New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-16
THE STRANGE PERFUME.

THE STRANGE PERI JUNE.
Lounging carelessly in an arm chair, his
eyes fixed on lady beside him, with an
open letter in her hand, was tall, fair
haired young man.
What have you there, mOtherl7 he said,
throwing his arm around her in a cares
sing way. THAT smile makes you posi-
lively young declare"
Losing his father in India, when a child,
a small legacy from his gOdmotheE 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 inherited the es-
tate, had ever refused any overture toward
a reconciliation Not even in her widest
day dream had Mrs. Roberts hoped to be-
hold her childhOod's home again. No won
der, then. that her cheek flushed and her
eye frightened over the letter in her hand,
for it contained an invitation for herself and
son 70 spend the Christmas week at Locks
lev Grange. Though expressed in cold and
formal terms, it was courteous, and the
buried years Of the past was not alluded TO.
The Young man took the letter, which she
gave him without comment, and, glancng
through it to the signature-"Paul Edward
HollOwes"-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, 10 summon them TO his
presence by a wave of his hand By hard
study and perseverance George bad won a
place at the bar, but be was content to
labor. trusting to time. But it was with an
inward struggle, as he looked at the eager
expectation on his mothers face. and
thought Of her lonely life, that he controlled
his resentment.
'You would like to go, dear mother ~ he
said pleasantly.
Eyes, my boy: il seems as if ] could die
happier, if ] saw the old place once more"
"Then we shall 20" he said. II will make
my arrangements for a holiday, and we
shall leave town on Wednesday," and with
kiss he left her.
The master of Locksley Grange, a tall.
erect old man, of most imposing presence,
with snowy hair and whis5ers and bril-
liant, piercing deep-set black eyes, shaded
by shaggy eyebrOws-like fierce fires over
hung by Jagged SHOW cTags-greeted histI
sister and her son with stately courtesy, al
though no light of love beamed from his |
eve to the gentle woman who had been his |
childhoOd's playfellOw. One sharp glance /
he shot at his nephew as he made some com |
ment on the journey. and then babe SER |
want usher them to their apartments. When |
the dinner-bell sounded George conducted |
his mother looking so fair and gentle in her |
soft grey silk, still with the delicate flush on
her cheek-intO the stately drawng-rOOm,
where they were duly presented to the rec
tor Of Loeksley and his eurate. Still they
waited, and in a few minutes a young girl |
entered the room, Of such unusual beauty
that George Roberts stopped short in the
middle Of a sentence addressed 20 the Curate,
and never completed it. She might have
been about seventeen, with a slight form,
graceful as a deer, hair of a pale gold
which deepened into shadows of a taWny
sheen under the mellow wax lights, and
soft brown eyes, shaded by curling golden
lashes A dark silk dress, without orna-
ment, displayed and heightened the deli
cately tinted skin and perfect figure.
She approached the group timidly, and
GEORGE, CHANGING at his uncle, saw, to bis
sastOnishment, scOwl sweep over his face
=as his eyes rested on the fair vision.
Miss Kedar,V he said. carelessly, pre-
senting the young girl TO his sister, with
wave Of his ieweled hand, "a penniless
orphan whom keep ont of charity, as her
mother was an old friend of mine She has
made love match" he added with a sheer.
"YOu can take her in to dinner be 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 paleness. But
patty expressed in his. The dinner passed
pleasantly. The rector was a fluent and
graceful oOnversationalst, and the host ex-
cited young Roberts to bring forth his
knowledge Of men and things in his manly,
earnest way, by the display Of his own
versatile powers to draw him ont The
young man had almost forgotten the silent
beauty ut his side, until glance from her
soft, brown eyes. lighted with appreciative
feeling, met his, and revived the sympathy
and wonder he had felt at his uncle's cruel
nOnchalance in abiding to her dependent ;
position. When the ladies retired, and the !
political question of the day came up, the
young lawyer so startled the older men !
with his brilliant eloquence, with his fresh
and racy opinions, so powerfully put, that
they felt themsel es in the presence OF
master spirit which would soar far upward
when its wings were fledged.
Long did George Roberts sit by his flick
ering fire before he retired to rest, wonder .
ing what might be the tie between his uncle Z
and that lovely girl-what the cause of the !
singular hatred evinced toward her in so
many trihing things. His unCles morning :
greeting was cordial and kindly seeming (:
20 have lost that disagreeable air of patron .
age which had so grated on his manhood
the day before. After breakfast he accom-
panied him on a ride over the estate to I
view its improvements, and as they went !
the old man skillfully drew out the particu-
lars Of his nephews life, his views and feel /
ings, his plans and hopes. In the afternoon
George accompanied his uncle into a little
office adjoining the library, and saw the .
tenants come in with their yearly rents,
where the bags Of silver and gold were de-
posted in an iron chest. In this were Sc
cured the most valuable papers and the g
family Jewels. The little room was strongly {
protected with bars aud bolts, as it con C
tanned other articles Of value. T
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 3
was also to be enliyened with a dance for ]
the tenants and servants. Considerable 1
was the excitement, therefore, on this sud {
den opening of its doors. and many a young ;
belle prepared to enter its gay, timehonoT- C
ed walls, with a curiosity awakened by the S
tales Of a mother or aunt Virginia Kedar. a
simply dressed in a delicate robe of white j
muslin, with a wreath Of scarlet berries on Il
her silken hair, was the beauty of the '
whole assemblage, and many were the d
Whispers as To her birth and parentage
Seorse Roberts had become more and more
fascinated with her, and this evening com P
pleted his enthralment. For the first time {
IN his life he was in love- Yet he could not {