Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

VOL. I. [Selected.] The Syren Bell. I <lr>;amt that I heard a pyren bell, With a silvery echo clear, And a musical cadence, sad and low, And a chime of tunes I did not know, And I held my breath to hear. Marvelous sweet was this syren bell: And my dreaming soul lay still, As the pound of the bell came over the lea, Chiming ever joyously— Came chiming over the lea. It put me in mind of my distant home, With the willows hanging low, And the tinkling brook that ran in the shade, And the trout that fled from the shadow I made To the darker gulfs below. And it called to my mind a fair little maid, With a sweet little merry blue eye, And a flood of streaming yellow hair, Falling down her shoulders bare, As she looked up Into the sky. A sudden fall in that syren bell, And the wind lay still on the lea, And I saw again the little maid, Gently in her coffin laid, In a graveyard by the sea. [Written for the Banner of the South.] T&e Earls of Sutherland. BY RUIH FAIRFAX. CHAPTER I. At the time our story commences, Sutherland Hall had been the home of the Earls of Sutherland for many genera tions, and, with but one exception, the names of {ill were regarded with respect, and were inscribed with untarnished glory upon their genealogical tree. Many additions and improvements, had been made since the old Ball was first built, and it now stood, a rare speci men of the various styles of architecture that had been used in the country for centuries. It was extremely large—some parts of it entirely uninhabitable, others al most so. Indeed, the only really com fortable portion was the addition built in the time of the present owner. A vast tlo wer garden, on one side of the house, was kept in the finest order; on the other side, a broad green lawn was shaded by old oaks; in front, grape vines, of every variety, covered the large arbors pre pared for them; and, surrounding it all, was an extensive park. Beyond the pri vate gardens, at the back, lay the verdant meadows and rich fields belonging to the estate, and, far behind all, a steep hill closed the view. We will introduce the Sutherlands at their dinner hour. The dining room was large and lofty, uncar peted and uncurtained ; two comfortable lounges occupied the niches on either side of the fire-place. A number of chairs were scattered about the room, and on a large oblong table, placed near the blazing fire, the dinner service was care- arranged. Covers were laid for oight, but, at present, the room—which would look dreary indeed but for the cheerful fire—is occupied by but one person. This person is Hugh Sutherland, karl of Sutherland. His age is, appa rently, the full three score and ten years allotted toman, yet, in reality, his years number but little more than fifty. His form is bowed and his brow wrinkled, l ’ ut n °t with age; an indescribable air of gloom and sadness pervades his face and form, yet a kindly look beams in his mild loin eye. Fresently the door opens, two oi l servants bear in the dinner, and ar range it upon the table. They retire, and one of them returns, bringing the smoking coffee urn. Dinner was an nounced, and, rising from his seat, the pari rang a small silver hand-bell. As 11 summoned by its call, five young men entered the room, and took their seats at [he table. They were all tall, with dark ua ; r, eyes, and beards. Marmaduke and butidwrt, the two eldest, took their seats fg the r.ght and left of their father; r.rnest and Edwin, who were twins, sat opposite each other, and Gerard, the fifth brother, sat beside Edwin. Two seats were jet vacant, and they were, appa rently, waiting to have them filled before commencing their dinner. At length, as if tired of the silent waiting, Ernest rose trom his seat, and opening the door, called aloud, “Arthur! we are waiting for vou.” While he held the door open, listening for an answer, the silvery notes of a guitar fell upon his ear, hut they soon ceased, and footsteps echoed in the wide passage. Ernest held the door open until Arthur and Reginald, the two youngest sons of the Earl, entered the room. Arthur, the youngest of the seven brothers, was small and slender, with long fair hair and bright blue eyes, his face, unlike his elder brother's, was fair and smooth as a girl’s. Arthur was but eighteen, and evidently the pride and pet of these dark stern