The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-08-12

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Mrs. Travers was correct there; just how
much so, she herself did not know The
truth was, though nothing could have in
duced him to acknowledge it, Hugh had
half fallen in love with the pure, pa
trician face of Eleanor photograph, and in
his heart of hearts, he had invested her
with all the attributes which adorned his
exalted ideal of feminine perfection, and it
was with secret disappointment that he
heard of her intention to visit his sister,
after what he felt sure Florence had limited
at in her letter. For Mrs. Travers had
taken it for granted that Eleanor would
come, and Hugh's high estimate of delica-
CIV could not but be offended at what he
considered-well, to put it mildly visit
of inspection; for he really believed 1t 20 be
that. notwithstanding his sisters indignant
protest to the contrary. But, in that he
acknowledged to himself, he might be mis-
taken, and, if so. why Miss Vance would
| have every reason to believe him a fortune
hunter, should he remain to play the de-
voted during her stay with Flossie. So he
considered it the wiser plan to take himself
of. which he accordingly did, telling Mrs.
/ Travers to call it sudden business, or any
thing else she liked.
What Eleanor thought Of him we may
Judge by the exclamation that greeted the
close of her friends epistle 4 bright
angry flush burned on either soft, rounded
cheek, aud the blue eyes flashed with indig
nation, as their owner sprang to her feet,
and, tossing the letter aside, elenched her
dimpled hands, and, proudly eresting her
royal head, exclaimed, .passiouately:
Does Florence Travers think for one
instant that / would be guilty of the un-
wo.nanly conduct at which she more than
hints in this letter Does she suppose
that would seek her brother--would visit
her house with the avowed intention Of
making his acquaintance All. Florence,
YOU make great mistake, if that is your
/ idea Of Eleanor Vance, and ] have made
greater one in my estimate Of your broth
er's character. Judging from the picture
which You showed me, / eonsidercd him a
/ noble. refined gentleman, but ! see | have
been mistaken. .Ie Is particularly anx-
iaus' to see me, Is he Well, Mr.. Hugh
/ Castlemon, I do no, think you win have
the pleasure Of playing attendant cavalier
{ to the heiircsS just yet awhile.
/ And the scaFnful emphasis On the word
sheirsssr will give us an idca of her sus
pieions as to Mr. Cas;lemons anxiety to
sec her.
II had intended visiting Flossic this
I spring. anyway. solilOqnizs-l Eleanor, sat
ing herself and speaking in bow tone. 'bni
this. with contempsous glance toward
the letter. shas completely altered my pur-
Pose I had anticipated 50 much pleasure,
too. in dssponding tone. Bat, oh, |
! know what III do, with a sudden bright
eaing Of the sweet face. Il Il 90 right down
10 Aunt Sallies and stay there the whole
! spring and Simmer Dear Old Appleton
/ | can almost fancy smell the honeysuckle
that grows over the Eroui porch, and peeps
IN al the kitchen window And dear I'm
cle John and Aunt Sallic How glad they
VIII bc to zee their hstle Nellie There
( III be safe from fortune-h hunters At any rate.
/ win throw ASIDE the heircss, and b sim
I ple country Nell Bat now | vii answer
I Fiossie's lsster, telling her VIII Be anable
10 aeceps her invitation tins time.
One week ater found my heroine guest
Il her Aunt Saliie W ares, who@c substantial
I farm was sitnated about a mile from the
village Of Applcsen. The sof breath Of
spring had jest began 70 awaken into life
& the ionquils aud harcbells, and the sSsct
! blne vielets. when Eleanor reached the dear
I Old place. s1nele John and Aunt Saltie
welcomed their -lifslc Nell with open
arms, Cor they loved her for her own swect
self alone. Aunt Sallie had nursed her
through severe spell II sickness in her
infancy. sna since then bad loved her IS
her own.
Eleanor visits to theft we're the gala
I DAYS in the livcs &c Ifncle John and Aunt
Sallie. and they never tired Of Pesting lit
lie Men, Is they always eallelh her. Elea-
nar, too, loved to Be with them, and il wNs
\ sigh of perfect content that she breathed,
as she sat, the frst evening of her arrival,
in low rocker on the front porch, inhaling
The fragrance Of yioleis and honeysnoklcs.
and thinking exussantly how she had ont
witted the two conspirators. n she mentally
designated Mrs. Travers and her brother.
I The gentle afternoon hreczcs were steal
/ ing through the vines that clamhered over
/ the front porch Of the Ware homestead,
every breath drawing fresh incense from
the sweet flowers. nodding their fragrant
heads beneath the soft blue Of the April
SKY. Down the road, leading through the
wood opposite Aunt Salhes, Eleanor slowly
walked along, every Row and then steoplng
to pick bright-eye,l daisy OF golden hut
tercup from the myriads around her She
was on her way 10 the village post ofiec,
thence 10 stop at the store for some
yarn, which Aunt Sallie busy fingers were
to convert into substantial hose for Uncle
Johns No fcet.
4 A for Eleanor, since she had been out
here the heiress had entirely disappeared,
and in her place had come blooming
country girl.
On She day Of which ann writing she
was as pretty specimen Of the village las
sic as one would wish to see, with her fresh,
buff lawn, Just short enough to reveal the
first two buttons Of her dainty boots, her
\ little poke bonnet, with lis blue ribbons,
coquetfishly tied to the left Of her dinpled
chin, while al around her lovely face, with
its dimples aud roses, strayed the soft rings
Of her golden hair.
As she sanntered leisrrly along, Aunt
Sallie, in the doorway, watched the retreat
! ing form of her pet natil 1t disappeared
from the view Of her kind gray eyes.
The errands at postofice and store were
soon completed, and then Eleanor, turning
homeward, noticed that the sky was rapid
/ ly becoming overcast with dark clouds
which threatened heavy shower
She had brought no umbrella, and the
fear Of being caught IN the rain lent speed
to her STEPS Nearly half the distance
through the wood was passed, aud Eleanor
was just beginning to congratulate herself
as being almost safe, when patter, patter !
she heard the=big drops falling on the leaves
above her
Faster went the flying feet and faster
came the falling drops. Out Of breath,
Eleanor stopped beneath a wide-spreading
oak, which reared its towering height a
little off from the roadside, and, trembling
with exhaustion, stood beneath its protect
ing shelter
The rain was now pouring in torrents,
and In few minutes n little stream came