The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-04-13

Its life doth live by its great art OF giving
Heaven is the heart to other love-hearts beating;
'Tis open arms to arms Of fondness rushing;
IT'S songs, with other songs in concert meeting;
IT'S fountains into other fountains gushing
The Strange Perfume.
Lounging carelessly in an armchair, his
eyes fixed on on lady beside him, with an
open letter in her hand, was tall, fair-halred
young man. "What have you there, mother,
he said throwing his arm around her in a
caressing way. That smile makes you posi-
lively young, declare"
Losing his father in India, when a child, a
small legacy from his godmother had, with
the most severe economy, given George Rob-
erts a liberal education, While his mother had
her pension alone to depend upon. Long
years had passed, her father was dead, and
her only brother, who inherited the estate,
had ever refused any overtures toward a re-
Cancellation. Not even in her widest day
dream had Mrs. Roberts hoped to behold her
childhoods home again. No wonder, then,
that her cheek flushed and her eye frightened
over the letter in her hand, for it contained
an Invitation for herself and son to spend
the Christmas week at Locksley Grange
Though expressed in cold and formal terms
past were not alluded to. The young man
took the letter, which she gave him without
comment, and, glancing through it to the
signature, Paul Edward Hollowes, looked
mp 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 exist
ence, to summon them to his presence by a
wave of his hand? By hard study and perse-
verance George had won a place at the bar,
and he was content to labor, trusting to time
But it was with an inward struggle, as he
looked at the eager expectation ON his moth
er's face, and thought of her lonely life, that
he controlled his resentment.
"You would like to go, dear mother?" he
said, pleasantly.
Yes, my boy; it seems as if could die
happier if l saw the old place once more"
''Then we will go, he said. 81 will make
my arrangements for holiday, and we will
leave town on Wednesday," and with kiss
he left her.
The master of Locksley Grange. tall.
erect old man, of most imposing presence,
with snowy hair and whiskers, and brilliant,
piercing, deep-set black eyes, shaded by shay
gy eyebrows,-like fierce fires overhung with
jagged snow crags,-greeted his sister and
with stately courtesy, although no light of
love beamed from his eye to the gentle wo-
man who had been his childhood's playfellow.
One sharp glance he shot at his nephew, as
he made some comment ON the journey, and
then babe a servant usher them to their
apartments. When the dinner-bell sounded
George conducted his mother-lookng so
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
presented to the rector of Locksley and his
curate. Still they waited, and in few min
a fba 81 oh
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 II, with slight form,
graceful as deer, hair of pale gold, which
deepened into shadows of tawny sheen I'M
der the mellow waxlights, and soft brown
eyes, shaded by curling golden lashes. A
dark silk dress, without ornament, displayed
and heightened the delicately tinted skin and
perfect figure. She approached the group
timidly, and George, gancing at his uncle,
saw, to his establishment, scowl sweep over
his face his as eyes rested on the fair vision.
'Miss Kedar," he said, carelessly, present.
ing the young girl to his sister with wave of
his jeweled hand, ga penniless orphan whom
keep out of charity, as her mother was an
old friend Of mine. She made love MATCH"
he added, with a sneer. ''You can take her
in to dinner" he said TO his nephew, with
another wave of the white hand 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 marble paeness. But she
did not raise her eyes to see the sympathy ex-
pressed in his. The dinner passed pleasantly.
The rector was fluent and graceful CONVEX
sationalist, and the host excited young Rob-
erts to bring forth his knowledge of men and
things, in his manly earnest way, by the dis
play of his own versatile powers to draw him
out. The young man had almost forgotten
the silent beauty by his side, until a glance
from her soft brown eyes, lighted with appre-
ciative feeling, met his, and revived the SYM
pathy and wonder he had felt at his uncle's
nonchalance in abiding to her dependent po-
sltlon. When the ladies retired. and the DO
Gtical questions of the day came up, the
young lawyer so startled the older men with
his brilliant eloquence, with his fresh and ra-
cy opinions so powerfully put, that they felt
themselves in the presence of master Spirit.
which would soar far upward when its wings
were f1edged. Long did George Roberts sit
by his hickering fire before he retired to rest
wondering what might be the tie between his
uncle and the lovely girl-what the cause of
the singular hatred evinced toward her in so
many trifing things. His uncle's morning
greeting was cordial aud kindly, seeming to
have lost that disagreeable air of patronage
which had so grated on his manhood the day
before. After breakfast he accompanied him
on ride over the estate, to view its improve
ments, and as they went the old man skillful-
ly drew out the particulars of his nephew's
life, his views and feelings, his plans and
hopes. In the afternoon George accompa-
MED his uncle into little office adjoining the
library, and saw the tenants come in with
their yearly rents, where the bags of silver
and gold were deposited in an iron chest In
this were secured the most valuable papers,
and the family jewels. The little room was
strongly protected with bars and bolts, as it
contained other articles of value.
The next day grand dinner and ball was
to be given, to which all the gentry of the
county were hidden, and the lower hall was
also to be enlivened with dance for the ten
ants and servants Considerable was the ex-
cltement, therefore, on this sudden opening
OF Its doors, and many young belle prepared
to enter its gray, time-honored walls. with a
curiosity awakened by the tales of mother
or aunt. Virginia Kedar, simply dressed in
delicate robe of white muslin, with wreath
of scarlet berries ON her silken hair, was the
beauty of the whole assemblage, and many
were the whispers as to her birth and parent
age. George Roberts had become more and
more fascinated with her, and this evening
completed his enthrallment. For the first
time in his life he was in love. Yet he could
not but notice how his uncle scowled at him
when he danced with her. and his mind was
.iAON "A'AA "oNOh PCIplcAlIieS concerning
her.
He lay wide-awake till he heard the great
hall clock stIike 3, his heart too full of the
blissful dreams which come but once in a life
time, to wish for slumber. Happy visions
fitted before his eyes, in which he and Miss
Kedar played a prominent part. Suddenly
he heard faint grating noise in the silence
of the night, although he could not tell from
what direction it came, and, listening atten-
lively as it continued, he softly opened his
aoor. 1t sounded louder, and he perceived
that II came from the library. The chest and
us valuable contents flashed before his mind
anu, without pausing an instant, he stole
e aow nun 1ne stairs. The noise had ceased by
the time he reached the foot of the staircase.
but he fastened into the library as silently az
possible. The door into the Office was aiar.
and faint light perceptible. As Ge @v%,,
looked through the crack, he saw dark fiS.
ure bending over the chest, examining paners
A sight exclamation escaped the robber as
ne took up packet of letters, tied with q
broad blue ribbon. and thrust it into his
breast. Then he arose from his lrroal;.