men. Reginald was two years older than Arthur, and so their ages ranged up to Marmaduke, the eldest, who was nearly thirty. Arthur seated himself before the coffee urn, with Reginald at his right hand, and performed the part of mistress with a careless ease that showed he had long beon accustomed to his present seat. When the dinner was concluded, the bell was sounded, the silent waiters again appeared, and in a few moments the ta ble was cleared. The Earl turned to a packet of letters and newspapers that were placed on a small round table near his arm-chair. Marmaduke and Cuth bert lighted a couple of segars, and buried themselves in clouds of smoke. Edwin aud Ernest strolled to the window, Regi nald drew a small volume from his pocket, and seating himself beside Arthur, on one of the couches, commenced reading to him in a low tone. Suddenly, looking up from his letters, the Earl called : “ Marmaduke !” Instantly the segar was laid aside, and the sad, earnest face of Marmaduke was dimly seen through the smoke. “ What is it, father ?” “Here is a letter, my son, from your cousin, Emily Mortimer ; she says but I will read the letter." Arthur laid his hand on Reginald's book, and looked up. The Earl read : “ Dear Uncle Hugh : “ We have finished our course of studies, and now are longing to get away from the Seminary. You know we have spent every vacation here since Mama died— more than six years ago —and now we want a change. Won't you, dear Uncle, come for us ? Amy and Eugenia pre sent their love to you. “ Your affectionate Emily." “ One of you boys must go," said the Earl, after a short pause. “I am not able to take the journey." “ Certainly, father,” answered Cuth bert, “let Ernest or Edwin go." “Oh, father," exclaimed Arthur ea gerly, “ let me go!" The Earl smiled, but said nothing. Cuthbert said, “No.” Arthur insisted, aud, finally, it was ar ranged that Arthur and Reginald should go, accompanied by Jeffrey, an old ser vant, who had been with the Earl from his boyhood. Arthur was in a high state of excitement, and presently he and Regi nald left the room to prepare for their journey. Their sleeping room was much like the dining room, uncarpeted, and with but shabby curtains to the window. In fact, everything about the house showed that no woman’s hand had been there, and that the owners cared little for either comfort, or show. A few changes of rai ment were packed away in a small trunk, but what few there was were neat and fine, for this almost isolated family still preserved enough communication with the outer world to prevent them getting too far behind the prevailing mode, though they were never visited, nor received visitors. When all their arrangements were completed, Arthur seated himself bo make out a list of wants. A.U GLY., AUGUST 29, 1868. “ Come, Regie, what do you want to get in the city ?" “We want some new music and new books,” replied Regie, “ and I heard you say yesterday you wanted a carpet for our room and a box of paint." Arthur made memoranda as Reginald spoke. He continued : “ Some drawing paper, and a bunch of pencils, and a set of new curtains. Have you got that ?” “ Yes ; I have that. Anything else." “ A lot of guitar strings. I believe that is all." “ Well, here is the list. You keep it, Regie, for I will be sure to lose it if I keep it." Everything was made ready, and then they sought their couch, which they shared between them. The sun was a laggard, in comparison with the young men the next morning, let, early as it was, the carriage was at the door, and the old Earl standing on the steps, waiting to tell them good-bye, and bid them take care of themselves. “We will be back in ten days, Father; please send the carriage to the village to meet us,” said Reginald, as he sprang into the carriage, and closed the door. As they passed the park gates, and turned into the high road, a large and handsome carriage swept by them, the occupant of which, after looking at them a moment, drew back, and looked through the opposite window. “Just look at Judge Morley!" ex claimed Arthur, irritably ; “he always looks another way, if he possibly can, whenever he sees me, and yet, if he chances to meet me face to fece, where he cannot but bow or be rude, he makes the kindliest inquiries about father. I be lieve he hates me !" “ Not you, particularly," answered Reginald. “I believe he dislikes us all; in