The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-03

What would they do without herY"
cried Cecil, Alexander's blythe, busy
young wife. ''She is mother and more
to those young girls. Without Eleanor
they would be lost"
1t was time, however, that some of the
fair maids, who we're really now in the
prime of their youth and beauty, should
take fight from the paternal nest, and
be ornaments to other spheres.
'D2t is growing very pretty" said Ce-
Gil to Eleanor, apart.
every pretty"
''She looks nearly as old as Kate"
"Quite."
at is rather awkward for all four of
them being out" very softly.
"Ye-es."
T-I expected Eleanor, did not your
that-all-the elder ones would not have
been at home-when Puss and Dot grew
upp'
On which followed solemn maternal
conclave, sacred and secret, but not with
out results, as we shall see. Cecips
cheeks we're burning when it came to an
end at last, and she could scarce forbear
dancing along the road as she ran home
to her chicks. Eleanor had smiled on
her suggestion.
Eleanor's smile had seemed at once to
stamp it with authority; for the BROTH
ers wife was to the full as much i'm
pressed with the awful majesty of our
dark-haired autocrat, as were any of the
party; she had felt that if she could
venture to whisper to Eleanor the dear
delightful idea which had come into her
head, and if Eleanor would only approve
1T might actually come to mean some
thing. What the idea wasgwill rsoon ap-
pear. 1t was not many days after ere
she flew into the morning room, where
all were assembled, and painted forth, re
gardless of their presence:
"Oh, Nelly dear, he is really coming"
Eleanor frowned. The young ones
would be enlightened-and this was
strong meat for men, not milk for babes.
Her quiet "Who is coming" carried
warning in its tone.
Nor was Cecips "Oh, my brother, "fol-
lowed by "You know told you, Nelly"
without its due apology.
"Your brother Anthony. Yes, I know,
Of course"
Circumspection being thus restored,
she could now, without fear, show in
terest and cordiality. m
you must be pleased, indeed, Cecil.
How long is it since you have met?'
"Since before we were married-before
we were even engaged, Eleanor! Think
of that! Alexander has never seen An
thOny-never once"
| "And he is coming home for goedw
| eyes, for good. He is on his way now,
and he is to live at Batchworth. It is
B,tchworth that has brought him; we
should never have seen his dear face for
years and years, dare say, if he had no
home to come to; but now that Batch
worth is his--ah, poor Johnp'
But John had been only cousin. and
Anthony was brother; it was hardly
in human nature not to view Johns
death through some of the light of An
thongs recall. If John had lived, then
might Anthony have been as good as
dead, for all they ever saw Of him-and
might, at least, have actually have come
TO his end in those horrid places over the
seas, uncared for, cut off from all. She
found it difficult even to stop and think,
"Ah! poor John!"
1t may be that her transports we're
rather too often repeated; it is possible
that she did not harp upon the subject
somewhat; for certainly her husband,
who had at first been pleased and inter-
ested even to as great an extent as she
could wish, grew taciturn. r...
"Of course l am glad, my DEAR" he
was at length driven to affirm with un-
necessary emphasis; 'but you make
hum-so very sure of it. You never let
one hear anything else. And how can
you tell that hundred things may not
turn up to stop your brotherY
"Cruel man, to try to damp mew
'I am not damping you, as you call 1t
I-only preventing your being over.
much vexed and disappointed if any
thing should happen. And lots of things
might happen, you know, if you would
Ouly allow yOuIScll w Idkt tHcH lnUO aC-
count. Anthony is an uncertain fel-
low"
"That he is not!''
"And he would never dream of pat
ting himself about, should say, in order
ito be here to set time. Suppose the
weather is disagreeable-as it has been
abominably squally lately-ten to one he
would wait till it was more settled. Or
he may take a fancy for peep at the
seat of war by the way. 1t is a mis-
take to reckon ON man who has no
ties"
"Ah, but he has ties. He has me and
Oliver
Brothers and sisters don't go for
much." Is <4 GQts4
"He has Blatchworth.' ss
"That is more to the purpose Blatch-
worth will draw him to Blatchworth,
undoubtedly. But Blatchworth being a
thing, not a persona thing without
feeling or expectation incapable of hurl-
ing reproaches-it can very well wait.
Blatchworth can hardly be called tie"
Il - 4 E..