New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-14

The stage to halt in front Of Que distances
dminutive wayside inns found at long ui'
" I'm er twin To- miles furder sah." Forty con,
fded in low tone: but ies want er say u o,,
Warse Baise amt po'. en- he Ibis gran. en- nlngs
his money roun'. drinks de pes eI Ill
Good night sahhOpe you'll get t ter yo YOU
tomorrer; dere amt no fix sent up 'er noe' '
The stage numbered on down the road. vanish
ing quickly Ont of sight: .o. - tho nremises
The altogether comfOrtless aspect OF bhe preni'oD
induced swift. adventurous resolve an. for
Touching up my toilet Tse ndlord 0s good
naturedly directed me. and the way proved neitner
difficult nor circuitous. -, o,
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 had evl-
IDENTIFY been unoccupied for years NO one 1nteIIeri
ed with my entering the long avenue; OF had
been fine broad drive in. its day. Ancient OAKS
stood like gigantic seninels on each side Dut une
wash and dash Of stOg%s ana b0d arred the
gravelled surface. go
The house came into full view, with premed-
itated a5ruPtness As Forty had averreS ~ Wss
less spacious and imposing as 1t was. and only
fitted for the residence of rich planter, sucn as
Forty described his master, the same unm1Stak-
able air OF desoaton and neglect pervaded the
prmises. Shutters tapped loosely or were quite
minus, porches parted from the stone walls, and
seemed TO balance themselves one foot pre-
paratory TO topping over. The crazy steps
creaked warning as went up on the piazza
and lifting the brazen lnocker made the immense
drear old house resOund with my blows.
No one answered. Apparently the place was
prosaic Of fOrlOrn abandonment. Again and
again the brass dragons head had Numbered on
R Sr nen man S OF %ea aRor PhG Os Bs coon
household very limited Strolling aimlessy
around the main building to the rear OF the wing,
| looked across at the stables. They might nave
| Sbal or w n horses
but the roof had fallen in, doors vanished, ana
their torn and abraded sides related their own
nor racer, thoroughbred nor draught horse, ten
anted the bro ken stalls But for torys as,
surance Of ample wealth, ] must have succumbed
to O conviction of Basil Crofton's abect poverty.
In despair of gaining admittance or even dis
covering o trace Of the master was about TO re-
turn to the inn. when | observed the glmmer
of light in a remote window Of small wing.
Passing under the window 10 the nearest door,
the subdued tones of voices drifted out to me
then low laugh, sweet musical infectious.
! The door opened in response to my knock, and
young girl stood In the doorway Her sym
metrical figure and proudly poised head, with its
shining golden-brown hair, was distinctly defined
| in the Hight of the room.
Behind her, large. handsome man sat in an
invalid chair, upon which a pair OF crntc ,ig
| rested. His snow-white hair and unre laXlng
| gravity gave the impression Of advanced age.
| 1t was Basil Crofton.
He read my letter Of introduction, and received
|
charming and novel in this work -a-day age
| This is our cousin, my dear Ellen, he said, IN
his pleasant, sonorous voice, through whlch
melancholy minor chord always echoed.
O. papa. am so gladl" exclaimed Ellen with
engaging candor, while she glanced at me from
| under very long lashes 81 have never seen
a dozen strangers in my life. and am so glad
Never had | found myself so bent upon estab-
fishing the tie Of cOnsanguinity. | traced our
| pedigrees to their remote point OF unity with a
patience and perseverance surprising to myself
| at least
A new compassion began to possess me for Basil
Crofton The wonderful loveliness of Ellen was
but 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 brilliant. changeful face
and sweet winsOme manners. -
Give your cousin some tea. Ellen" he re-
The dark eyes travelled to the clock. and for
an instant faint anxiety overcast the glowing
brightness
Forty is late tonight she said In an irreso-
Lutte tone. she passed out into an adjoining
The door remained aiar, mainly because. the
knob had disappeared, and latch broken. ] lis
tened to her moving about lightly and rapidly,
in evident preparation for tea with her own hands
The opportunity now presented itself for bust
ness Drawing out my letter from Cammache
& Casson. handed it to Basil Crofton.
His face flushed violently he gazed at me with
strange intentness. Why shall / read this ?' he
asked severely.
Because it is important business" was my re-
Spouse.
panied perturbation. "They are unopened.
| have no business. II they are inquiries from my
old friends and relations, / cannot answer them
II they desire TO me again, / cannot face them
If that is the purport Of this letter. l refuse to
:" It conveys the intelligence Of bequest and
must have on answer" l assured him.
} Basil Crofton glanced at it in an absent
minded. detected way. His high-brcd countenance
neither changed nor frightened
II hone you will pardon broken.
down old man." he began in o reluctant
half-convinced voice, If leave you long enough
to read this letter"
Taking his crutch, Basil Crofton hobblcd away
the letter in his hands, the seal unvroken.
stood on the faded rug, luXuriating in the heat
Of blazing logs, resting on braZen fire-dogs, In
the great open fireplace
barely died away. when door opened and some
one came into the next room.
80, Uncle Forty, Pm so glad you have come =
Ellen Crofton exclaimed, in her sweet mezzo
Toby sho missy Ell Is brung you mo- meal
4 Con bread is pow'ful po' eatin' TO- my MarsC
Blaise, Forty said, in deprecating, sympathetic
2 tone. but dey owe me er dollah mo- at de stage
Office EN- had ter make out ez t want no count
les now, but | knowed Z wur de dolah's wufT el
5 hour ez my white folks 'qd have to do widOut
Heah's some tea and sugah, Missy"
4 90 you always bring Just the right things
; Uncle Forty! What would become of u.s. bu
e for you? Ellen returned in low, grateful tone
n ending in merry little laugh. Papa don't know
{ the chronic state Of emptiness from which Ou
o larder is always suffering, she added with a pa
t thetic veracity and only think, papa has visi
i tor"
"Fo' Gods sake, Missy! Err visitorl" eiacu
J., lated Forty. Who, Missy"
e A cousin from New-York," she explained th,
very first relation have ever seen. and he is S,
Y handsome and pleasant
Sho', Missy, he am de CroftOn breed, en- dey an
de fnst in de land but cousins nebber fotcl
Y Marse Blaise no luck. But like ez not dis on,
}, amt crossed wild no bad blood. Now. Missy
n il dere's company, you jes go in en- set down il
J. vo chair like er gram lady, say ez de cook an
n oittin' tea I'll brisk up en- hev sommat on d.
e table"
But YOU are so tired, Uncle Forty. Let me he'll
!, YOU, and I'll be grand lady afterwardr gentll
y | demonstrated Ellen.
= mo. no, Missy, faint quality not TO hcv serv
o opts don't YOU let on bout our hawd times
nj 40