The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1875-05-22

| '"'iISA oO' AHu incS naES sent nln oil
up here, alone, because they thought hC
was going to be sick; and there he is
you see, leaning on father and the driver
and lie can't but just walk. Isn't it q
blamed shame Of these SOuthcrncrsr,
mercy ~ exclaimed Ben's stcp-mothcr
rising, as they all rose, when tho tall, sen,
der figure approached.
Sara looked up with her heart i'm hcr
eyes, to greet her hcro-no less n hero to
her for the pitiiul history Of loss and ruin
that she had just heard.
lie was tail, upright, elegant looking
man, with II fair complexion, large, mel
ancholy blue eyes, long, straight nose,
dropping eyebrows, fac lips, and a firmly
rounded chin, that somewhat counteract-
cd the listlcss sadness of the face. Ills
hair was turning gray, and the heavy,
golden brown mOustachc had one or two
threads Of silver, but with that exception
he wore no look of age.
Elihu WAS we'll but plainly dressed in n
| travelling suit of gray. lie removed his
hat as lie drew near the ladies, with "A
courteous grace; but he lonkcd in vain
for the warm welcome from the second
Mrs. Holmes and her daughter Grace that
he would have received from his own
Mrs. Holmes bowed to him coltlly
though civilly; and Grace, angry with
him and with herself for the sudden col
lapsing of sundHy ambitious hopes which
she had never coniidcd to any one except
her mother, swept him her latest dancing
school courtesy, and affected not to see
the hand he held out.
Elihu COlorcd slightly, and turned to
Soro NrInso l,,.l.
! with II look of tender pity upon his re-
fined and melancholy face.
"IOu have n face that ought to know" "
lie said to her, gently. "You are my cous-
ms child, dear Sara! hoped she would
last"
.Sara's heart was already full, and this
! reference to her dead mother caused her
tears TO overflow.
"Dear Cousin EIihu,': said she, taking
his hand i'll both hers, "my mother remem-
bGred and loved you to the last dav Of her
life. She wonld have been glad indeed
to see you here once more; am glad,
too. All my life long have looked for
ward to your coming"
"But you did not expect to see me re-
turn so poor" said Elihu, signing.
piled Sara fcrvcrtly. "You are here Mt
home once more, and that is enough to
make us all rejoice"
"Aye," said Elihu, looking from her
beaming countcnancc to the cold faces
Of the rest. "I should have been glad
to bring gold enough 10 make me vel
come. But what has happened has hap
pcncd, and | do not wish to complain.
Cousin Joshua, for my cousins sake of
the old times when you and | were boys
together, | suppose You will let me stay
at tho old homestead for few daysl"
"Ehl Oh, To be sure! Stay and well
come" stanmcrcd the farmer, who feel
ing the eyes Of his wife and his daughter
Sara fixed upon him, was like Il man be-
tween two fires.
So ii was settled, and Sara flew about
like good fairy 10 prepare supper for
the wandcrcr, and artcrward, to set in or
der his room and bed. At nine o'clock
he retired, and then the storm burst forth.
The second Mrs. Holmes inquired
slrilly, if their house was to he turned
into "poor farm" and made the abiding
place Of every shiftlcss creature who had
wasted his substance in riotous living
among "thcsc ncgrOcs"-only to come,
at the last, without a penny in his pocket,
L" hc supported by those who had the
misfortune to bc related to him in DIS
tant way.
Mr.. Holmes said, mcckly, that "it
wasn't likely Elihu would want to stay
long, and that as nc had once redeemed
tho farm, which was heavily mortgaged,
with his own money, and given deed Of
the place to his first wife, lie didn't very
well see how hc could refuse him shelter
there if he claimed it-"fOr n time. at
least" he added, ncryously seeing his
wiic's black eyebrows knitting together
in n way that he had learned 10 dread.
Grace upheld her mother in all her de-
nuncntions: though Sara thought, pri-
vatcly, that it would have been more del
icatc had she kept silence, since, as tho
daughter Of Mrs. Holmes by former
marriage, she could moi bc supposed tu
have any great interest, pccuniary or 9th
crwisc, i'll the disposition Of tl!c homestead
farm.
AS for Ben, like most boys of thirteen,
he was on The side orright against might,
and he did not scruplc 10 say that, for his
part, hc hoped Cousin Elihu would stay
forever, and that Inc WIS sure, that if he
redeemed tho farm, he had perfect right
To do so. Ills sister Snrn could have
kissed him for the answer, but she kcpl
| silence.
The days went on. BY every art TINT q
mean and paltry spirit could invent, Mrs
Holmes the second showed plainly tC
Elihu how unwclcOmc lie was beneath hcl
roof.trcc. as for Grncc, slc simply ig
nnrcd him. And Mr.. Holmes, though
hc would gladly have been both grateful
and kind, was so tanned by nightly cur
tain lectures, hours long, that he darct
NOT show tho ruined man any attention
and only looked at him wi5ttully rnw
and then, as ir wondering when he woul,
br gone.
EIihu's plate, knife and fork were placct
upon the table nj every meal, il il true
lie rarcd rs tho rest Jared, and his room
and he'd were the hest in the house.
But this was Sara doing. To her nnt
To Ben he owed each Mnmrnt of happi
ness which he enjoyed in the old house
The sister and her young brother were nj
ways glnd to be with him, but the othr
inmates of the house looked over anr
around him, and even when Ic ntc Of thci
bread and drank Of their cup, seemed n
ir they knew him not. Sara's proud spiri