fact, every body dislikes us, at least they avoid us, and you know 7 father never allowed us to play with the boys in the village.” Regie’s face took a darker shade of gloom as he spoke, and Arthur, bending his face closer to his brother’s ear, whispered : “ There is certainly some mystery about our family, Regie, and I would like to know what it is. You know what I mean ?” “ I understand you, Arthur, but don’t think of it ; you know father never al lows us to speak of it, and the sooner we forget it the better." Arthur sank back in his seat, and the silence was unbroken until they reached the village, where they took post horses for the city. They did not reach their destination until six o’clock the next morning, though they traveled all night. About eleven o’clock they 7 presented themselves at the door of Madame Fer raro’s Seminary. They were readily ad mitted, on giving their names, and ushered into the reception room. “ Two gentlemen in the parlor, to see the Misses Mortimer," exclaimed Madame, in freezing tones. Three girls sprang away from a group clustered around a table in the school-room, and hastened up stairs. “ Madame said two gentlemen," whis pered Emily, the eldest one ; “ who can the other be ?—of course, one is Uncle Hugh." “ Why, one of our Cousins, of course," answered Eugenia, opening the parlor door. Arthur and Regie rose to meet them, and as they faced the three elegant girls, Regie wished in his heart that he had stayed at home. Not so Arthur; he was delighted, and pressed their hands right cordially, as he introduced himself and brother. “ How kind you were to answer my letter in person, and so quick too," said Emily; “ but we expected Uncle Hugh —is he sick ?’’ “No," replied Regie; “but he is not able to stand the fatigue of a journey." “ And, as we are his representatives," said Arthur, “ you must tell us what you want, and where you wish to go. I am so sorry we have such an old tumble down place. I wish you could go home witli us," and he looked wistfully at Emily. <l Oh! we should like it above all things. Wouldn’t we, sister,” exclaimed Eugenia. “It would seem as if we were going home," “ My dear cousin, you would not find it a very comforable home," said Regi nald, gravely ; “we keep bachelor’s hall, you know, and the place is like some old 'worn out Castle. I would be glad to have you go with us, if—” “Oh! go with us," broke in Arthur, impetuously, “we will order some furni ture from the city, and make a few rooms comfortable for you." “ Certainly, cousin," answered Emily, frankly, “ nothing would please me better; and, if Genie and Amy are willing to go, we will consider it as settled, that we are to go home with you, and stay till you are tired of us." “ Willingly!" exclaimed both the girls. “ Why, sister, we are delighted." Arthur was in ecstacies, and Regie was also pleased, though it was not his nature to show his pleasure as Arthur did. An hour longer they sat conversing, and by that time all restraint had worn off, they were as happy as possible, and as friendly as if they had seen each other every da} 7 of their lives. Amy remarked that they would have to make some pur chases before they left the city. Arthur immediately offered to accompany them; which offer was accepted, and in littlo more than ten .minutes they were in the streets. “ We must buy some furniture, you know,” said Arthur, pausing before a furniture store, “ and we may as well go in here." The girls were certainly pleased. What school girls would not have been ? “ Don’t get anything too flashy," said Emily, and so a carpet with a green vine on a crimson grouud was chosen, and enough cut to cover two large rooms. “We girls all sleep in one room,” said Emily, “ and we want a carpet for our sitting-room.” “ Oh!" said Arthur, “I did intend to get a carpet for our room, where w ? e keep our books and music, but if you have a sitting-room maybe you will allow us to go there sometimes ?” “To be sure !" said Eugenia, gaily, “ you can come in at any time ; do you like music, Cousin Arthur ?" “ Yes, I love it dearly," replied Arthur, “ and we must not neglect to take a good stock of new music with us.” “ I have a magnificent harp, and Amy loves the guitar," said Genie, and while they were talking thus they were not neglecting their purchases. A set of fur niture, crimson flowers on a dark ground, was chosen for the bedroom, a