The Virginia star., 1882-12-23
MONTEAGLR MANOR.

"My only daughter, sir, said Colo
mel Monteagle; ''and, as l venture 70
hope, accomplished in her ways.
"We are not in the way of schools or
academies here, but / have been her
instructor myself, and she is thorough
mathematician, an excellent musician,
and a linguist OF no mean capacity"
"We are studying Hebrew now every
day, she and I, and she devotes her
evenings to comprehensive reviews of
her Latin and Greek"
''She will be scholar. sir, if l live
to complete her education"
MIR. Crofton looked curiously at the
oddly-assorted pair-the silver-haired
shabblly-attired old gentleman, with
his baId-head, eagle eye. and delicate
white hands, and the dark-browed,
sullen-l looking girl, with the gypsy skin.
untidy frock, and patched boots.
Pretty?
Yes, she might be pretty under some
circumstances, but she certainly pos
sesses no sweet feminine graces now.
"How old are you, Miss Monteagle?"
he asked, finding it imperatively neces-
sary to say something.
And Mary Monteagle answered in
words, seventeen" while her looks
replied plainly "None of your business, F"
"Go, my child, and gather some flow
ers to decksour humble board" said the
old gentleman, magniloquently, while
he conducted the son of his Oldest friend
into the tumble-down old stone house,
where the carpets we're moth-eaten. the
fun niture mildewed, and every trace OF
decayed gentility told the sad story OF
better days.
Mrs. Monteagle, who had been a
besssy once, wss sitting uR in state in
q battered boudoir in q black silk dress
that must have been quite quarter OF
q century old, with flower in her sill
ver-sprinkled hair, oddly contrasting
with the sharpened outlines and hag
gard abruptness of her sixty odd years.
And this was the way in which the
old couple lived-in the dead past, as
it were-Colonel Monteagle starving
contentedly on the recollection sof his
past grandeur. and his wife fondly fam
ewing that time had stood still since the
day when she was belle of society.
Mrs. Monteagle sweetly welcomed
her guest, and touched the little hand
bell at her side.
"We will dine, she said to the maid.
"Please, ma'am,' breathlessly ut
tered that young person, "theAe amt
nothin' for dinner"
1--WE eat the last of the cold beet
yesterday, and the dog he tipped over
the pau of oysters, and
s.That will do, Jane, said MIS-. Mon
teagle, with red spot mounting to eacll
of her cheek.bones.
II said-we will dine"
And Jane Withdrew with a jerk.
The dinner was served presently-ar
instance of the magnetic power OF viii
but there was no cold beef. neither
were there oysters.
Fruit, thin watery soup OF herbs
and parsley, tastefully garnished salad
of lettuce and mayonnaise, and disf
of peaches and cream formed-the meal
"Ouite Arcadian!' said Mrs. Montea
gle, with giggle.
"And very badly served" secretl,
commented::M Mr.. Crofton to himself.
"But the salad was nice"
s'Where is Mary?" the Colonel asked
"Drinking in the beauties OF the sun
set. 1 presume" the lady answered
airily.
"The dear girl has an artists soul
and we do not tie her down to any hour
or rules"
The colonel fell asleep in his chai
after dinner, Mrs. Monteagle and he
painted fan withdrew themselves int
the boudoir, and Mr.. Crofton, inwardl,,
bewailing himself that he had promises
to stay a week at Monteagle Manor
sauntered out upon the heights whicl
overlooked the valley below.
As he stood there rustling sounde'
in the bushes, and the dark-browe'
gypsy sprang up the hillside.
''You have fine place here, Mis-
Monteagle," he said, by way OF makin
himself agreeable.
ar hate ttto said Mary.
/ II beg your pardonl" exclaimed Nh
Croftop. Ill amazement.
''I dol" flashed out the girl, II hat
it alll
"The learning, and the grand pre-
tences, and the miserable makeshfts.