The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-11-05
THE TOWER OF HARKSTONE CASTLE.
IN THREE CHAPTERS.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "PAUL FERRoLL."

BY THE AUTHOR OF PAUL FERRoLL."
CHAPTER III-Concluded.
Little Harry, one day, trying in vain to draw
her from her knitting to play, said
"Shall you never be ready, Silly?" for that
was the appellation to which he had reduced
Phillis.
"Yes; but you wait minute. l must ex-
ert myself to fill my position"
And when Harry asked, whats that near,
Biiiygn she spswerad-- A-a -.
Pm bound to finish your stockings afore
Sunday" And indeed she worked hard for
Harry.
Mrs Spoken tried to make her comprehend
that Mr.. Chinaway had made her possessor OF
Harkstone by paper-she did not call it a
willard this transaction Phis seemed to
comprehend better than any in which actual
money passed before her eyes.
He drew paper" said Phillis, collecting
the heads of the argument, and put in any.
body's name as pleased him. He was the mas
ter"
Sand you are the mistress, now" said Mrs.
Spoken, land can put in anybody's name,
too"
"Just as you please, ma'am," said Phillis.
"No, you must not say that. I've nothing
to do with it. But probably you like some peo-
pie better than others. Whom do you lke?"
81 like them as is kind to me-" said Phillis
and the subject seemed to pass as entirely from
her mind, as if it had been a lesson read at
school.
"Be kind to poor Phillis," said Mrs Spoken
to her little son; sand don't call her Silly; call
her Phillis."
The people in the country were very much
amused at what had taken place at the old cas-
tie, and several of the families called there, and
tried to see the heiress. But Mr.. Spoken was a
sensible man, and would neither allow her tn
appear before such people, nor his wife to profit
by her own residence in the castle to enter into
| their society. He explained the manner in
which he and Mrs. Spoken were stu sted, and
declared himself merely the agent for the estate
and that his wife, at the request of Captain Ora
burn, had consented to live with the friendless
Philhs. People in general gave him credit for
design to appropriate the estate but nobody
| could deny that what he said was rational and
satisfactory.
Meantime his own and his wife's connections
were not to be denied and they came many
and frequently to the castle. Still, Mr.. Spoken
| allowed no spendors. There was certain sum
| appropriated by him to housekeeping, and he
would not permit his wife to add more than that
sum to their own income.
"How should l answer, my dear, to the next
possessor," said he, when accounts come to
be looked over, for spending more than will
keep up proper house for poor Phillis, and
remunerate myself and you for our care of
herr"
"That depends on who is the next possessor,"
| should be the person who was kind to her; and
if anybody's kind, know who that is"
"Did she, indeed?" said Mr.. Spoken. "What
made her say that yonder9n
70, you underrate her terribly" said his wife.
She has far more sense than you think for"
"Pm afraid so,' muttered Mr.. Spoken And
when he went to his room to write letters for
that days post, he looked for Captain Graburn's
address, and indited him the following epistle !:
"DEAR Sir: feel myself in 6 very anxious
position, for should anything happen to old Miss
Chinaway, and should she make will contrary
to justice, / might be accused of neglecting
your interests In way very derogatory to my
professional integrity. People aciu get about
her, and there's no knowing what impression
they may make by affecting kind manner, to
which she has never been used. Therefore,
| my dear sir, should strongly counsel you to
pay visit to the castle, to look after your own
fortunes, and fiddle the heiress.
"Yours, faithfully, L. SpoKER."
A few days brought him back the answer:
"DUBLrN, PoRro BELLo BARRACKS.
"MY DEAR Sir: Many thanks; but let peo-
pie get about her. Life is too short to fiddle
the heiress,' and l am enjoying it now, and have
no mind to waste the present upon the chance
of securing what might either fail to get, or be
too old to have pleasure from in future. How
is the old girl-as handsome as ever?
"Yours, very truly,
CHARLES GRABuRN.
Many and kind thanks to you.p
HHe's making game of me, almost think
said Mr.. Spoken to himself, as he folded up this
letter. "He need not have been so short upon
me-"
The years lS53.54 passed away, all these
circumstances unaltered, except by the chan.
ges silently wrought On them BY outward