Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-05-21


A cosIer place than the big sitting room
at Hillcrest would have been hard to find. i
if one had travelled from Lands End to
John O'Groat's; and this even,ful evening.
when the destines Of two worthy people
were about taking definite forn-two peo-
pie who had never seen each other, and
who had heard of each other so often that
both were curiously eager 10 meet--on this
important evening the sitting-room at Hill
crest had never looked pleasantcr or CO.
sicr
A huge lire Of logs glowed like molten
carbuncles IN the open fireplace; On the
table in the centre of the floor, whose cover
matched the glowing crimson OF the carpet,
was silver stand that held dozen snowy
wax tapers, whose beamiA Ag light contrastcd
exqrlsitely with the ruddy glow OF the
FIRE.
Beside the table, in a big cushioned
char, with his feet thrust toward the genial
| wal NTH on the hearth, his grey dressing
gown sitting comfort ably on his spOrtly
| form. his gold-1immcd glasses on his nose,
sat the owner and master of Hillcrest, MIR.
! Abiah Gre ssington, rich, good-natured, and
| fond of his own way. Opposite him was
the mistress of the place-lttle, shrew-faced
merry Aunt Cornela, Lis sister, who,
| since her wldowhood, has come to Hillcrest
| to- make her bachelor brothers. home as
| pleasant as she could.
That she had succeeded was evident by
the way now III which he looked up from
a letter he had been reading-the contiden-
tial, kindly way in which he did it.
"Walter writes curious letter in response
to md q 10 W
weeks at Hillcrest as soon as he gets over
his fatigue from his ocean voyage home,
after his five years tour abroad. I'll read
it to you
He leaned over the softly glowing light,
and began the short, concise reply that
Walter Austin had written from his cham
Der in the Temple:
You are very kind, indeed, Uncle
Ablah, to ask me down to Hillcrest tor as
long as | wish to stay. and l can assure
you that have been SO long a wanderer
that the idea of home is very pleasant to
me. But when take into consideration
the peculiar Importance you propose at.
} ,aching to my visit, am unwilling to &C
cent the invitation. To me the idea OF
having my fancies and lnclinations pu
into harness. and to feel that am on con
tinual duty to win my way into the gooe
graces of my second cousin, Mabel, whom
YOU are good enough to wish me L
marry"
, Mrs. Cornella interrupted sharply
''Abiah, you never went and told ou
! grand nephew that you had IN view hi
marriage with Mabels''
Her tone was energetic, almost repre-
hensive.
"Whv nots | certainly did. l toll
him in my letter that it was chance 70
him he'd never get again, and that b
t needn't feel under such terrible obligation
to take a fancy to Phll's little Mabel, but t
come down and be cousinly, and If any
thing should happen. it'd be right a
, around,
Mrs. Cornela knitted vigorously, he
lavender cap ribbons quivering in the me
J, low taper glow.
'Al ! have to say Is, you re-a 100
Allah. Walter is right. A young ma
/. doesn't hike to have his fancies under rel
and whip, and the very fact that we war
him to marry will make him indisposed
do it, You've made great mistake in IL
beginning.
Mr. Cressington looked aghas, at his ST
q ter's determined face.
d .Why, l really didn't suppose
:. ''Of course you didn't. It's only yot
}. natural stupidity, you dear o.d fellow
y Men are all alike. Don't l-know them hb
{: a book. And youve ruined your hope
o for Mabel and Walter at the very outset.
- Mr.. Cressington started discomfited dly.
n Il am sure | mean it all right enougl
!; Cornelia. | certainly wanted Waiter
u know what little darling our Mabel |
and what piCe little wife she would mal
for any man."
VERY commendable. indeed; only.
YOU had consulted ME upon the letter yt
send should have advised you 10 say not
= Ing shout Mabel or her charms, or her e
pectations. should have SIMPLY ask,
hlm to come and see Us, and have left L
~ rest 10 Mabel's blue eyes. You see no'
NJ AbiaL;-
cd HIS frs compressed slowly.
Il think see And my hopes III III
direction are ali ruined
( The silver psedles clicked rapidly, 81
the snew. white yarn came reeliug merrill
of the ball under her arm.
Not q, all. Leave that 10 me, and
see what can be done. Trust Il woman
= Wit 10 get even laundering d fellow Ii
-. yourself out Of a scrape.
,st She smiled and nodded, ana looked al
In ge,her So nlischievous that Mr.. CressiI
ny ton became quite excited over her lii
III. mystery.
an an DO explain, Cornelia.
Isl And when she explained he leaned la
ek. in ,is chair with an e.prassion of ,s,siti
en- -
Uy awe and admiration on his face.
ou ..Wha. Nanan Won are Coruel,S.
are al. :. 80 .,; -. ,...r
est oSS!A & ~ oSaNS aas 1ninA AsS'eA Ne01o
he the whole course OF my llfe
ce. (.
Az.