Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-01-01
For the INDEPENDENT.
UN KNOW
A New-Year's Story.
BY RUGBY.

EulUU eIut Scctucu W nave DCCh
sent by divine appointment to Earn
don. Governess gone, no one to take
her place, and as Matte Earndon
the Squire's young lady sister, ex-
pressed herself, "a lot of young Arabs
let loose to tear over Deepdale village
and the surrounding country" In
answer to an advertisement in 1.-THE
Times came Edith's letter accom-
panied by references from DR.. Porter
and Casper Granville, old acquain-
tances of the elder Earndons, and
was hailed with true delight by the
entire family.
The summer sun is slipping down,
The NAPLES in the halle glade,
Throw down the path longer shade,
And the hills are growing brown,
as the numbering old stage coach de-
posted Edith at the lawn gate of
Earndon. The surroundings were,
to the most casual observer, of more
than ordinary beauty; and to an aes-
thetic mind like Edith's, awake to
eyery impression of the beautiful in
art or nature; life whose thousand
strings vibrated in glad melody, re-
sponsive to the tenderest touch of
natures fingers, they were magnifi-
cent. Long and enthusiastically she
gazed on the picture before her, her
pulse thrilling with briSht anticipa-
lions of the happy future. Situated
in grove OF lofty trees, in the fore
ground, rose Earndon Hall surround
ed by wide piaZzas, wreathed with
vines and creepers. Up, up, up,
wound a serpentine path, through
rocks and bushes, now disappearing
to reappear higher and finally termi-
mating at an old stone building crown
ing the precipitous hill in the back
ground. With wide doorways and
high, antique looking windows stand
ing out in bold relief against the
evening sky, framed by two stately
elms, whose interlacing boughs let
down the checkered sun and shadow,
it looked like some old English Alb
bey which had been transported by
enchantment from its ''home across
the sea- to the beautiful and pictar-
esque banks of the Hudson.
Fair as a poets dream ~ bursts
from the lips of the delighted girl.
"Bravo," comes in jolly, masculine
tones from somewhere near. Tnrn-
ing flushed face, with startled, in
dignant gray eyes, she saw lying on
the lawn, Just inside the wall, lazy
looking, handsome young man, with
a pipe in one hand and a Panama hat
in the other, quizically regarding her.
Byron leaned in classic attitude
against the gnarled root of tree,
while Scott and Robbie Burns" lay
peacefully together near by. Hap
py to be the first to welcome you TO
Earndon, Miss Verne" continued
the figure rising and opening the gate
with an alacrity not at all in keeping
with the apparent Incidence OF the
preceding moment.
"To whom am | indebted for such
unexpected applause 7" inquired
Edith, rather irritated by the mock
deferential look in the dark brown
eyes which met hers.
Cecil Earndon, miss; begging
pardon for interrupting you; but
your enthusiasm was contagious.
This old place, where my fathers
dwelt, is very dear to me; from all
my wanderings, always return with
renewed love tor my boyh0Od's home.
L uOpc yOu VIII llhO ~ DCClOi "hOH
you see more of it,"
"Perhaps so good evening, SIR"
throwing as much Indignation as
possible into her peaceful gray eyes,
she walked on towards the Hall with
all the dignity her eighteen years
and slight girlish figure were capa-
BILE of assuming. Yes, assuming /;
for dignity, as defined by some peo-
pie, was not an everyday attribute of
our heroine.
While travelling among the orange
groves of the "Sunny South" Col.
Verne had met and wooed dark
eyed southern maiden, and had ia
ken her to his northern home. The
Colonel and his bride lived happily
and luxuriously until her death,
which occurred some years after,
when Edith was placed at board
ing school, where she remained until
the death of her father, one year pre-
vious to the time our story begins.
He left nothing in this world but
Edith, whom he bequeathed to an
only brother. This legacy did not
prove as acceptable as bank stock or
bonds, hence we find the orphan at
Earndon as governess.
But to return. Her reception at
the Hall by the owner, Matte and
Mrs. EarndOn, was more to her lik-
ing. at least she told herself, than
was Cecil's impromptu greeting.
She soon became as completely do
mesticated as the birds which flew
around the windows. Her duties,
it's true, were somewhat irksome,
and her four curly headed pupils were