Fort Lafayette | Page 3

been affectionately welcomed by his
old-fashioned, kindly looking aunt. As he turned to introduce his friend,
Arthur, the latter was gazing with an air of absent admiration upon the
kindled features of Oriana. The two young men were of the same age,
apparently about one-and-twenty; but in character and appearance they
were widely different. Beverly was, in countenance and manner,
curiously like his sister, except that the features were bolder and more
strongly marked. Arthur, on the contrary, was delicate in feature almost
to effeminacy. His brow was pale and lofty, and above the auburn locks
were massed like a golden coronet. His eyes were very large and blue,
with a peculiar softness and sadness that suited well the expression of
thoughtfulness and repose about his lips. He was taller than his friend,
and although well-formed and graceful, was slim and evidently not in
robust health. His voice, as he spoke in acknowledgment of the
introduction, was low and musical, but touched with a mournfulness
that was apparent even in the few words of conventional courtesy that
he pronounced.
Having thus domiciliated them comfortably in the old hall, we will
leave them to recover from the fatigues of the journey, and to taste of
the plentiful hospitalities of Riverside manor.

CHAPTER II.
Early in the fresh April morning, the party at Riverside manor were
congregated in the hall, doing full justice to Aunt Nancy's substantial
breakfast.
"Oriana," said Beverly, as he paused from demolishing a well-buttered
batter cake, and handed his cup for a second supply of the fragrant
Mocha, "I will leave it to your savoir faire to transform our friend
Arthur into a thorough southerner, before we yield him back to his
Green Mountains. He is already half a convert to our institutions, and
will give you not half so much trouble as that obstinate Harold Hare."
She slightly colored at the name, but quietly remarked:
"Mr. Wayne must look about him and judge from his own observation,
not my arguments. I certainly do not intend to annoy him during his
visit, with political discussions."
"And yet you drove Harold wild with your flaming harangues, and gave
him more logic in an afternoon ride than he had ever been bored with in
Cambridge in a month."
"Only when he provoked and invited the assault," she replied, smiling.
"But I trust, Mr. Wayne, that the cloud which is gathering above our
country will not darken the sunshine of your visit at Riverside manor. It
is unfortunate that you should have come at an unpropitious moment,
when we cannot promise you that perhaps there will not be some cold
looks here and there among the townsfolk, to give you a false
impression of a Virginia welcome."
"Not at all, Oriana; Arthur will have smiles and welcome enough here
at the manor house to make him proof against all the hard looks in
Richmond. I prevailed on him to come at all hazards, and we are bound
to have a good time and don't want you to discourage us; eh, Arthur?"
"I am but little of a politician, Miss Weems," said Arthur, "although I
take our country's differences much at heart. I shall surely not provoke

discussion with you, like our friend Harold, upon an unpleasant subject,
while you give me carte blanche to enjoy your conversation upon
themes more congenial to my nature."
She inclined her head with rather more of gravity than the nature of the
conversation warranted, and her lips were slightly compressed as she
observed that Arthur's blue eyes were fixed pensively, but intently, on
her face.
The meal being over, Oriana and Wayne strolled on the lawn toward
the river bank, while the carriage was being prepared for a morning
drive. They stood on the soft grass at the water's edge, and as Arthur
gazed with a glow of pleasure at the beautiful prospect before him, his
fair companion pointed out with evident pride the many objects of
beauty and interest that were within view on the opposite bank.
"Are you a sailor, Mr. Wayne? If so, we must have out the boat this
afternoon, and you will find some fairy nooks beyond the bend that will
repay you for exploring them, if you have a taste for a lovely
waterscape. I know you are proud of the grand old hills of your native
State, but we have something to boast of too in our Virginia scenery."
"If you will be my helmswoman, I can imagine nothing more delightful
than the excursion you propose. But I am inland bred, and must place
myself at the mercy of your nautical experience."
"Oh, I am a skillful captain, Mr. Wayne, and will make a good sailor of
you before you leave us. Mr. Hare will tell you that I am