Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-04

lue etaRe came TO Q matt In 'front.' OF one OF
those diminutive wayside inns found at long
distances in the secluded portions Of Virginia.
TIN er gwine TO miles furder, sah," Forty
ccnnded in . low tone, but I jes' went er say
dat ef he was all shot up en- crippled in de war,
my Marse Blaise amt po', en- he Ibis gran. en-
wine. Good night sah-hope you'll get ter yo'
folks tomorrer; dere amt no FIX sent up ter
meet you here tonight, ez I see."
The stage numbered on down the road, van
ishing quickly out Of sight
The altogether comfortless aspect Of the
premises induced . swift adventurous re-
solve.
Touching up my toilet somewhat, set out for
Basil Crofton's home. The landlord good-na-
turedly directed me and the way proved neither
difficult nor circuitouA.
The great carriage gate and porter's lodge
soon doomed IN sight. The one seemed to have
fallen lame in its hinges long ago. The other
mad evidently been unoccupied for years. No
one interfered with my entering the long ave-
nue., or. indeed, wandering wherever my will
inclined. 1t had been . fine broad drive in its
day. Ancient oaks stood like gigantic seuti-
nels on each side. but the wash and dash of
neglect had married the graveled surface
The house came into full view with premedi-
lated abruptness As Forty had averred. il
was gran big house" in dimensions. Never
theess. spacious and imposing as it was. and
only fitted for the residence of a rich
planter, such as Forty described his master.
the same unmistakable air of desola-
ton and neglect pervsded the premises
Shutters tapped loosely or were quite minus.
porches parted from the stone walls and
paratory to topping over. The crazy steps
creaked a warning as went up on the piazza
and lifting the brazen knocker made the i'm
menss drear old house resound with my blows.
No one answered. Apparently the place
was held under q magic spell Of silence or
the mosaic of fnrlnru Ia
ment. Again and again the brass dragons
head had Numbered on the heavy oaksn door
panel, wholly in vain. For q man Of wealth.
l thought Basil Crofton's household very
building to the rear Of the wing,
looked across at the stables. They might
have sheltered q score or two of horses in the
old days, but the roof had fallen in. doors van
ished and their torn and abraded sides related
their own history Of wreck and disuse. Neither
hunter nor racer, thoroughbred nor draught
horse, tenanted the broken stalls. But for
Forty assurance Of ample wealth, must have
succumbed to conviction Of Basil Crofton's
abject poverty.
In despair Of gaining admittance or even
discovering trace Of the master, was
about to return to the inn, when l observed
the glimmer Of light in a remote window Of
small wing. Passing under the window to the
nearest door, the subdued tones Of voices drifted
out to me-then a low laugh, sweet, musical.
infectious.
The door opened in response to nv knock,
and young girl stood in the doorway. Her
symmetrical figure and proudly poised head,
with its shining golden-brown hair. was dis
tinctly defined in the light of the room
Behind her q large, handsome man sat in an
invalid chair. upon which a pair Of crutches
rested. His snow-white hair and unrelaxing
gravity gave the impression of advanced age.
1t was Basil Crofton.
He read my letter Of introduction and re-
celyed with that fine md
hospitality charming and novel in this work "a
day age. "lhis il our cousin. my dear Ellen"
he said. in his pleasing, sonorous voice, through
which q melancholy minor chord always
echoed.
''Oh. papa, am so gladr' exclaimed Ellen.
with engaging candor, while she glanced at me
| from under very long lashes. II have never
seen dozen strangers in my life, and am SO
glad that you are my cousin"
Never had found myself 30 bent upon es-
tablishing the tie of consanguinity l traced
our pedigrees to their remote point Of unity
with patience and perseverance surprising to
myself at least
A new compassion began to possess me for
Basil Crofton. The wonderful loneliness Of
Ellen was but q reproduction of beautiful
Chew, the woman he had loved and trusted and
the woman who had deceived and forsaken him.
How could he forget the charm Of the bril-
liant, changeful face and sweet, winsome man
ners.
.'Give your cousin some tea, Ellen" he re-
minded her.
The dark ewes travelled to the clock, and for
an instant faint anxiety overcast the glowing
brightness.
lutte tone as she passed out into an adjoining
room.
The door remained ajar mainly because the
knob had disappeared and the latch was
broken. listened to her moving about lightly
and rapidly in evident preparation for tea
Wi hQrn ur
The opportunity now presented itself for
business. Drawing out my letter from Cam
mache Casson handed it to Basil Crofton
His face flushed violently: he gszed at me
with strange intentness. why shall read
this?" he asked severely.
Because it is important business" was nv
II have all the other letters" he went on in
panied perturbation. They are unopened.
have no business II they are inquiries from
my old friends and relations l cannot answer
them. If they desire to see me again cannot
face them. II that is the purport of this letter
l refuse to read it."
1T conveys the intelligence Of . bequest,
and must have an answer" i assured him.
Basil Crofton glanced at 1t in an absent
minded, detected way His high-bred counte-
nance neither changed nor frightened.
Il hope you will pardon a broken-down old
man, he began in a reluctant. half-convinced
voice. IF l leave you long enough to read this
letter."
Taking his clutches Basil Crofton hobbled
away. the letter in his hands, the seal unbroken.
l stood on the faded rug. luxuriating in the
heat Of blazing logs resting on brazen fire dogs
in the great open fireplace.
The thump Of Basil Crofton's crutches had
barely died away when a door opened and
some one came into the next room.
''Oh. Uncle Forty, I'm glad you have
GOMEZ Ellen Crofton exclaimed in her sweet
mezZo.
"Tooby sho missy, en- Is brung you mo-
meal Con bread is pow'ful po eatin' 70 my
Marse Baise," Forty said. in q deprecating
sympathetic tone; but dey owe me er dollah
mo- at de stage Office 'en had to make out
ez ( want no count jes now. but knowed Z
wur de dollahs wuff er -four ez my white
folks nd have to do widout. Heah's some tea
and sugah, missy"
''Oh, you always bring just the right things.
Uncle Forty! What would become Of US but
for you!' Ellen returned in a low grateful
tone, ending in a merry little laugh. Papa
don't know the chronic state Of emptiness from
which our harder is always suffering" she
added with a pathetic veracity, land only
think. papa has a visitor
..Fo' Gods sake, missy Err visitors" ejac-
ulated Forty "Who, Missy
"A cousin from New York, she explained;
"the very first relation have ever seen. and he
is so handsome and pleasant"
'Sho, missy, he am de Crofton breed, en- dey
am de fust in dc land; but cousins nebber
la;o Inc p,,xl; 4