Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1875-01-16
MISCELLANEOUS.
GEORGE REDEsDALE'S PRESENT.
ny p. HENRY DOYLE.

the properly VI bHt itouohuuio fanny 'oi V'oi
century stood small two story cottage,n which
lived Katie Leonard and her mother; the former
life long friend of George Redesdale, the sor
and heir of the estate, and the latter house
teeper and general chore doer at Redesdale
Manor
The Manor was commodious and imposing
Lnildng. erected by the first Of the Redesdales
Nl,o had touched the shores OF America. He had
brought with him to this country plenty OF
,,,rev and the feuda estates of tho old landed
n,ourietors Of England, and had expended both
in the noble structure, whose tower could be
seen rising heavenward for twenty miles up and
Town the river.
run George and two daughters. The pride
f these ladies' was 10 excessive, that they
we're seldom seen outside the limits of their
own home, while George was known far and
near as the possessor Of noble heart and al
most boundiezs pocket The last fact, no doubt,
caused his great popularity, although it was APP
lnrently on account of the former he was sought.
George had long been visitor at the Leon
ards, and Katie was as much to him. If not more,
lhan his own sisters. While still a boy, this
caused little or no remark outside of his own
family who regretted very much his pebeiaii
tastes, but when twenty years had brought their
changes to him. and Katie Leonard was no longer
Il little short-skrted girl OF twelve, the neighbors
often spoke of it, and recollecting that his father
before marriage had been notorious for his gal
untres shook their heads omiiously and said il
luitd the girl no good.
Thus II alters stood when some three years
ago the county was decimated and terrified
by that awful scourge the small pox. 1t had
been holding high carnival i'll the city, and
was now beginning to mark the villages and
rlnling country homes with its terrible WORK.
number were attacked and had died in
Tho little hamlet where the Redesdales did
their shopping, and one of the young ladies hay
lng gone there subsequent to these deaths, a
,flable reign of terror and fearful anticipation
prevailed in consequence at the Manor.
Their fears were in a measure realized. The
disgusting and horrible disease did rnter the
Rcdesdale household. 1t spared. however, the
ian and beautiful features Of the ladies' Of the
Manor, but smote in its tiercest form tho noble
hearted, honest and generous George Redes-
dale.
He had been at the village (some said to carry
food and medicine to an afflicted family and OH
coming home felt the usual symptoms. BY the
same hour of the following day he was raviDg
ilanac.
Had tho scourge laid its heavy hand on the
women themselves, their fright could not have
been greater, veto their dishonor-it was not
the dread Of losing one whom they loved that
scared them, but the conviction that their resi-
dence beneath the same roof, exposed them to
the power of the plague.
This feeling finally became 30 strong, they
left his sole care to Mrs. Leonard and retired to
an isolated part of the building with an
I'D colored servant and ceased all inter
course with the outward world. Mrs. Leonard,
though she severely criticised the conduct OF
Mrs Redesdale and her daughters, was untirng
nj her attentions to the sick man, aud with the
aid of Katie, who rarely left his bedside night or
day, they VIGOROUSLY combatted the enemy and
restored George to health.
During his convaescence he became acquaint-
cd with the sef-sacrfcing heroism of Kate
Leonard and the despicably unworthy conduct
VI his own kindred. He made no comment on it
however, yet almost involuntarily turned his
face away when they congratulated him and
thanked Heaven for his preservation.
In II little while | o WAS aud about again.
but had lost many traits oil character which once
characterized him. His visits to the village were
not 20 frequent, his once frank brotherly treat
Ment OF his sister gave way to more constralnt
and etiquette, and Katie Leonard, when she met
him. could not but notice, as did others, that
she was more than girl to him henceforth-and
the liking for her which WAS once al summers
coud--was part of his life and nature evermore.
One holiday season had passed while Redes-
dae was moaning and tossing in the agonies of
deirum on his sick bed, and the year was well
INTO the spring before he had risen from it,
The golden glories OF summer now came and
vanishedthe changing colors-and the faded
leaves Of autumn disappeared at the breath of
the coming winter, and once more the grand old
season of love and merriment doomed up near in
the future
1t had been common with the Redesdale fam
lily OF former generations, to invite the people
OF the vicinity to grand party given in the
large hall of the Manor, and distributes gifts
among them on Christmas Eve. The present
representatives had allowed it to fall into dsuse,
but az proper recognition of the sympathics OF
the people for their misfortune OF the previous
year, they resolved on reviving it. Invitations
we're accordingly sent to those of their neighbors
who were likely to accept, and Christmas Eve
was ushered in, within the old walls of Redes-
dale Manor, with a Joy and merriment that had
long been strange TO them.
Through the evening, Mrs. Redesdale, ac-
companied by the parson of the district, her
daughters, and a young lady who YVES only
remarkable for the efforts she made to engross
George Redesdale's company, mingled with the
guests aud distributed various little gifts to the
Young folks, and presents OF more substantial
nature to those OF maturer years. 1t was OBJ
served with great surprise by many that neither
kate Leonard nor her mother were i'll the COM
pany, and the absence of George iedesdald dur
ing the latter part of the night might also have
been noticed had the fun only stopped long
enough to notice anything.
The hands on the clock were drawing near
twelve, and housewives who knew they would
have to rise early the next day, were beginning
To think of home-wnen the doors leading from
the second parlor were thrown open and George
Redesdale-Katie Leonard dressed in wedding
robes leaning on his arm followed by Mrs.
Leonard clerical-looking person dressed in
black and several female friends entered the
room. Their appearance caused considerable
conmoton, but without heeiing 1t the little
cortege moved to where Mrs. Redesdale was
standing with her more select guests, almost
petrifed with establishment. Here they halted
aud George taking Katie's hand, and turning to
hs mother said
Mother. allow me to offer you Christmas
dft-my wife, Catharine Redesdale."
Katie courtsied as graceful as a true lady-as
the spectators said-and did not seem in the
least embarrassed at the dark looks and confused
manner of her future mother-in-law.
George, half smiling at the effect of his an
nuuncement ON his kindred and the company,
continued:
g Last Christmas you may recollect, mother
was dying. Mrs. Leonard and my Katie here,
saved my life. l was but too thankful that |
was still among the living, and sought for some
means to show it. Their kindness and care Of
me had been beyond computation, 30 l could
not measure my return by the paltry rule of dol
lars and cents Failing of everything else, Of
ferred myself, and the love and devotion of my
whole life. She accepted the gift, and in yonder
toom--that it might not be said Redesdale was
forced to marry out of his own home-we have
oven now been made man and wife. She will
make this her home henceforth and know you
both, mother and SISTERS will make my wife
welcome.
The presence of the clerical gentleman, and
her sons manner, seemed to impress Mrs.
Redesdale deeply and much of her stately dig
nifty disappeared as George ceased speaking.
She then came forward and kissing Katie in
more motherly and kindly way than she had
Iaau bnfnr Gp, tn tyal cd