The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-03
ELEANOR.
A Tale Of Nom Performers.

rampant, boisterous youth, being very
nearly twenty-eight years Of age;
and as she was neither a beauty nor a
fortune, few people took the trouble
to tell her that she did not look so much.
A thoughtful expression, and easy fig
ure, and pair of fine eyes constituted
her chief outward claims to notice; but
then she was widow, aud one who had
also been a mother-it was felt that they
were quite sufficient for any purpose her
life could afford. on
/. She had convenient income, good
health, and a tolerably whole heart;
since, although her marriage undoubted-
" had been one of affection, it had not,
perhaps, yielded the entire fruition of
happiness anticipated. 1t had been en-
tered into after brief acquaintance,
and under peculiar circumstances. The
single child that had been born to her
had died in infancy; and there had been
five years of uninterrupted companion
ship with an amiable, ordinary young
man, who attended to his profession
diligently, took his recreations punctu-
ally, loved his wife sincerely, and ate
his dinner heartily. His wishes had al
ways been moderate, and bis habits re-
spectable--si he had comfortable
home and an excellent business he asked
no more; his ambition did not extend
beyond returning the hospitalities Of his
neighb0rs in style equal to theirs, and
paying the bills afterward without a
groan.
A groove which had suited him so we'll
was, unfortunately, scarcely that which
youthful imagination had painted for
Eleal.or. Her tastes were different from,
her mind was superior to his; her fancy
was warm; and Of knowledge Of the
world she had none whatever.
That would have taught her to be duly
content With the comfortable roof which
sheltered her, with modest luxury Of her
surroundings, with the dainties on her
table, the carriage at her dOor--to esti-
mate these as far better things, far more
solid, tangible benefits, than congeniality
of taste and harmony of purpose. As it
was, she had just sense enough to keep
her longing for fripperies out Of sight;
and to accept her lot without saying to
any living creature that it, had disap-
pointed her.
Nothing had been less dreamed of, less
anticipated, than the early and sudden
death which had left her, at twenty-five,
a widow; and astonished and astray as
she then felt, it was not at once that she
could realize the absolute termination Of
that episode in her history which had
seemed so fixed, 50 immutable, and for
which she had been so manifestly unfit.
1t had been more Of shock than sor-
row.. '"
Time, however, did his work with mar
velous rapidity. In spite Of herself, the
glow returned to Eleanor's cheek, and
light to her eyes, almost too soon; and
in spite of the jealous guard maintained
over the past, it might have been OBJ
served that, with the sense Of grief and
loss, other feeling had indubitably min
gled.
Eleanor could not pretend part;
but, luckily for her, one was not needed.
No suspicious had ever entered the
breasts Of the four pretty sisters over
whom it was ordained that she should
return to hold vice-maternal sway. Their
mother had died many years before; and
on the return Of the widow to her early
home at the expiration Of her married
life, she found Kate, aged twenty-one,
Julia, twenty, Puss and Dot, respectively
seventeen and fifteen, all inclined to look
upon her in the light of parent, obey
her edicts without hesitation, and regard
her with an affection in which respect
was largely mingled. ....
The emancipation Of the younger two
from school-room bondage, and the ad-
vanceihent of the elder ones to maturer
years, made no difference in the position
thus at first established. Eleanor was
guide, guardian, counselor-and to their
father they we've net one-half 20 submis-
sive.
Mr.. Crichten did not, indeed, exact
submission. He was an indulgent, easy
going man, who, although he had not op-
posed his eldest daughters choice, had
been afterward as we'll pleased as deeency
I, would permit that the union should be
!. dissolved by death, and that he should
hear no more about 1t.
His son had made far more suitable
match, and Alexander had two fine boys
4 That was of Importance. He had but
one son; and if Alexander had thrown
himself away or had been childless, it
would have been d terrible business. But
! Eleanor was only one Of the girls; and
as matters had turned out, no great
damage had been done.
He had now Ill his family about him
again, and he liked that. He could walk to
Alexanders, it was but two miles, sit
for half an hour, pursue his way, and be
home in time for dinner, with the agree
able feeling that he had done his duty,
and that it had scarcely cost him an ef-
fort. s. b., n AZ q. 4s
When the boys were. old enough, he
would send them to school at his own
expense; i; until then he ecould supply them
with barley-sugar Drops and even il he