Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-07-15

S1Dle means. he llilt Ola Hill WIS dLlJNtU 10
become dlapidated-the woods were feiled-t the
family plate was melted into coin, and every
thing, in short, bore testimony to the wilfnl waste
and prodigality of the heirs of the Vaughans.-
But at length even these resources failed, and
nothing was left but the rents of the farms which
appertained to the estate. This was too sluggish
a stream of wealth to the young Lord of Dunra
lie suddenly disappeared from all his ac
customed haunts--his letters to the old steward
ceased, and for nearly ten years he was believed
10 be numbered with the dead.
But, wherever he might have concealed him |
self, or whatever might have been his of
life during that long PERIOD he was certainly not
without the means accommodation with his na-
tive land for, no sooner did the heir att law com
mence legal measures to take possession of the !
Dun raven property, than Thomas Vaughan re-
appeared in England Vague rumoss were afloat
respecting his long absence. 1t was limited that
he had washed from his brow the sign of the
cross or at least hidden it beneath the crescent
ed turban, while his hand had become too famil-
lar with the scimitar of n Turkish corsair. But
these were whisperings, vague and indistinct as
the rustlng of summer foliage. He had return
ed changed and Gas i. seemed, better man.
lie now possessed wealth, and while this, in
connection with his high birth and prepossessng
manners, afforded HIM passport into the best So
cety OF every land few could be found hardy
enough to ask whence he had derived the golden
talisman of power Whatever vices he might now
retain, they were at least concealed beneath the
veil Of decorum, and Vaughan of Dunraven soon
became favorite among the votaries Of fashion
His extreme beauty of person, rendered the task
of pleasing the genter sex, Of little difficulty
and it was not long before he succeeded in win
ming the hand of young and artless girl, many
years his junior, whose wealth was to him her
greatest attraction, and whose timid and chdruc.
terlsss mind was no match for his crafty temper.
Immediately after his marriage, he had order
ed that Dunraven castle should be prepared for
his reception, and thither. with his young and
lovely wife, he repaired to take up his future
abode. Twenty five years had elapsed since he
had fled from his ancestral halls in secrecy and
shame, yet time had dealt so lightly with him,
that they who looked on him, almost doubted the
evidence of their own senses. Tall and majestic in
person, he possessed the fair complexion and bright
uxurant hair which had long characterized the
Vaughan family. Though nearly fifty winters might
be numbered since he had been borne TO the bap-
tisma fount IN Dunraven Castle, yet his brow was
as smooth and his cheek as unfurrowed as in his
boyhood But there was an effeminate roundoess
of outline to his features, and sinister expression
IN his soft blue eyes, which would scarcely have
pleased physiognomist. Beware SAYS an old
writer, ''beware Of an eneminate man, and of
cune woman; for, in the first, thou wilt find craft
and cunning the vices Of feeble character-con- |
joined with the evil passions of mans rude nature; |
while, in the last, will be found many an unwoman-
ly trait, and many manly passion - Whatever
truth may be contained in the warning, is certain
that the statistics Of crime afford striking proof OF
the correctness ofone half Of the assertion, and in
most singular statement, which | once saw re-
speeding notorious murderers, it was proved that al
least three fourhs of the atrocous murders had
been committed by fair soft-voiced, and effeminale.
looking men, There was another peculiarly in the
manners of the Lord OF Dunraven, which may gen.
orally be considered decisive proof of character
deficient in frank honesty. He never looked direct
ly in The face Of those who's be met; there n
downcas, glance-a yelling of the eye-as ifhe fear
ed too much might be descerned in their liquid Obs
Ills voice was Ike music, so soft and honied were
its tones-but it was The music Of long studied
and artfuIly arranged harmony. notihe Lterance of
natural melody. There a something TOO pla-
cid in his handsome face. too ducet in the accents
of his low voice. While observing his quiet gliding
step, and The immobili,y ofhs serene features, or
listening to the monotonous sweetness of his tones
one was unconsciously reminded Of the velvcty
sofness of the feline race and the idea of beaut
fuI tiger in repose involun;ariy suggested itself to
the imagination.
Whether the distrust which he generally excited
might be attributed TO his personal pacnliarilies or
whether it was the result of his early msdeeds it
would he difficult to determine, but he certainly was
no fayo-ile among the neighboring gentry. Dunra-
ven Castle had been refed, and partially refurniAh-
ed, that the old place possessed an air Of comfort
which il had not known for many years But rare
ly did its walls echo 10 the sound of mirth and So
cia enjoyment. Mr.. Vaughan seemed absorbed in
his own pursuits, whatever they might be, and his
wife was one ofthose spress and feeble creatures,
whom one act otyranny is sufficient 20 enslave for
life. She was evidently in great awe with her hus-
band, and she went through her daily duties like
one who felt the weight of some invisible chain fe,-
tering tho free impulses of thought and word and