Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1851-06-05
LITcHFIELD, COMM THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 1851.

you can try the experimental you choose.
shall convey your answer to my lord
with faithfulness," and the speaker mo-
we'd towards the door.
/" Stay one other moment" cntreated
Won Hesse. " How far hence lives nv
lord---and where ~ .44,. ,as...s -.-..s.es's
"You must, of a truth, be ignorant
enough not to know that his lordship's
residence is at the villa Desne, on Ford,
short four leagues hence" was the inn
pudent ans yer. ..-
"Thcn will see him on the morrow,
and ascertain upon what this strange
claim is founded. Tell this TO his lord
ship, and"
GA spice of threatening works won
ders sometimes" snecred the person ad.
dressed, without granting the other time
! to finish his sentence. He spoke as If to
himself, yet audibly to all in the room.
Then turning to his servant, he ordered
his horse brought to the door.
Egyptian darkness" he exclaimed.
with an oath, glancing without through
the opened passage. Unprecedented as
much," he grumblingly continued. but
knew that night was the only time in
which to catch you off the mountain"
Knight you but be pleased to accept
for yourself, your attendant and your
beasts the best we have to offer you
should be most welcome to tarry the
night with u.s." said Won Hssse, with his
accustomed hospitality. The other deign-
ed to return contemptuous 'umph,' and
left the dwelling the tramp of the horses
soon died in the distance.
"What means all this ?" asked Mar
gerry, whose wheel had been silent since
the entrance Of the strangers. odd /
understand Alright, that our home is not
in truth ours, but another's property"
"To that effect is the claim of Lord
Windlemere," replied her husband, ''but
whether we shalt indeed be stripped of
all, God knows! mind me of the cir.
cumstances, as I learned them from my
father, by which the valley estate came
into the possession of the family of Won
Hesse. Scores of years agone. it formed
part of the vast estates of the good Earl
Windlemere, now long since gone to his
honored rest.
"My great grandfather, Hector Won
Hesse, peace to his ashes, was soldier.
He once saved the life Of his commander,
the Earl Windlemere, in a terrible en-.
gagement with the Spaniards, and rece-
we'd as token of gratitude this estate,
secured to himself and heirs forever. At
his death it descended to his eldest son,
my grandfather.
81 have heard my father tell he could
remember the day when his father was
the wealthiest shepherd in all the sur
rounding country. His fiocks covered all
these hills. But while my father was yet
nyouth there came war. and my grand
father was summoned to exchange his
crook 70: sword. He disposed of his
flocks, and put himself in readiness to
fight for his king.
"But the very night before the day
on which he designed to j1in the army, a
marauding party ravaged this valley
My grandfather, in the defence of those
he loved, received q wound which struck
him senseless, and which soon proved
mortal. Neither the price Of his fiocks
nor the title to his estate, was ever seen
MISUNDERSTANDING doubtless been cars
ried away Or destroyed at the time of the
conflict, which cost my lamertcd ances.
tor his life.
"On the return Of peace my father mp.
piled to the then Earl Windlemerc, 10
grant renewal of the lost title. But the
eccentric though kind hearted nobleman,
onl y recounted in the petitioners pre-
sence, the valorous deed which had
| won the estate at the first, and smiling
threw him purse of 6 I'D saying
"There is your title! Go home-pur-
chase ffocks and tend them, nor ever fear
your right to Windlemcrc valley.
"But the old Earl is hence-a new
and ayaricious heir has succeeded and
now alas for our valley homen'
The voice Of the aged man was trcmu
lous as he ceased speaking. Margery
wept full sore, and even young Alaric
| drew the sleeve of his coarse jerkin across
bis eyes.
i "Let US not yield to despair" said
Won Hesse in tone more firm and cheer.
ing. A few hours a1d shall appear in
person to my lord and mayhap he will
not be memorable. Let us cast ourselves
in trustiulness upon Him whose mercy
Is never falling" and he raised his eyes
reverently.
A fervent prayer was waited above
and the family retired. Next morning
Alaric, for the first time, led forth the
fiocks alone; Lis father had already be-
gan the toilsome journey.
Very long was that day to Margery.
who sat by her distaf, hoping and fear,
| ing for the success Of her lords UNDER
taking. Often, as the day waned, did
she turn her face towards the little win.
dow that looked down ths lane 10 see il
he was not approaching. Nightfall was
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