The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-05
ELEANOR.
A Tale Of Non Performers.

However, she was too happy to be
quarrelsome. The dear boys! She fol-
lowed their gray figures with her eyes
until they were lost to view; and before
night she was crowned with full content;
for she had assured herself that her only
source Of anxiety was groundless. The
master of Blatchworth had still a heart
to offer.
He had actually arrived at her door,
hale, hearty, and disengaged; and at the
end of her solemn exhortatioa on the
duty of remaining so no longer, professed
himself inclined to see it In the same
Light.
And she had surely extended some Of
her sisterly cares to Noli. 1t was dis
- graceful if Noll did not turn into Ben
edict now that he had got that fifteen
hundred pounds out of Aunt Maria.
What could fellow like Noll do with
fifteen hundred pounds9
"For heavens sake, Cis," cried the
careful elder brother, "get him wife, or
he'll go to the devil with itr'
"Hush, hush! you must not talk like
that"
81 didn't mean," said Anthony, peni-
tently. "Isay, one gets into a rough
way of talking, knocking about the
world. Don't you mind, Pm going to stop
it."
"And you are not going to knock
about the world any more"
Then she bargained that they should
60 over with her to call at the Castle on
y the following day. Two days after, shoot
ing would begin, and hours would be
changed, and who could say when the
acquaintance might be made If not at
once; but once seen, she trusted to the
fair sisterhood acting as their own mag
net in the future. But what time that
short intervening two miles took to get
over with such companions, and how hot
and tired was weary Cecil at the end l!
That they started late, that they kept
her waiting for three-quarters Of an hour,
was nothing; she was good-naturedly
disposed to lay the blame on the change
OF toilet which mornings fishing rem
dered imperative; but why need they
lounge, and saunter and turn aside at
every opportunity and finally sit down
to rest by the way-the two great hulk
ing fellows? 1t was but too obvious that
they were being driven against their
will-that had it not been their first day,
and there was no excuse handy, they
would have evaded the expedition. o.
liver sends off after a rabbit, Anthony
cheering him on; they investigate well,
the drink from spring; finally both
leave her to examine a blasted piece OF
rock halfway up the hill.
At length, however, and by dint of pa
tience and urgency combined, the en-
trance gates are reached, and the tolls of
their journey are at an end. So she
hopes fondly-but stay a bit.
II say, Cis."
"Well?
"Anthony and I are just going down
the shore to see about getting a fisher
man for tonight. Anthony never seen
the kind of sea-fshing they have here
You go on and we will overtake you"
'Overtake me! We are now close al
hand"
"Go in, then, and say we are coming
And come they did-after every one
had gone out but Eleanor. The visit
was failure. After an hours waiting
Eleanor, not without some sense of out.
ragged dignity, had sent her sisters away,
and intrenched herself in solitary state
to receive the recusants. Her pretty
goods should not remain for such tardy
appreciation, should not have itsupposed
that the enforced civilty of any guest;
of Cecil's-brothers or not-was grateful
to them. She had the color on her cheek
and the sparkle in her eye when the
drawing-room door opened at last anc
her answer to divers hasty quest rounc
the room, was grim smile of satisfac
ton. ... .
For Oliver, now that he was actually
there, was alive to the merits of the sit
alton; and he had, moreover, caught !
glimpse of an excellent croquet-lawn-
the days of croquet were not yet ended
as he passed through the shrubbery; i
was enough to kindle desire. He was &
renowned player, as he was everything
else that was useful and captivating, an(
if he could have got Anthony, even, fol
an antagonist, would have challenged
him on the spot.
But it appeared that Anthony had MOI
only never playedit, he had actually nev
er seen the game.
However, the players kept him to hi'
word. 1t is to be presumed that lie triec
to learn; that he did seriously incline
his ear to the counsels Of the. wise; but
he made sad hash Of it, nevertheless
So much was taken for granted; SO many
points he expected TO bear in mind
, at once; and such number Of rules anC
regulations mere dlnned into his ear al
the same time, that he must be pardonec
for giving up the attempt and retreatins
III modification to the old-fashioned sun
dial among the bashes, where Eleanor
was mounting guard. "a, ..s.
From this retreat he viewed the com
batants with no very good will. They
had speedily-and he fancied joyfully-
rearranged sides; and he could tell ly
,ba oonerol alacrity and exnectation thf