The daily gazette., 1875-06-03
A Ride for a Ring.

| "
its lifelong mark on the life OF NOR
than one we hope to introduce TO ou
readers. Time OF innocent mirth ant
! relaxation as it is, there are often yer,
strange mysteries brewed as we'll a.
punch, by the side OF the Ule-Log, ant
| there may be more potent spirits Will,
the fragrant fumes are rising than tn,
| mixer thereof wots. Very, very differ
| ent in his aspect is Christmas in tn,
town, or the same time-honored old per
sonage in the country y-house. It is as ht
| appears at the latter that we now wisf
| to introduce him to our readers SO VIZ
will ask them for the nonce to lose al
/ idea Of streets Ankle-deep in snow o.
slush, or the. same under sea Of blacl
mud aided by fpgs and smoke-grimet
different is Eldon Hall in the midst O
its trim lawns, fir girt park, and copse.
| of red -berried hollies. A decidedly jolly
place to spend your Christmas was al
Eldon Hall, and thither we will at once
take our readers, relying on the privi
lege of old acquaintanceship.
II am not good at statistics" said @
friend of ours, when asked how many
pipes he had filed and lighted that day.
For the same reason we decline stating
the exact year in which the events here
recorded took place.
1t was the evening preceding Christ
mas Eve that in q somewhat remote
tower Of Eldon Hall, which, by the way,
is most EliZabethan looking structure,
with no end to turrets and corners gene
rally, Evelyn Crawford sat conversing
with her friend Cicely Burnett. They
were old school-fellows, and this even
ing was their first meeting after sepa-
raA sAx. IS {xxfA
Really, Cis," exclaimed the younger,
raising her dark, gypsy-like eyes to her
companion. and at she same time throw
ing back great mass Of jetty hair that,
let loose from its bands, fell in masses
over her diminutive but beautifully
formed neck and shoulders; ''it is SO
jolly 10 have you here all to myself
again; it seems like old times, and /
could fancy myself back again at Nine.
Haut-Tous."
80 cannot /" rejoined her compan-
ion, casting q glance around the ele-
gantly furnished apartment. Il see but
little here to remind me of those bare
walls and the deal furniture save your
own dear self, and you are so altered in
everything except your kindness to your
friend that nothing but the old look can
make me think you are the same dear
Eve we used to call the little pypsy.
But must not tell yom all l think or
you will become vain"
NAY, Cis dear, we will leave that
theme for another time. Now let me
hear some OF your own adventures since
we parted. and how you like France and
Italy"
The daily round Of toll governess
has to undergo would interest you but
little; rather let me hear from you some
Of the characters who are to come upon
the stage for our amusement during the
next few days. For Us, who are doomed
to be lookers.on rather than players in
the game, it is at least some satisfaction
to be able to get q glance behind the
scenes"
Cynical as usual" replied Evelyn;
"hpt here, dearest, you must and shall
&c an actor rs well as spectator iu all
that takes place"
80 know you would have it, love-"
said Cicely, imprintiMg a kiss on her
companion's brow; ''but even the will
Of an heiress cannot command attention
to O needy and almost unfriendly girl"
"It shall! at least in Eldon Hail., said
the beautiful and somewhat willful Eve
lyn; "h;at now for cur programme to-
morrow; wo have grand meet of the
Forwards hounds here, and rave
told papa you must have old Swallow,
unless, indeed, you would prefer rioing
my pet Excelsior. Swallow, they all
say, is r,~ch the better hunter, but he
lis neither so pretty nor so gentle as my
bonny little bay"
"a2w charming" said Cicely; "then
I sha.l have real hunt, and dare say
ride great big, ugly, rawboned hunter
worth ever so much money. Well, Eve,
I must not disgrace him if can help it;
they say I rode we'll as girl when
when had-I mean ere was turned on
the world an orphan. Forgive me, dear;
it's not often give way in this fashion"
And CicelJ seemed for a time quite over
come by her feelings. :.
:'rhere, / am better now" exclaimed
she, after having INDUCED in a good cry,
in which her companion perforce joined
"And tell me, is not this Mr.. Hinton the
master of the hounds, young and very
handsome %'
Young he certainly is; some think
him handsome"
"My Evelyn among the number. Nay
do not blush, dearest; report says you
are already faacse, and why should you
blush at having won the heart Of man
youag, rich, handsome, and in every way
u suitable matcap"
Report, then, asserts what it has no
warrant for saying, assure you"
"Nay; no confessioas to. night" said
the other, kissing her flushed and excit-
ed brow. Il really am weary after my
Journey, and must retire. If there is
nothing in it, the loss Of a mere fox
hunter is very little to a girl in your po-
sition.''
HE is not mere fox hunter, though
I admit him to be very fond of the
sport. and all say he stands unrivslled
as horsemar." =, :, ,
"There, you dear little enthusiast, ]
will concede him anything you like, so
that may not be kept from my pilc'T
to hear his merits @: Gamerits discussed.
Good nightw
We may not follow Cicely Burnett to
her chamber, and catch the thoughts re.
volving through her brain as she lay
that Innocent, fair looking face upon
the pillow. Many scheme, that works
beneath blue eyes and golden rjasiets
might perhaps he unraveled could we 90
SO, but it may not he, end only by the
results can we guess at the speculations
which drove sleep from her pillow. For
| it was an unwilling guest to her. at
| least SO she had told Evelyn next day,
Though the excitement OF meeting an
4 - l.. - F. 49,.