The Arm Chair Library No. 79: The Haunted Homestead — page 25: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“Heavens! do you know that?” “Aye! I know much more than that. I know the portrait that performed the humiliating office of fire-screen in the next room is the likeness of the haughty Madeleine Van Der Vaughan! 1 know, besides—” “What more do you know?” “Phat our travelers have arrived!” I said, as the sound of footsteps and voices at the hall door fell upon my ear. It was true. We were interrupted. As if “borne on the wings of love,” the slow old stage coach was so much J a ay aly F) Ae a o2 hoe a Tae Ce ae 7 Se. s i pleads s ay Laie = ax". ms Mrs ane Laie gt > “* mr rs > ‘ os as :? Fi ot sa i —,~ == see we Bi wf) ea ¥ Mie ge “aH 4A wet . P ae — \? c—- - eee? — os 3 Las a re pee ae cm ae earlier that evening that our friends arrived an hour sooner than we had expected them, while Mrs. Legare was still] superintending the arrangement of her supper table and Mr. Legare was grating nutmeg over his huge bowl of eggnog, to welcome the visitors except thilde and myself. As they entered the parlor we arose and advanced to meet them. “Mathilde! Miss Legare! Can it be Ma- possible? This is indeed, indeed, a joyful surprise,” exclaimed Frank Howard, as he recognized his lady love, and with an eager smile extend- ed his hand; while my brother, with- cut ceremony, embraced me cordially. “J thought you knew to whom you were coming,” said Mathilde, with simple candor. “No! I scarcely such happiness!” “Hey-day! Hal-loe!—do you know anybody here, Frank?” exclaimed my wild and thoughtless brother. But before Mr. Howard had time to answer, I pinched Jack’s arm, turned him around, and presented him to Miss Legare. The refined and elegant presence of Mathilde immediately brought my rude cadet to order, and he gracefully expressed the pleasure and honor he dared to hope for THE HAUNTED HOMESTEAD. so there was no one “ty felt in being permitted to make her acquaintance. Miss Legare welcomed my brother with more cordiality than she had be- stowed upon her lover. And I turned to receive Frank Howard’s offered hand and respond to his expressions of satisfaction at the present opportunity of renewing our acquaintance. , When these rather common-place ceremonies were over, Miss Legare in- vited her guests to be seated, and we resumed our chairs. A deep blush settled upon the beautiful face of Ma- thilde. But whatever might have been the emotions of Mr. Howard, he sup- pressed them through that regnant self-control that ever distinguished his manners. And he was the first to per- ceive the entrance of Mr. and Mrs. Le- gare, and to rise and advance to re- ceive them. My brother presented Mr. Howard to Mr. Legare, who received him with cordial politeness, and in his turn in- troduced him to Mrs. Legare, who smilingly welcomed him to Virginia. complain of in his reception. There was not the slightest lack of respect and kindness, and not the least over- doing of ceremony, which would have been still more offensive. All was nat- ural and genial, as if there had not erce existed a strong hostility to Krank Howard, the machinist. J wae charmed at the manner with which my dear host and hostess completely overcame their prejudices, or, at least, suppressed them, and treated Mr. Howard in all respects as an honored and weleome guest, and did this as- suredly not in the spirit of hypocrisy, Lut of hospitality, as they understood its requirements. Soon Rachel Noales and the other young persons of the Christmas party COMNIELIOOLS, Certainly Howard had nothing to | (E(0)