The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-01-04
Trapped by an Heiress.


to fiud, if one had travelled from Lands /
End to John O'Grats; and on this /
eventful evening, when the destinies Of .
two people were about taking definite .
form-twO people who had never seen /
each other, and who had heard Of each /
other so much aud 20 often that both /
were curious 10 meet-On this important I
evening the sitting-rOOm at Hiilcrest I
had never looked pleasanter or cosier.
A huge fire of logs glowed like mol
ten carbuneles IN the open fireplace; on
the table in the center Of the floor,
whose cover matched the glowing Grim
son Of the carpet, -,s a silver stand that
held a dozen snON wax tapers, whose
beaming light CO. asted exquisitely
with the ruddy glow Of the fire.
Aud beside the table, in big, cush-
toned chair, vith his feet thrust toward
the genial warmth on the hearth, his
gay dressing-gOwn sitting comfortably
on bis portly form, his gold-rimmed
glasses on his nose, sat the owner and
master Of Hillcrest, Mr. Abel Crossing
ton, rich, good-natured, and fond Of his
own way.
Opposite him was the mistress Of the
place-little, shrewd-faeed, sharp-nosed,
merry Aunt Cornelia, his sister, who,
ENNNE NlEN " ANWM AWNAr AAaA EUAAAE u ALAAA-
crest to make her bachelor brothers
home as pleasant as she could.
That she had succeeded was very evil
dent Dy the way now in which he looked
up from a letter he had been reading
the confidential, kindly way in which
he did it.
"Walter writes a curious letter in re-
sponse 10 my invitation TO come aud
spend few weeks at Hillcrest as soon
as be gets over his fatigue from his five
years tour abroad. pli read il TO you"
He leaned near the sOftly-giOwing
lights. and began the short, concise re-
ply Walter Austin had written from
his chambers 10 the Temple.
"You are very kind, indeed, Uncle
Abiah, to ask me down to Hillcrest for
a. long as / wish 70 stay, and can as
sure you have been so long a wanderer
that the idea of home is very pleasant
to me. But when / take into consider
alton the peculiar Importance you pro-
pose attaching to my visit, 1 am IN
willing to accept the invitation. To
me, the fdea OF having my fancies and
inclinatiOns put into harness, aud TO
feel that / am on continual duty 10 win
my way into the good graces Of my sec
ond cousin, Mabel, whom you are good
enough to want me to marry
Mrs. Cornelia interrupted sharply
"Abiah, you never surely went and
told our grand nephew that you had IN
view his marriage with Mabel 2n
Her tone was energetic, almost repre-
hensive.
"Why not2 / certainly did. 1 told
him in my letter that il was a chance
for him he'd never get again, and that
be needn't feel under such terrible obli-
cations to take a fancy 10 PhlPs little
Mabel, but to come down and be cous.
inly, aud if anything should happen, it'd
be all right all round.n
Mrs. Cornelia knitted vigorously, hei
lavender cap-ribbOns quivering ia the
mellow taper glow.
"All 1 have TO say is you re-a fool
Abiah Walter is right. A young mat
doesn't like to have his fancies and par
tialities under rein and whip, and tn,
very fact that we want him to marry
will make him indispOsed 10 do il
You've made a great mistake in tn,
very beginning"
Mr.. CressingtOn looked aghast at hi
sisters determined face.
"Why, / really didn't suppose
"Of course you didn't. II is only you
natural stupidity, you dear old fellow
Men are all alike. Don't j know then
like a book ? And you've ruined you
hopes for Mabel and Walter at the verl
outset"
Mr.. Cressington started diseomfitedly
u am sure l meant it right enough
Cornelia. / certainly wanted Walter t
know what little darling our AIabe
is"
every commepdable, indeed; only
you bad consulted me about the lette
you sent, 1 should have advised you {,
say nothing about Mabel, or her charm
or her expectations. I should hav,
asked him simply to come and see Us
and have left the rest TO MRbeps blui
eyes. You see, Abiah ?"
His lips compressed SLOWLY
81 think l see. Arss5rfny hopes in tha
direction are altruined %
Inc SILVER needles clicked rapidly
u-the snowy-white yarn came reelins
merrily off the ball under ber arm.
mot at all. Leave il to me, and III
see what eau be done. Trust a woman
wit TO get even blundering old fellow
like yourself out Of a scrape."
She smiled and nodded, aud locke,
altogether so mischievous, that Mr.
Cressington became quite excited owe
her little mystery.
DO explain, COrnelia ~
Aud when she explained" he leane'
back IN bis chair, with an expression o
positive awe and admiration on hi
face.
d" What a woman you are. Cornelia!
declare u beats anything l ever hear
in my life %
After dusk Of a glorious winter day
with here and there a star twinkling IL
the pale gray sky, and the lights an,
the fires in the Hiilcrest sitting room
making an eloquent welcome 10 Waite
Austin as he stood in the midst Of thl
lonely home circle, tail, geutlemanly
handsome, aud self-possessed.
Old Mr.. Cressington was in his riches
humor as he led forward two younl
girls.
"Come, don't be shy, now. Walter
this is your cousin, Mabel Cressinpton
aud this is her good friend and INSOFAR
able Irene Vance, come 20 help enter
tain you. My nephew, Mr. Walter Aus
tin, girls. And this is Aunt Cornelia-
you remember her well enough. bev p
And so the presentation was merrill,
got over, and Walter found himself a
home In the most pleasant family h,
ever had known.
They were pretty girls, with blue eve
although Miss Nauceis were deeid.-fl,
the deeper blue and more bewitcbins-
aud lovely yellow gold hair. altbon9,
Walter found himself admirinp IN
style OF Miss Nouce's coiflure before h,
had known her an hour, and when IN
went up 10 his room that night ne fel
as IL, between the two, rogui-h NTaba
and sweet little Irene, be never ,youI.
come out heartwhole.