Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-03-23


hesitation he, with many thanks, accepted th'
glft and accompanying his new friend Ia hi
cottage, received into his possession the proInis
ed, hare "a finer ons certainly was hardly to b,
sssn,) and mide his way HON, with his peril
Gus present, under cover " the thickeninl
shades of night. What horrid misgivings n
= hid, as he went along How often he resolv
cd either 10 return the hare to the giycr, o
fling II over the hedge, Us he passed. For h(
was aware Of his da,tgeT there being no par
at Eagand where gam, was more strictly pre-
sryed, more closely looked after, or poachcrs
more severely punished, than at Mlversioke.
But he thought Of his wifc-of the relish with
which she must pariake of this hare and by
the inspriting aid of thoughts such as these,
he nerved himself 80 encounter her suspicious,
and his fathers rebuke and roproaches."
Tint rebuke and thosc approaches he en-
couutercd. Happy had be been had he en-
countercd nothing worse The hare was re-
jected by the upright father, but the rejection
did no, save the son. lie he'd becn entraped
into accepting the gih by one who had sent a
companion to watch him home, aud who, in
order to obtain half the penalty, forthwith in
formed against the unfortunate receiver. The
receiver was fined, Mr.. lIylton. the vicar, paid
the sum required, and released him from his
trouble.
Whilst matters are looking so black at the
cottage, there Is joyousncss enough at the
ncighbourng castle The season is Christ
mas, and Viscount Alkmond, the only son and
heir Of tho Earl of Mlvcistoke, has arrived at
The castle 10 pass the Christmas holidays
Here is the castle and its owner.
Mllverstoke Castle to which its next lordly
possessor was then on his way, was truly
tp.nntGeant u,nrfhy nfi ia nrl,
situation. which was on the slope ola great
forest, stretching down TO the sea shore. Seen
from the sea, especially by moonlight, it had a
most imposing and picturesque appearance ;
hut from no part of the surrounding land was
il visible at all, owing to the great extent of
woodland in which il WIS embosomed. The
Earl Of Milvcrstoke, then lord of that stately
Tcsldencc, had a personal appearance and
earring which might b. imagined somewhat IN
unison with its leading characteristics. lie
Wis tall, thin, and erect; his manner was
composed his countenance refined and intel
lcclnal, and his features com"ly and his hair
hrd been for some years changed from jet
black into iron grew. His bearing was lofty,
sometimes even 10 repulsl, encss ; his temper
an spirit naughty and sclf-re!lant.
Most Of his daytime he spcn, in his libra
rs, or in solitary drives, or walks along the
s'a shore or the country. Unfortunately, lie
took no personal part, nor felt any personal IN
tcrc,t in the management of his vast revenues
and extensive private affairs; entrusling them
as has been already nrimatcd, implicitly to
others. Whca he rode through the village,
which Law she tered near the confines Of the
woodland in which his castle was situated, he
appeared to have no intcrcs, in il or its lnhab-
ilan,s, though nearly all OF them were his own
.rnanry. lis agent, Mr.. OAey, was their
al master.
"Mr, II ;lton was one OF his lorIship's oc-
casional chaplalns but BY no means OH intimate
terms with him for that the vicar $ firm in
dependent character uniting him. While he
acknowledged the commanding talents Of the
Earl his lordshp was, on his part, fully aware
OF Mr.. Hylton's strong intellect, superior schol-
arship, and the pure aud lofty spirit in which
he devoted himself TO his spiritual duties.
POSSIBLY some of the Earl's irigid reserve
towards him was occasiOned by the cordial
terms of Intimacy which had existed between
him and the late Countcss--an exccll ,nt person.
age, who, living in comparative retirement at
Milyerstoke, while her lord was immersed in po-
ltcal life, had consulted Mr.. Hyton constant
Is on the early education of her two children.
The Earl hal married l2tc in iiie, being near
ly twenty years older than his Countess, who
had brought him one son and one daughter.
The former pariook lJrgcly of his father
character, but in a somewhat mitigatcd form
he Was quicker in taking offence than his father.
but had not his implacabillty. II he should
succeed 10 that fathers titles and estates, he
wOuh BE- the first Instance cf such direct sue
crsslon for nine generations. the Earl himself
having been the third son of second son.
J he family was If high antiquity and lis noble
blood had several times nierminglcd with that
ot royalty On one of the more advanced
days 0f the Christmas week, we are told there
took place a kind Of military banquet at the
ta-tlc, III compliment to the officers of a dra-
COON regiment, one Of whose out-puarters was
AT the barracks at some two miles distance
Lord Alkmond was present at this banquet.
During its progress his lordship Quilted the
company to stroll in the woods-whereior none
knew; but during his evening walk he was
blrbarously murdered. Young Ayliffe, under
f',rfilly suspicious circumstances, is arrested
for the crime. II, had been discovered near
the body-his sleeves were covered with blood
ne had been hunted and tracked to his home. |
The cup Of misery was full. a coroners in
quest is held a verdict of wiltul murder return
ed against Adam Ayll", who is formally com
miticd Ivy the magistrate. lie is held in cus,o- |
dy, and must await his trial. lie is not guilty.
The reader feels it in spite Of the damning eyi-
dcnce that will be brought against the accused
on the day of his solemn trial. the father isaware
of il, and sus,ains his manly soul with the con-
seriousness, dreadful as NAV be the unjust and
as yet unspoken sentence. Old Adam has gone
10 his child in prison. Behold the miserable
pair! Listen TO the pathetic appeal.
"Thcy were allowed to he alone for Il short
time, the doctor and nurse of the prison being
within call, if need might be. The prisoner
gcntly'r;iis ID his fathers hand to his lips ar.l
kissed i, and neither spoke for a few minutes !;
ut length. 49, Adam Adam :" said the old .
man in low irGmulous whisper, art thou in
nocent or guiliy' and his anguislcd eyes
scanned staring iuto the very soul of his son,
who calmly rcplied,-- Il
."'Faihcr, before God Almighty. be as in
noccnt as thou art, nor know | who did this
terrible deed
90 Dos thou say IL Dosi thou say it, |
never knew thee to lie 10 me, Adam y said his
father eagerly, half rising from the stool on
which he safe. Dost thou say this before
God whom thou art only too likely he -hud 7.
dcred 10 sre after next Assizrs face To face = |