The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-01-23
hlOSTEAGLE MANOR.

"My only daughter, sir" said Colo
mel Monteagle; ''and, rs I venture to
hope, accomplished i'll her ways"
1--WE are not in the way of schools or
academies here, but L have been her
instructor myself, md sue is Il thorough
mathematician, al excellent musician,
and linguist OF no mean capacity"
eve are studying Hebrew now every
day, she and l, and she devotes her
evenings to comprehensive reviews of
her Latin and Greek"
'She will be a scholar, sir, if 1.-Two
to complete her education."
Mr.. Crofton looked curiously at the
oddly-assorted puir-the silver-haired
shnbbllyattired old gentleman, with
his buld-hcud, eagle eye, and delicate
white hands, and the dark -browed,
sullen-looking girl, with the gypsy skin,
ntidy frock, and patched boots.
Pretty?
Yes, she might be pretty under some
cumstances, but she certainly pos
"How old urc yon, Miss Montoagle?"
he asked, finding it imperativo,y ncces-
Sury to say something.
And Mary NIonteagle answered in
wolds, "sevcntcen," while her looks
replied plainly "Nonc of your business"
800, my Child, anl gather SOMEHOW.
rrs to deck, Jour humble board" said tho
old gentleman, mpeniloqucntly, while
I've conducted the son of his oldest friend
.nto the tumblc-down old stone house,
where the carpets we're moth-enten, the
furniture mildewed, and every trace of
decaycd gcntility told the sad story of
hctter days.
Mrs. Monteagle, who had been n
henuty once, was sitting up i'll state in
Il battered boudoir in Il black stk dress
that must have been quite quarter of
II century old, with flower in her sill
vcr-sprinllled hair, oddly contrasting
with the sharpcned outlines and hag
gard abr,,ptness OF her sixty odd years.
Aud this was the way in which tho
old couple lived--in the dead past, rs
il were---Colonel Montcaglo starving
contentedly OH the recollection of his
past grandeur, and his wife fondly fam
cving that time had stood still since the
day when she was belle OF society.
Mrs. Nlonteagle swceuy welcomed
her guest, md touched tho littlo hand
ben ut her side.
1--WE will dine, she SAID to the maid.
"Pleaso, mn'am," breathlessly ut
tered that young person, "thme amt
nothin' for dinner"
1--WE eat the last Of the cold beef
yesterday, and tho dog he tipped over
the paa OF oysters. and----"
'',rhat will do, Jane" said Mis- Mon
teagle, with red spot mounting to each
Of her cheek-bones.
II said-we will dine"
And Jnno withdrew with jerk.
The dinner was served presently--an
instance Of the magnetic power of will
but thero was no cold beef. neither
were there oysters.
Fruit, q thin watery soup of herbs
and parsley, tastefully garnished salad
of lettuce and mayonnuise, and u dish
0f peaches and cream formed the meal.
"Quitc Arcadian!" said Mrs Montea-
gle, with giggle.
"And very badly served" secretly
commented. Mr.. Crofton to himself.
"But the salad was nice" "e
"Wherc is Mary?" the Colonel asked.
"Drinking in tho beauties OF the sum
set, l presume" the Indy answered
airily.
"The dear girl has an artists soul,
and we do not tic her down to any hours
or rules"
The colonel fell asleep in his chair
after dinner, Mrs. Monteagle and her
painted fan Withdrew. themselves into
the houdoir, and Mr. Crofton, lnwa,dy
bcwailing himself that he had promised
to stay week at Montcagle Manor,
sauntored out upon tho heights which
overlooked the valley below,
AS he stood there n rustllng sounded
in the bushes, and the dark-browed
gypsy sprang up the hillside
"You have n fine place here, Miss
Nlonteagle," he said, by way of making
himself agreeable.
II hate it, said Mary.
81 beg your pardon!" exclaimed Mr..
Croftop, IN amnzement