The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-08
TRAPPED BY AN HEIRESS

A cosier place than the big sitting
room at Hillcrest would have been hard
| to fluid, il one had travelled rom Lands
| Eud to John OGroaps; and on this
eyentful evening, when the destinies OF
TWO people were about taking definite
form-two people who had never seen
each other, ana who were cousins, and
VINO had heard OF each other so much
and so often that both were curiously
| eager to meet--on this important even
| ing the sitting-room at Hillcrest had
never looked pIeasanter or cOsier.
A huge fire OF logs glowed like molten
carbuncles in the open fireplace; on the
table in the center of the floor, whose
cover matched the glowing crimson OF
| the carpet, was silver stand that held
a dozen snowy wax tapers, whose BEAM
ing light contrasted eXquisitely with the
ruddy glow OF the fire.
And beside the table, in big cush-
ioned chair, with his ieet thrust toward
the genial warmth on the hearth, MS
gay dressing.gown sitting comfortably
on his pOrlly form, his gold-rimmed
glasses on his nose, sat the owner and
master Of Hilicrest, Mr.. Ablah Crossing
ton, rich, good natured, and lond Of his
own way.
Opposite him was the mistress of the
place-little, snrewd-Iaced, sharp-nosed,
merry aunt Cornelia, his sister, who,
since her widowhood, had come to Hill
crest TO make her Dacnelor brothers.
home as pleasant as sac could.
That she had succeeded was very evil
dent by the way now in which he looked
up from letter he had been reading
the confidential, kindly way in which he
did it.
"Walter writes curious letter in re.
tnNtr ipNf if.at, Il
spend a few weeks at Hillcrest as soon
as he gets over his fatigue from his ocean
voyage home from his five years tour
abroad. PIl read it to YOU"
He leaned near the soltly-glowing
| lights, and began the short, concise re-
ply Walter Austin had written from his
chambers in the Temple.
"'You are very kind, indeed, Uncle
Abian, to ask me down to Hillcrest Tor
as long as l wish to stay, and can AS
sure you have been SO long a waGderer
that the idea of home is very pleasant TO
me. But when l lake into considera-
tion the peculiar Importance you pro-
pose attaching TO my visit, l am unWiIl-
ing to accept The invitation. To me, the
idea of having my iahcies and inclina-
tions put into harness; and to teet that
am on continual duty to win my way
into The good graces OF my second cou-
sin, Mabel, whom you are good enough
TO want me to marry"
Mrs. Cornelia interrupted sharply
ga biah, you never surely went and
told our grandnephew that you mad in
view his marriage with MabelY
Her tone was energetic, almost repre-
hensive.
"Wny not? l certainly did. l told
him i'll my letter that II was a chance
lor him he'd never get again, and that
he needn't feel under sucn terrible obli-
cations to take a fancy to PhiPs little
Mabel, but to come Gown and be cous-
inly, and ii anything should happen, it'd
be all right all round"
Mrs. Cornelia knitted vigorously, her
lavender cap ribbons qulyering in the
mellow taper glow.
"All l have to say is you're-a fool,
Abiah! Walter is right. A young man
doesn't like to have his fancies and par
Lialities under rein and whip, and tie
very fact that we want him to marry
Mabel will make him indisposeo to do
it. You've made great mistake in The
very beginning"
Mr.. Cressington looked aghast at his
sisters determined lace.
why, really didpt suppose"
"Ol course you didn't. It's only your
Men are all alike. Don't l know them
like book? And you've ruined your
hopes for Mabel and w Walter at the very
outset"
Mr.. Cressington stared discount tedly.
81 am sure L meant it right enough,
Cornelia. l certainly wanted Walter TO
know what little darling our Mabel
is."
every commendable, indeed; only il
you had consulted me about the letter
you sent, should have advised you to say
nothing about Mabel, or her charms, or
her expectations. / should have asked
him simply to come and see US, and have
left the rest to Mabeps blue eyes. You
see, Abiahr
His lips compressed slowly.
~ think see. And my hopes in that
direction are all ruined"
The silver needles clicked rapidly,
and ttfe snowy-white yarn came reeiing
m .rrily of the ball under her arm.