The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-09-04

lQuettlSh sometimes, ana lohu "a iu"i ""'
neither VAIN nor trivolus
Weir and | were at Wyandia--snch was
the name of III. Blaxland's pacc-.somelimes
as ofton sc twice aweek, and we were Away
sure of q kindly, unceremonious welcome
M one understood better hoS to entertain
their friends than John Oakland and his wife,
and this without seeming to make nuch cl-
tori IN 50 doing.
AS may be supposed Ella Oakland had
MANY admirers but for long time no one OF
these seemed to find special favor in her sight
Nothing could ever be detected in her man
pcr whereby you could gather that she rrgaT-
6ed one with more fricndlness than another.
When such signs did disappear, as they ana
let,last, it was in favor OF a comparative suan'
ger in the district one who had bu' lateiJ
come amongst US. This was matter OF no
small chagrin to some OF Elias oIu aollI'
ers; but certainly the new conner had many
lof The personal qualities such as frequently
recommend a man to ladies eyes. Leonard
Hamcrton had established himself as sole.
Iitor in IYillouchby. Previous to his coming
To this district he had been for number OF
wears in a well known solicitors hrm in
,Sydney. ard brought with him letters OF in
PRODUCTION 10 most of the better class families
lin the town. Mr. IIamerton was = tall, we'll
made rather slight man, with fine brown halr
and eyes, and fresh color lie mad ready
fluent address. helped by meodIous voice ;
and his manners were easy, assured, ana per
,ectlv well bred. He possessed accomplish
mems, too, which, if not deep, were OF an
Iemiuently useful and effective kind, Such AZ
win favor in average society lie couid sing
and perform on the piano with taste ana skill
kne,y whist and most other games OF cards
thoroughly, played croquet with de&terouS
| I H. ;; in n
her that rather astonlshed some Of the young
fellows who thought they knew something in
that wav. Ilamerton was prudent man
lie knew exactly the limits of his own
strength, and never attempted anything be.
yond his own range. His country rivals
were never successful N tempting him into
any Of the sports III which they believed
! themselves the stronger. He had decided OBJ
iectons to being seen a. II disadvantage
Soon after his arrival in Wlloughby, Ham
erton became frequent visitor at Wyandra,
and it was not long before his name was men
toned % that Of Miss Baxland's tavortc suit
or. At first regarded this rs an idle rumor.
| Other young men at different times had earn.
cd tins distinction, and each had tn turn Gui-
city lost it. But by and by, both DICK Weir
and myself thought we saw signs that tue
/ popular rumOr was at last about to be Verliied.
! Ella BlaXiand seemed TO be regarding Leon
ard Ilamcrton with favor greater than that
which she extended 10 others. This was not
very marked but to us, who were 80 frequent
lily about the house, il became sufficiently so
to be hardly mlstakeble. | dlul like 1t my
self, for no reasons of personal KIND, FOR l
| had never looked upon Ella Oakland IN any
other light than that Of friend, and my
warmer affections were directed elsewhere,
1. Il ifr't 1nh Tara for
Iamerton | had reason to believe, though
he said little about It, that the sentiments
with which | regarded him were shared In
great measure by Dick Weir,
1t was about two months after Hamerton
had come to Willonghby that little tde was
held at Wyandra in honor Of Elias twentieth
birthday. It was Intentionally quiet little
festival and those who met to celebrate it
were none but the more intimate friends of
the family. But we were very merry and
pleasant party We met early in the after
noon of lovely day in the end OF April,
which it may be necessary TO remind English
readers, is the Australian autumn, | remem-
Der the day byreaso of a slight circumstance
| OF which | alone was witness, n circumstance
which was revelation to me at the time,
and which alterevents recalled 10 my mem
ory with added significance, During the
afternoon, the larger portion Of our party were
engaged IN Croquet, while some wandered
about the garden, talking and ldling away
the bright hours. Ella Blaxland was look
ing especially bright and charming; gay, AMI
mated and happy, rs benefited the occasion
She was dressed simply, IN some SOFT, light,
AIRY material, with bits of delicate blue rib.
bon here and there about her person, and a
loop of the same interviewer amid her halr.
! Thorn arr otlpr UirIa nrpgppt with npupnl-
able claims to beauty, but Ella moved among
them like little princess, though with no air
of CONSCIOUS superiority Leonard llamer-
ton was at his best to-day, cxerting his ut
most powers of pleasing. Sparkling, witty,
and carelessly gay, he infused mirth into oil
our diversions, and was confessed by some,
tacitly, by others, openly, to be tho life and
spirit Of our party.
We were Just bringing our croquet contest
to close preparatory to adjourning indoors
for tea when Miss BlaXland had discovered
that she had lost one of her ribbons with
which the sleeves of her dress were fastened
at the wrist Search was made by all of us
over the croquet ground, but IN VAN. 1t was
very strange where the bright knot of ribbon
could have hidden itself on that smooth,
level sward, and we were all sure that Ella
had both her wrist ribbons on when we be-
gan our game. Then | suddenly recalled
that had seen Dick Weir, who had not Ia
4 ken part IN the game, but had been acting rs
umpire to us, stoop once whilewe were play,
ing, and pick up something from the ground,
which he hastily placed in the breastpocket
j of his coat. l merely thought, at the time,
d that II was something of his own which he
had dropped; but now 1t occurred to me
with convincing force that twas nothing else
flthan Elias ribbon which he had picked uD.
,lThst explained the haste with which he had
| hidden it away, Aminute or two before Ell.
D Ia had missed it, Dick, his services no longer
1 required by Us, had s,rolled away in the dl.
/ rec,on of the house. ! said nothing, for
/. was resolved TO keep my friends secret.
I What had seen now put things in q new
Y light $50" thought, ais that how tho land
;, llesT Poor Dick felt genuinely sorry for
! him. If he had any hope of ever winning
4 Ella Blsxland's affections, felt he was doom
It cd to disappointment. But surely he knew
Z this himself by this time.
r That evening, as Dick and rode home to.
V gether from Wyandra in the moonlight,