sofa and six chairs for the sitting room. They decided not to buy a small book-case that stood temptingly before them. Regie had remarked that it looked something like an old-fashioned one in the lumber room at home, and Emily declared that she preferred old-fashioned furniture. Three small work tables, a large round table, for the centre of the room, a couple of rocking chairs, and Emily r declared their purchases at that store complete. The next hour was spent in a book store. Tho result was an enormous pile of music, drawing paper, pencils, and paints, and about a hundred books. Emily had paid for the furniture her self, but Arthur would not give up this time, and lie settled the bill. The next purchase was at a fancy store. Regie and Arthur looked on in silent as tonishment, while the girls selected pat terns, canvas, wool, and silk. They could i but admire the soft, many-colored wools, ! and bright glossy silk. They bought ■ enough to set up a country store, but! then, as Emily said, in reply to a laughing remonstrance from her sister, “It would last a good while." It was late in the afternoon when they turned their faces homeward. Arthur and Emily were walking to gether—Regie with Amy, and Genie just behind them. Suddenly Arthur paused. “ See," said Genic, laughing, “it is the confectioner’s. Sister never passes without first going in. She loves sweet things." “So does Arthur,” whispered Regie ; “ they’ll go in." But Arthur and Emily moved on, without entering the store. “ Why didn’t you go in, and get some candy?” asked Genie. Arthur blushed, and turning hastily, exclaimed : “ Regie, you are a tell-tale 1" Genie could scarcely restrain her mirth, and Emily explained : “ She is speaking to me, Cousin Arthur, hut it seems that, the question might be asked of either of us. We will come out together in the morning,” she added with a mischievous smile. They parted at the school door. Ar thur and Regie returned to the hotel to get their dinner, and the sisters entered the school room to talk over their “ shop ping" with one or two favorite school mates. “Where on earth have yon been?” ex claimed a young girl, throwing her arms around Emily's neck. “I have been looking for you for more than an hour. Who are those two young men ? where do they live ? what did they come for ?” “ Why, you ask me so many questions, Ellie, I don’t know which one to answer first,” replied Emily, throwing aside her bonnet, and warming her hands by rubbing them on Ellie Montague’s warm neck. “They are brothers, my cousins Reginald and Arthur Sutherland. They live more than a hundred miles from here, in a grand old castle, in the country. They have come fur us, and we are going home with them. We leave to-morrow afternoon." “ Going to the country ? Oh ! how delightful. I wish I were going," and Ellie gave a little sigh ; “ but, I expect, you will have a cross old Aunt to—” “No we wont,” said Genie. “ Aunt died before I was born, and Arthur says they haven't any women about the house, except the one that washes for them." “ What! is there only those two young men and their father ?" asked Ellie, in surprise. Genie looked at Emily, and Emily looked at Amy. “Is there another brother?" asked Amy. “ I’m sure I don’t know," replied Genie. “ I didn’t ’hear them mention any other. I expect those two are all ; and, as Reginald is certainly the eldest, he is heir to the Earldom '* “ Lord Reginald Sutherland !” exclaim ed Ellie, admiringly. “ What a pretty name, and what a handsome man ? I saw him when you came home.” “ Oh !" said Emily warmly, “ Arthur is certainly the handsomer of the two, even if he is only a younger son. I voiv I wont call Reginald cousin. The very next time I meet him, I shall say, ‘Good morning, my Lord,’ and I shall curtsey to him this way," and, with mock gravity, she spread her skirts and made a cere monious curtsey of the olden time. “ A fig for your Lord Reginald. I am so sorry to lose you, dear Emily," answered Ellie; “ but, even if you were going to stay here, I could not be with you, for see, I have here a letter from my Aunt ; she will send for me to-morrow, and lam to go immediately to Italy to meet her. What a prospect! Alas! Lady Montague is no stranger to me. You will be very happy, girfs." Iler eyes filled with tears, and she leaned her head on Emily’s shoulder. “ Don’t, don’t, dear Ellie," said Emily, No. 24.