a northerly direction from the city, but it had not been for so many years in his possession without acquiring so

dern house, without a vestige of antiqueness lingering in its halls and with no faint aroma of bygone da

ful grounds extended in every direction, and in the rear of the mansion sloped gently to the edge of a small lake. Facing the west was the main entrance to the house, which

by Mr. Mainwaring. The first of these rooms, semi-octagonal in form, constituted his private library, and its elegant furnishings and costly volumes, lining the walls from floor to ceiling, bespoke the wealth and taste of the owner. Across the southwestern side of this room heavy portieres partially concealed the entrance to what Mr. Mainwaring denominated

he house an entrance and stairway leading directly to these rooms, the upper hall opening into the library and smoking-room. From this southern entrance a

the entire place. The servants, with the exception of "Uncle Mose," the colored man having charge of the grounds, were imported,-the head cook being a French

guests. Occasionally Mr. Mainwaring brought out from the city two or three gentleman friends, whom he entertained in royal fashion. S

n is usually implied by that term. Among those who had been personally entertained by Mrs. LaGrange, this fact, of itself, excited little comment; it being evident that she was as familia

ty which commands admiration, rather than winning it; tall, with superb form and carriage, rich olive skin, large dark eyes, brilliant as diamonds and as cold, but which could become luminous with tenderness or fiery with passion, as occasion required. To those whom she sought to entertain she could

e offices of Mainwaring & Co., there might have been seen on one of the upper balconies of the mansion at Fair Oaks a group of five English ladies, engaged in a discussion of their first impressions regarding their host and his American home. The group consisted of

ly felt great interest in their new surroundings. The young ladies were especially enthusiastic in their expressions of admiration of the house and grounds, while Mrs. Mainwaring

ching the broad expanse of ocean visible in the distance, and seating herself on a divan beside her cousin.

r, with large, childlike blue eyes; "but it will be yours to enjoy as much as

," responded Miss Carleton, lightly. She was an orphan and an heiress, but had a

with dark hair and the Mainwaring cold, gray eyes. "You seem to ignore the fact," she said, "t

Carleton; "are you already counting th

ocked!" exclaime

lly. "I was only thinking, mamma; and one is not

Mrs. Mainwaring, "after our cousin has announced his intention of making Hugh his he

for one, will be particularly anxious to repeat my visit when this celebration is once over. So far as I can judge, there seems to be no society here. Wilson has learned from the servants that Mr. Mainwaring lives very quietly, in fact, receives no compa

in Hugh has never married,-which is a very good thing for us, by th

rth, quietly, "though I admit it seems rather peculiar, but there is s

on," said Mrs. Mainwaring, who was fond of jumpi

so decided an opinion as that. I am not prepared to say that s

r my fancies to the winds!" exclaimed Miss Thornton;

impse of her she has seemed to me like a malign presence ab

aGrange, whatever she may be. I don't suppose she will be entailed upon Hugh with the property; and I

to say something further, when a musical whistle attracted the attention of the ladies, and, looking over the balcony railing, they saw Hugh Mai

er's beauty and resembling her in a marked degree, yet betrayed in his face a weakness which indicated that, lacking

pposed, and knowing that the gentlemen would soon return from the ci