True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-10-08
e.. !. Goob Stprg,
THE TWIN-SIsTERS.
A Leaf from. the Journal Of an Antiquarian
by MRS. EMMA C. EMBuRY.

BY MRS. EMMA c. EMDURY.
ar.as '6.a--. b aI'G1}.t &
The old manor house of Folkstone has
little to attract the notice Of the passing
wayfarer, FOR its fine Park is now con-
verted iuto sheep pasture. its flower
garden is planted with turnips. and lis
noble woods have long since been feled
to enable its owner TO enrich and embel.
lish some fairer domain. The house
has suffered comparatively little from time,
but iercer enemy has been at work
within its walls, and in its finest apart
ments are still visible the traces of that
devourpg fire which has reduced it al
most to ruin. Strange rumnrs are abroad
concerning the origin Of that fire. The
present owner, wild and dissolute youth
came down 10 visit it, with party of
gay jewellers, soon after it fell into his
possession. Five more stately and bet.
ter appointed mansions were already his.
for he was one of the weallhiest of Eng
lands peers, and when he beheld the
worm eaten tapestries and mouldering
furniture, lie was heard to exclaim, with
a loud oath ..,,.t...... .
IL would that my mad cousin Of Folk
stone hsd set fire 10 the old nest it will
cost more in taxes Than the lands will
yield in revenue" ...,........ ........ =,
His steward, keen eyed, iron-faced
man, heard his masters words, and On
the very night after the young lords de-
parture, the building was discovered 20 be
in fumes. Some said il was a judgement
from lleaven-o,hers shook their heads
and whispered that the agency Of man
was visible in fire W ich had broken
out from four different points at the same
moment. and certain it is that no money
was ever spent upon the repair of the
once nOb'e structure. | had been told
that the staircase was still decora ed with
some remains Of the magnificent oaktn
carvings which had once adorned many
of The rooms, and | was therefore induced
to visit the almost rooaess, mansion,
which certainly promised little to reward
my search. had wandered for some
time through the empty apartments,
which were nearly stripped OF every ves-
ise Of furniture, when, upon opening The
door Of a small chamb,r that Scented or,
iginaly designed for an oratory, found
myself suddenly in the presence Of u pic
ture, whose tints were 50 unfaded and
life like, that, for moment, | started as
illhe actual beings had suddenly lisen
before me. ,.... ......... ,.......... ...,
The picture represented TWO children
apparently aboutlwelve years Of age, and
the painter had seated them upon "A turly
bank, with the arm of one resting on the
neck of the other. Perhaps, had seen
the pictu4e elsewhere, il might not have
offered such powerful attraction, although
il was as exquisite in It's execution as IN
its design. But the faces Of thuse beau
.i(ul girls, cleaning out from the dark
oaken panel in which the picture was
deeply inser!ed-ths painted semblance
Of liie--actve and joyous lIe in The midst
Of utter desOlalion-lhis solitary veslige
OF race now passed forever from the
earth--this single record of the past,
which had escaped the destruction 10
which its stranger lord had doomed the
home Of IAN ancient family, awakened IA
feeling of awe for which | could scarcely
account even to myself. Ibgazed upon
those brigh, faces until imagination began
to weave many dream of the fortunes
ofthose lovely children Ilpiclured them
the idol Of their stately parents, the pride
oftheir family. the darling Of their de-
pendents. Ihad been struck with their
wonderful similarity Of feature. and | fan
cied The fair sisters had been as much as
simulated in character, while | endeayor-
ed 10 sketch some probable view Of their
course through life. The setting sun,
which, beaming through the single win
dow, suddenly lighted up the lonely pic
ture with a bright halo Of departing glory.
recalled me to myself, and as turned my
back upon the little chamber, l felt the
folly Of my own imaginipgs. Why should
seek to, penetrate the veil Of years !
They had lived, and probably loved, and
certainly suffered, and doubtless their
ashes were now mingling with those Of
their fore fathers in the family vault of the
neigbboring chapel. They had but char
ed The common lot Of all mankind, and
Why Should | be so strangely interested
in two fair faces on which the worm hal
long since feasted in the silent tomb !
Yet those beautiful children seemed to me
like a bright vision, seemed amid the
blackness of darkness, long after | had
returned to my solitary room, and | de-
termined to make some inqairies respect
ing them ere | left the neighbOrhood.
There are always some old relainers Of a
noble house, ur at least some descendants
Of such, who haun, the scenes Of ancient
slender, and from an aged crone, whose
mother had been the nurse of the besuli-
full twins whose portraits ] had seen, !