlled his resentment.
You would like to go, dear moth
err" he said. pleasantly.
Y-s, nay boy it seems as if ]
could die happier if | SAW the Old
plac, once more.
"Then we shall go, he said. 81
will make my arrangements fer d
holiday, and we will leave town on
Wednesday," anu with Kiss he left
her.
The master of Loeksley Grange, a
tall, erect old man, Of most imposing
presence, with snowy hair and whis-
kers; and brilliant, piercing, deep
black eyes, shaded By shaggy eye
brows-like fierce fires overi..ng with
Jagged snow crags-greeted his sister
and her son nth stately courtesy,
although no light of love be:med
from his eye to the gentlewom2n WHO
had been his childhood's rlaytellow
One sharp glance he shot at bis
nephew as he made some comment
onthe Journey, and then babe a servant
usher them to their apartments.
When the dinner bell sounded,
George conducted his mother-looll-
ing 50 fair and gentle in her soft
gray silk, still with the delicate flush
on her cheek-into the state drawing
room, where they were duly present
ed to the rector of Locksley and his
curate. Still they waited, and in
few moments a young girl entere!
the room, of such unusual beauty.
that George Roberts stopped short in
the middle of sentence addressed
to the curate, and never completed it.
She might have been about seven
teen, with slight form, graceful as
deer, hair of pale gold, Which, deep
ened into shadows Of tawny sheen
under the mellow wax-lights. anl
soft brown eyes. shaded by curling
golden Iashes. A dark silk dress.
without ornament, displayed and
heightened the dclicately tinted skin
and perfect figure. She approached
the group tilnidly, and George, CLAN
cling at his uncle, saw. to lis 'ssEon-
ishment, a scowi sweep over his face
as his eyes rested on the fair vision.
miss Kedar, he said carelessly,
presenting the young girl to his sis
ter, with a wave Of his jeweled hand,
"a penniless orphan whom ! keep
out of charity, as her mother was an
old friend of mine. She made love
match, he added, with. sncer.
"You can take her into dinner, he
said to his nephew, with another
wave Of the white hand, as he turned
to his sister with formal politeness
George felt MS indignation stir, as
he saw the deep flush rise on the
yong girls face, and then fade to q
marble paleness. But she did no.
raise her eyes to see the sympathy
expressed in his.
The dinner passed pleasantly. The
rector was fluent and graceful con
yersationalist, and the host excited
Young Roberts to- bring forward his
knowledge Of men and things, in his
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, un-
til a glance from her soft brown eyes,
lighted with appreciatire feeling. met
his, and revived the sympathy and
wonder he had felt at his uncles non
chalance in anuding to her dependent
When the ladies retired, and the
political questions of the day came
9 up, the young lawyer 50 startled the
older men with his brilliant eloquence,
with his fresh and racy opinions so
DO owerfully put, that they felt them
Solves in the presence of a master
snirit which would soar far upward
+ - IL -; :, 80 ,para Andoad