The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-08-19

PWTIFU LIIT
Europe Ellen was rather lett out of the de
sultorv talk that followed, and sat BY silent
and absorbed in her thoughts. Evidently they
were not the vague pleasant day-ureahs OF
Young girl, for little line showed ltseH De-
tween her brows, and she compressed her lips
as though she were mentally making some
great resolution. AS he listened 10 Mrs. Lar
rabee's smoothly flowing stream OF words, Mr..
Partridge every now and then glanced at
Ellen in his quick, shrewd way. sometimes
she caught his glances and returned them win
a smile, but oftener she was quite unconscious
of them and worked away at the problems that
seemed to trouble her. Outside, the carriage
stood in the shade of great chestnut-tree,
aud the cOlored coachman slumbered peace
fully on his perch, while the horses stamped
impatientv and whisked their tails in futile
efforts to dislodge the flies. In the distance a
man drove a moving machine round and
round a lawn, and, nearer, a gardener moved
a rake lazily to and fro over a graveled path.
The south wind stole in through the opened
window, bringing with it the smell of roses.
vague drOwsness stole little by little over
Ellen, and the muscles of her face relaxed.
How sweet ii would be o lean her head against
the back of her we-cushoned chair and for
get her troubles in sleep! She closed her eyes
once but opened them quickly les her aunt
should see her. That lady was talking in her
customary fluent and impressive manner.
at was such lovely morning that thought
1 WOu!u UIlnS Ellcu OUT lOT Il ullNG' tllC
has never seen anything OF the Hud-
son River before, and the scenery here
is so celebrated, and | am sure it
deserves its fame, for anything more beautiful
| cannot even imagine. You see, we meet by
chance, the usual way, Mr.. Partridge. had
no idea that the charming home that was
going into ecStasies over belonged to an old
friend and when your gardener-one OF your
gardeners, | suppose | should say-told me
who lived here, was very much astonished, L
assure you, and, on the spur of the moment,
we decided to pay you morning call, Ellen
and :"
81 am very glad you did So" said the old
gentleman, politely, "and | hope you will pay
me one every time you are in Poughkeepsfe."
eve shall never be here again." spoke up
Ellen. 81 shall not try to pass Vassar eX-
aminations every year" And she shook her
head reSolu ely.
at is your turn now, Mr.. Partridge" said
Mrs. Larrabee. you must pay US morning
CALI
But you live in Chicago" the old gentle
man exclaimed. THAT is quite distance to
go to pay morning call"
Nothing at all for an old traveller like
you," cried Mrs. Larrabee; "and | do hope
that YOU will drop in and see us some day,
just as we dropped in to see you"
81 certainly shall do so if | ever get as far
as Chicago, which | very much doubt" said
Mr.. Partridge. 81 am past seventy now; my
travelling days are over. have to 60 to New
York every now and then to look after my
estate and business affairs generally, but |
hate it. would rather stay here and raise
cattle and sheep"
Mrs. Larrabee rose and drew her shawl about
her shoulders. 81 think we must co., she
said, with a glance out of the window toward
her sleeping coachman.
80, stay and lunch with me" said Mr..
Partridge, springing to his feer as quickly as
fhn1nh ha tTnrE OF
me send your carriage back to the hotel and
| will drive you into town myself this after
noon"
Mrs. Larrabee let her shawl slip of
her shoulders again and murmured a
consent, and thereupon Mr.. Partridge
went out himself to give the order to the
coachman.
'He might have asked us before, said Mrs.
Larrabee in an undertOne to her niece. "Now
| shall have to paw for all the time that the
carriage has been waiting. But, dear me g.! Il
rich man never thinks of these triles."
Having sent the carriage back to town, Mr..
Partridge reioined his guests, and soon after,
luncheon was announced. The meal was
served in a small room with long French
windows opening out upon a broad piazza.
Beyond stretched an eXpanse of lawn down to
the river, that to-day shone CLASSY in the sun
shine, rejecting clearly the sloops and schoon-
ers that, with outspread sails, lay waiting for
d DlCtAC' MI L dl bItuSt WAS QultC duuOICu
because Ellen looked out of the window too
much and neglected her luncheon.
'1 on can't live on q view, he said. "Drink
your wine, child, and eat your outlet. Mind,
| If you dom do better by your meat you will
have to make it up on the Strawberries and
cream"
'Poor Ellen! She is quite unstrung," MUIR
INJURED Mrs Larrabee sympathetically.
so, no, | am not" said Ellen, looking a
trihe vexed. She did not like to be called un-
strung; it made her feel like an old fiddle
hung up in Jewshop.
As soon as the luncheon was over, Mr.
Partridge led his guests out upon the piazza.
81 hope you don't object to tobacconn he said,
taking a cigar from his pocket.
$40, indeed" Mrs. Larrabee replied. "My
husband is a great smoker"
and suppose, Miss Ellen, that if you had
husband he would be a grea' smoker too,
Dundreary would observe" said Mr.. Par
| fridge.
| Ellen colored quickly and looked little
| confused. She seemed i'll at ease.
AT er while Mr.. Partridge said to her
Don't you want to go down the alley yonder
and pick me big bunch of roses!"
Eyes, indeed" she cried, and ran down
the steps with delight. Mr.. Partridge's
remark about a possible husbands hab-
its had, like many random arrow, flown al
| an unsupported mark, and Ellen feared thai
her aunt might be inclined to make embar.
| RAISING disclosures upon the subject. Now
however, she was away from such an unpleas
ant possibility, and she wandered down the
rosc-alley, gathering the flowers and feeling
quite like the lady of the manor. After a while
she found that little old spaniel was follow
| ing her, and wagging his tail with as mucl
| energy as remained to him after many wears o
almost unremitting tail wagging. He seemed
very grateful to Ellen for the kind word anC
| pat that she bestowed upon him, and trotteC
after her, painting, and with his tongue lolline
out Of the side of his mouth. Indeed, as tn,
! day was warm and he seemed unused to sucl
exer ious, Ellen stopped to give him chanc,
! TO rest. But rest he would not. When sh,
stopped, he sat up on his launches and oiTere,
her his paw, then rolled over, then played dea(
dog, and then began it all over again by sit
ting up on his launches aud Offering her hi
| paw; and this he kept up until she stroled OF
again, when lie trotted after her labOriousy
| Meanwhile, Mr.. Partridge sat in his arm chat
| on the piazza, listening to his guests mono
logue. Finally, with quick jerk Of his heat
in the direction of the rose-alley, he said, $50
she hopes to be a teacher, does she's"
| Mrs. Larrabee raised her hands in sort O
! despair, as she answered; Eyes that ha,
| always been her expectation; but | am afrait
1t will have to be given up. am sure [ dom
know what to do with her She is nv poo
sisters child, and quite alone in the world
and she has no money! paltry thousand o
| so. Mr. Larrabee and | intended to educate
her so that she could be teacher and maxi
| herself independents but she is not an in
| tellectual girl She is good and sweet
| tempered, but she certainly is not intellectual
She failed dreadfuly in her examination. o
course Mr. Larrabee and | would treat he