Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-05-28
An Oriaiual Storg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
HOLLINGWOOD HOUSE.
BY MRS. HENRY DEAS.
CHAPTER VIII.

Ol.
pressing his hope that Sydney Temple would
visit them at Hollingwood at an early day
and the same post conveyed letter OF invita-
tion to some friends of Ellinor's-Mrs. Rox-
bury and her daughter, who lived in York
to pay them long g-promised visit at the same
time.
Ellinor had not the slightest intention OF
accepting Sydney Temple as lover, and
would have been very glad to put stop at
once to any expectations of the sort in every
bodys mind but her grandfather was so ur-
gent that she should at least postpone her de-
cision until after the young man arrived, that
she consented to let the matter remain IN
abeyance for the present.
II forewarn you, Grandy," said she, "that
he will only be wasting time in coming here;
but if he chooses to take so much trouble, l
won't hold myself responsible for his disap'
pointment."
Under these circumstances. the old gentle
man judged it expedient to tell Mr.. Sydney
the exact state of the case, adding that he
would do all in his power to advance his ne
phews cause, but that at the same time he
had promised his granddaughter to lay no
constraint upon her inclinations.
"Nellie, my DEAR" said the Colonel one
evening, after these preliminaries had been
arranged, "isn't it about time for US to hear
something from Columbia about the house
keeper you wrote to engage?"
"Quite true, I think, sir; probably there
will be letter this evening. Here comes
Jack with the mailbag now.'
The expected letter was there, and contained
satisfactory news. Mrs. Norton, the person
in question, accepted Col. Hollingwood's Of
fered terms, and would be in Greenville on
the following afternoon. The lady who had
effected the arrangement wrote to Elllnor as
follows:
"She is said to be most efficient house
keeper, and is highly recommended by her
last employers. She will, think, strike you
at first rs being little odd at least, that is
the impression she makes upon me. She
dresses in deep mourning, and looks as though
she had undergone trouble; her face is pale
and wan, her manner very nervous, and her
eyes have way of roaming quickly and ap-
prehensvely about while you are speaking to
her, as if she was afraid of something. But
she seems to be quiet, unobtrusive little wo-
mon, sensible and well-informed, and will,
think, fall easily into the ways of your quiet
household"
At the appointed time the carriage was sent
to the station to meet the new housekeeper,
who soon after made her appearance at Hol-
lingwood.
Ellinor went down in the hall to receive
her, and found her, as her friend had described
her, pale, sad looking woman, dressed in
black, and wearing close cap beneath her
plain straw bonnet and heavy veil. She was
small in stature and very slight; her face
bore the traces of former beauty, now dimmed
and lined by care, and her manner was at the
same time nervous and subdued she had a
restless way of moving her hands while speak
ing, and of glancing constantly yet furtively
around Ellinor was not impressed with her
at first sight, but gave her kind welcome,
and conducted her herself to the room pre-
pared for her reception, at the same time ex-
pressing hope that she would find everything
to her liking. Mrs. Norton murmured her
thanks, and then Elinor left her and went to
give an account of her to her grandfather.
"Grandy, she's certainly queer-looking, and
has queer ways Mrs. Gray was right. She
seems futtered and uneasy, yet speaks and
moves very quietly, as if she were putting
sort of constraint upon herself"
"And how is she queer-looking asked her
grandfather.
"Oh! she has such an oldyoang look"
said Ellinor, "a sort of contradictory look that
isn't satisfactory. l cans form the least idea
of her age. She is wan and careworn look
ing, with fixed expression of sadness, that
seems to say she has lived through years and
years of trouble; yet very youthful in her fig
ure and her walk and her hair, which looks
thick and glossy, what can be seen of it-and
her eyes are certainly pretty, though they
have dark circles round them"
"Then there are some redeeming points
about her, Nell?"
"Oh yes, dare say she has plenty; and,
poor thing, if she has seen misfortune, it's only
natural for her to look and speak in that
downcast way. Perhaps she will cheer up
little after she gets used to being here at any
rate I shall do my best to make her."
"That am sure you will, my good child,"
fondly replied the old gentleman. "No one
ought to remain unhappy in your presence
long"
Ellinor found it rather hard to accomplish
her charitable purpose Mrs. Norton was
very unapproachable person, and for some
time it seemed impossible to meet her on any
footing but that of familiarity and reserve, es-
pecially as Ellinor, with all her kindness of
heart, was herself seldom at ease with stran-
gers and not by any means given to making
special advances. She soon discovered, how
ever, that Mrs. Norton, notwithstanding the
position she occupied, was evidently superior
to the generality of persons in her class, and
appeared to have very refined and lady-like
ideas. She was very retiring, and shrank
from being brought into notice, or assuming
any privileges that were not consistent with
her occupation. Once or twice Ellnor asked
her, when her duties were accomplished, if
she would not come and sit with her for lit
- 81