The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-09-02

JUST AFTER THE WAR.
A STORY OF TEIE SOUTH
The Weekly Sentinel by Eleanor M Jones' Nev Bme ~ c.
of "Mis LiHleiohn."
CHAPTER XVII.

our temporary stay at oakland.
The company, as we find, consists of
a Mr.. and Mrs. Maitland, and their
son Conrad, the tutor of the latter a
Mr. Cecil Morton, who goes every
where with him, as if he was his nurse
rather; all these are from Philadel-
phia, and then there is an English
soldier, named Col Neill Welton !;
this gentleman is friend of Mr.. Liv-
ingstone's, and [ suspect would-be
lover of Miss Rebecca's.
Mr.. Maitland looks like. visiting
was a bore, and he'd much perfer be-
ing at home, but it was his general
principle to please his wife, perhaps
from necessity. He looks beyond six
ty, has short, bristlinc grey hair, that
literally is always standing on end,
ike a porcupine's, an' little keen
black eyes, that glitter like beads.
Belle says hes awfuIly rich, and they
live in grand STYLE" 80 she immediate
1y sets up to Mrs. Maitland, who is
a very large, handsome woman, and
seems about twenty years younger
than her husband. She takes to Belle
pays her all sorts of compliments says
&c its shocking to bury such beauty in
a country town" Wants to know
&c how on earth she can be expected to
make desireable match here. as if
that was the aim of her life As for
my part, she couldn't make a better
one in all your big cities than
Joel, if he isn't made Of gold.
Mrs. Maitland dresses magnificent
ly, and soon has Belle styled out in
some of her finery. She doesn't fancy
me as much, but to make up for it,
her son Conrad develops a most ar
dent admiration from the very first.
Poor boy, besides being very sickly,
he isn't burdened with much brains.
He is little better than an idiot. l
can't imagine what he wants with a
tutor. He has nice manners, and seems
good tempered. He hangs around
me until | feel desperately tempted to
knock him over, but [ do pity him,
with all his money, and chat makes
me tolerate him.
His tutor, Mr. Morton, whenever
he glances at his pupil, has most re-
signed look, | expect his fine salary
hardly pays him for his labor. He
follows Mrs. MaitIand's example, and
is ali attention to Belle; he isn't one
bit handsome, but quite interesting,
So as she's bent upon having beau
on every occasion, pretty soon has
M. Morton completely at her mercy.
Col. Welton spends most of his time
taipirg his host he is what /
call thoroughly well-bred is rather
small and thin; has beautiful hands
and feet to which Belle calls my at
tention, or | would have noticed
them; he has black beard like Joel's
and clear blue eyes He talks well,
and believe l like his appearance
n much as | did DR. Deans, but if
2.ss Bebecca marries him, she will
llr.- n Europe, and wouldn't like
tAat Miss Jessie says, "he has been
counting her for over five years,
and she won't encourage him, but that
as long rs she remains single, he in
tends to persevere, she also says she
has Il sister who Is married to Mar
luis, )" SO just to think, I've seen a no
| can't imagine what has become
of DR.. Deane he hasn't been here vet,
and DIR. Fenwick didn't mention him
in his letter dear me, suppose he
never comes, our matchmaking will
be a failure.
Jamie comes over frequently, even
IN the face of ali this company, and |
call Jessie little sister, on the
sly, she bushes and looks conscious.
1t is Christmas eve, and we have
decorated the whole house with ever
greens until it fairly looks like the
country. Tomorrow night we are to
have all our home folks, even Spen-
a jolly time
Christmas morning | jump up al
most at daybreak. Belle rooms with
Jesse, and mine opens into Miss Re
becca's. l look around for my gifts,
fol- I saw Miss Rebecca put some
bundles on my bureau last night, and
told me mot to look at them until
morning." which I promised.
I find lovely pair Of bracelets
from HeI, Sohc uttiiusOluC booA2 tit'Hi
her father, little painting (hel own
work. from Jessie, besides these, there
is small box with my name written
on it. I opon it and find an elegant
watch and chain, with Il long note
from Leonard, begging me to accept
it as his Christmas gift. He said he
had often noticed my being disturbed
in regard to practicing, "about hav
ing to leave the piano, and go to The
dining room ;, find out, 90 he thought
a watch would be mos. usefu. pres
emit and he had gotten MS uncle to
order this during recent visit from
New Orleans, and he hoped it would
please me.
know he has plenty of money, and
as we are very intimate, considering