New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-05-16

Aunt Maria too. Oil beg your par
don.
Uncle George threw down his paper
and looked smilingly at her.
''Does your mamma ever speak of me2"
Constantly, perpetually," said Edith,
her voice still little choked.
l"And what does she say of me?"
"She says that you are the dearest,
kindest, warmest-hearted, most sweet
dispositioned old gentleman existing, she
says you have been agallant officer and
loyal-hearted soldier" Edith's' eyes
kindied. 'tAnd / have heard how you
distinguished yourself in India, and II
am very glad to see you Uncle George"
ayes, yes, he is all that" said he, with
enthusiasm.
l''What? who?" asked Edith, confused
l''My father-I-I-I mean my son"
'Poor Georgel he was a most distin-
gqished soldier also. wish had known
him. No, Uncle George, L won't speak
so, / do not wish to pain you"
81 like to hear all you tell me about
him, my dear"
81 have only heard how good soldier
he was, and that he was SO handsome and
so good"
f'And had he faults and deferts?"
Edith looked surprised.
ri used to hear that he was corceited.
''No, no." said Uncle George, hastily;
he never was that. He was proud, /
grant perhaps too proud-but never con-
ceited.
ePoor George" sighed Edith; 81 had
SO. looked forward to.knowing him."
Had you really?"
FYes; / never had companion of my
own age. Do tell me, shall like my
cousins at Hatton?
~ think so, some Of them; do you
mean Uncle Johns daughters or his step
children?"
Both"
II think you will like Mary, tolerate
Susan, abhor Agatha, admire Jane and
adore Alice"
t'Alice is the adorable one, is she?" said
Edith, laughing; ''and is she the one they
say is so pretty?"
f'Oh no; poor Alice is deformed, and
can never leave the sofa; but she has the
sweetness of an angel, and the courage of
martyr; she is notin the least pretty"
sob, what trial always on the sofaP'
''Whst sweet little thing this isl"
thought Uncle George, but he said
nothing.
''How comes it that you know none of
your cousins?" he said, suddenly. =,
f'Why do you want me to tell you what
you know SO much better than do, Uncle
George2"
''Yes, yes, of course; but naturally L
want to know the side ofyour story. Have
you never been at Hattop2"
''Never; and thought it SO very kind
of you to induce Uncle John to persuade
mamma to let me go.
Eyes; l thought you know, that few
companions Of your own age would do
you good. How old are your
did you not get mammals letter in
which she told you that was to beeight-
cen tomorrow"
''No; it must have been late. 1 never
heard of it.
Chow very unfortuuatel Then no one
will know l am coming. She asked you
toltell Uncle John about the train and
things"
'tah, ali! that letter! oh, of course, that
is all right. don't-I-I sometimes don't
read letters through"
Edith laughed.
II will tell you one version of my story.
Mamma being paps's widow, and papa
having been the eldest son, had to leave
HAtton when l was born and turned out
to bea stupid little girl, and she went
abroad because she was so delicate and
became Roman Catholic"
''Halloa!"
''What is it, Uncle George?"
''You are not one, HOPPER
Edith looked rather indignant t'It is
very odd of you to say that" she said,
"When you know as we'll as | do all that
you did about it; indeed shall never
forget your kindness. was very unhap-
Ply when mamma wanted me TO change,
and Uncle Johns letters and all Aunt
Maria wrote made il worse than ever, only
your letters made all smooth, and mamma
was so much touched by the one you
wrote to her about papa's trust in her and
my not being hers only, and all that, that,
indeed, / have always loved you, you
have seemed to me like my own dear
father"
81 am very glad, my dear child, and
hope that in future you will be guided by
my advice
81 hope l shall see great deal Of you,
Uncle George, for know how fond
shall be of you, for my mother loves you
dearly
cit is very kind Of her."
"And do yon know, since we came to
live in England, have never paid sin
gle visit, or been for one week away from
home. oh, it is such fun going to Hat
toni Do my cousins rider.
Eyes, great deal; are you fond Of it,"
II love it; there is nothing in the world
to me like good gallop. All, it was the
greatest trial of my life when Queen Nab
was soldI