The Two Elsies A Sequel to Elsie at Nantucket, Book 10

an to fall as, shortly after sunset, the Leland

marked Lester, as the coachman closed the d

ered from it. Yet I fear it maybe dismal to Evelyn; but, my dear child, try t

irl, with a low laugh of amusement; "and I should

l, Eva, we will hope the warmth of your welcome wi

u to feel that it is a home-co

e a little broken with the thought of her orphaned co

o strong an expression of gratitude, Ev

he one a table was laid, with the finest satin damask, glittering silver, cut-glas

' de rest!" exclaimed a young mulatto girl, coming in from a back veranda, whence she had been taking

unt Kitty, the cook, opening her oven-door to glance at a fine young f

dar ain't nobody else knows de road ekal to hisself; but den 'taint always d

be a prognosticatin' ob evil and skearin' fol

oice; "'spose de family been trabling roun' de worl' to c

" exclaimed Aunt Kitty, slamming to her oven-door, laying down the spoon with which she

of servants gathering in the hall t

dependents; and Evelyn, too, came in for a share of the hand-shakings, the "God

t suppers ready for us hungry travelers?" remarked Mr. Lel

y and smiling all over her face. "Eberyting am done to a turn, an' I ho

ting many minutes, Aunt Kitty,

Evelyn, my dear, we will go up sta

e led the way into a spacious,

ur room, Ev

hope you will not feel lonely or timid. But if anything sho

lsie. Such a beautiful

kind you and Uncle

le of emotion in the chi

said, "how could we be otherwise? We want you to feel tha

you and uncle," returned the little girl, with a si

at a sweet home this is," Elsie

l not be necessary. There will be no company tonight, and your uncle would pr

n upon the windows, but woke next morning to find the sun shining brig

r garden, while larger than those at Crag Cottage, were quite as well kept; neatness and order, beauty and f

d uncle might be still sleeping, but found the latter

e said in a kindly tone. "I hope y

rned. "Don't you enjoy being at h

e is no place like home, is there?

as papa used to be in the dear old days; and perhaps I shall learn to lov

are thick I see," glancing down at them, "and th

lant or flower in garden and green-house, and gathering a bouquet

in at the summons to breakfast, and Lester pre

d laughingly; "and many

o breakfast? we are a li

entered the breakfast-room. "I will open the bag while you pou

with wistful, longing eyes as he took out the letters and glanced over t

th a pleased smile, as he hand

; and from several other friends. Here, Jane," to the

aily, lifting the letters from the silver waiter on which they lay, and setting there, in their

expect them home," she added, breaking open its en

lthy's birthday?"

home. The rest will stay a week or so longer, and our cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Keith, and their da

open my letter now just for a peep?"

myself, but always wait patiently till the meal is

do it without permission," sai

yard," said her uncle facetiously, as the

ng, uncle," said Evelyn, wi

and tell me if he doesn't say, 'Mistress rules here.' S

"then, of course, it is of no use

ly do as I am bid,"

aid Elsie. "Eva, would y

me this

nt Elsie," was the pr

arrival of my brother and his wife, and to see that

invitation?" asked her husband, in a tone o

avor us with it," was the gay rejoinder. "Baby shall go, too; an

him as a sort of great-grand ch

reat-great," retu

ammy?" as

so-and has nursed each one of us in turn. Of course, we are all devotedly attached to h

ery old, I should th

e cannot be much, if any younger than Aunt Wealthy, who has just passed h

ke to see her!"

I mistake; she staid behind once; it was when Lilly was taken North as a last hope of saving her dear life. Papa

hall find her there. In deep sorrow too, no doubt; fo

of these days," remarked Mr. Le

ttained her majority. That visit was the dawn of brighter days to them. I will tell you the whole s

dear?" Lester asked, as they left the table. "Ten, if

ovely morning for a drive; the rain has laid the d

nda, gazing about her

you of Fairview?" asked he

something happen here, uncle, in the time of the

night. My uncle owned, and lived on, the place at that time, and by reason of his

he they were

oods, but were held at bay and finally driven off by the gallant defence

I; especially as she was living at Ion at that time, and though a

the quarter, when they burnt the schoolhouse, and afterwa

r all about them from a

er to have you be

urned her aunt; "but now I must give my orders for

ked Lester of Evelyn, when Els

such a breakfast every morning as she has been accustomed to at home. Still she enjoys the sights, and thinks it may be a year, or longer, bef

, smoothing her hair as she stood by his side,

, but at present I like this quiet home far bette

"I am glad you ar

s they set out upon their drive. He

childhood's home after so long an absence; to see mammy, too-dear ol

delightful to look forward to havin

d the house, exclaimed with delight, "Ah, there is mammy on the veranda! watching for our coming, no doubt

rm, seated in an arm-chair, leaning forward, its two dusky

igure rose slowly and stiffly, and with the aid of

ulous with age and excitement, "it's one o

responded Mrs. Leland, hurrying up the veranda steps a

, tenderly; "you are not s

brink ob de riber; de cold watahs ob Jord

sie said, tears trembling in her sw

tight; de waves can't go ober my head, kase He bought me wid his own precio

Elsie withdrew herself from her embrace, and turned aside to wipe

and shield; the Lord wil

den glory wid Him in heaben! Ole Uncle Joe done 'speri

ht of Evelyn standing by her side

oe," answered Lester. "She has hea

g the little girl's hand in her's, and re

crowded about Lester and Elsie eager to shake their hands and bid them welcome home again, mingling with their rejoici

Evelyn received her full s

through the house to see that all was in order for the reception of her brother and his

rogatively, "you are not grie

k, in de head, in any part ob de body; an' no mo' sin, no mo' sorrow, no

velyn softly, her voice tremulous with the thought of h

but 'twont be for long;

e mos' dar

st shone with glad expectancy, and the dim, sunken

ing note of her deep mourning, "Po' chile," she said, in te

softly, "Her dear father has gone to be forever with the Lord

heavenward, "an' bressed happy chile dat has de great an' mighty God f

d garden, as his wife into that of the house, joined them and suggested that this would be a good time and place

ed to her wha

le time," returned the old woma

ented Elsie; "you

ged into the story, telling it in a graphic way that enchained her listeners, though to two of them it was n

tails of this story, se