The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-10-29
ID. G.
1HF TOWER OF HARKST0NE CASTLE.
IN THREE CHAPTERS.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "PAUL FERRoLL."

hsbi.ed some seven years ago by very old
man. who had been in possession nearly half
century, and during that time bad never been
known 10 give hint as TO his successor. He
saw neither friend nor foe, except when abso-
luteIy obliged. His estate was we'll managed,
BIZ his own agency and that of his steward and
attorney; but that was the Only ostensible en-
ployment be had. He epent his time alone.
aud wss SO inaccessible, that people forgot he
was alive till they were aroused to the fact by
hearing that be was dead.
The probable contents of his WILL then, ex
cited great interest; for the estate was wholly
in his power, and he had no near relations
He might leave it to his attorney to the Queen,
TO his ousekeeper; he might turn Harkstone
Castle into hospital; he might have made no
will at all and this seemed the most probable,
for none was found and none had been made
by bis attorney; and the latter began to make
inquiries into his nearest of kin. 1t was not
difficult to find this person, though he was very
remote. He was young man in the army
Charles Graburn, by name-a man of small
means, but not absolutely poor. He was not
aware himself that he had relation in the
world; for his parents, who would naturally
have talked al times over cousins and great
uncles, died when he was young, and his pedi.
gree had nothing in it interesting to him.
When informed Of his prospects, he at frs. re-
fused bis belief.
II should ike it well enough" said he !;
"but it's not true. You'll find will, Pm
sure, and | shall only have had the trouble of
changing my habits, to return to them again"
He hung back from taking any steps in the
business, and really thought of his chance as
little as he could help.
One rainy afternoon, his regiment being then
.&D L.. q L.
mess room of the barracks, playing at chess
with brother officer, when the sound of car
rage coming through the great paved court
and round to the steps of the entrance, drew
his eyes to the window, and there be beheld
looking from a railroad fly, the face of Mr.
Spoken, the attorney who had the care of his
business.
I'm be back before you play" said be. 81
see a fellow who wants me-" and meeting Mr.
Spoken In tie passage, he had time for bu
Good morning" before the attorney said
"a will has been found"
81 knew it," said Graburn, turning back
I'm glad never reckoned upon Harkston
Castle"
"You will enjoy it the more" said Mr.. Spo
ker. "All is left to the next of kim"
"To me?"
Yes, all to you. He wrote one will, leavin,
II 70 you by the name of Grayburn, with y il
the name, and another to his next of KIM a
if he would make it as sure as possible"
g So it's mine," said Charles.
"Yours, yours" said the attorney.
Thank Godl" said Charles Graburn, be
traying that he had been more interested tina
he had allowed. Then, turning back to tn
mess room, he entered it, singing I'D be
butterfly"
whats happened to Charley now 2" sal
his opponent, Frederick Palliser By name, VIII
had been determining where to move his cas-
tle. Charley turned songster"
Il have got four thousand pounds year
and a fIe castle, since went out of the room,
said young Grsburn.
BY Jove " said the other
Charles Graburn got leave from his Colonel
TO whom such an occasion seemed very sufi
Gent reason for granting it, aud went dow
next day to his new possessions.
HaIkstoue Castle stood On an isolated lo'
hill, just a quarter of a mile from the beach
Behind it are higher hills thickly clothed wit
low wood; and in modern times, by command
ing the castle, these surrounding bills woul
have made it an indefensible place. But il
position suited the century it was built in tn
hill was steep on all sides, so as to stand i
place of a fosse; and the towers followed tn
irregularity of the ground, covering the top
the hill with a building which afforded abur
dant shelter and defence to those who name
1t. In these latter serene times, it was merel
picturesque. The internal walls towards tn
court were pierced with convenient window
for the inhabitants; and when they would loo
out to the sea and landward view, they did 8
through narrow apertures, which, though el
iarged siuce they were intended for mere AFRO
slts, had been altered judiciously, and withor
spolllng the appearance of the castle. Th
last possessor had lett less trace Of himself tina
any one who had lived there fifty or sixty yeal
could possibly be supposed to have done. II
had burned all Ais letters before he died b
books were all on the book.shelves; not
much as blotiing book bore the mark of b
signature on the paper. He had lived to e,
IRENE old age, and had seemed to take pleasul
IN celebrating all signs that he had lived at al
Charles eagerly opened drawers, and searche
cupboards; there Was scarcely relic of tt
old times Just passed, though there were mar
OF the older times which had gone by hundre
years-nay, several hundreds. Suits of armt
there were, black jacks, spurs, cannon balls
but nothing to tell what the last man had Ell
joyed, done, or utfred.
Charles was greatly employed in rising owe
the estate with Mr.. Spoken, and arranging wb,
improvements must take place, what timber |
cut down, what exchanges with neighborin
sqaires set on foot. He found, also, that a
though the castle had been well taken care
on the whole, some repairs on large sea
were become necessary and he was absorbe
IN surveys and plans by which to gain IL
double object OF preserving the beauty al
character of the building, and at the same tin
dong to 1t what was essential for its repair.
One day, when he was looking at the bull
ing from the outside, it struck him that one
the projections had no corresponding roo
within; he was quite certain that where Il
outer wall expanded into what might be
room of tolerable size, the inside was fat 81
face, forming only one side of passage. +
ran rp stairs directly to examine it, expectil
to End doorway blocked up. There W
tapestry along the wall but when. it was LITE
noining but the rough stones were discovers
no trace of doorway, no mark of any form
aperture IN the wall. It was 80 unlikely, ho
ever, that the projection should consist of sol
masonry, that Charles determined to search t
outside, to ascertain whether any window mig
De hidden under the ivy. He mounted Ia
aer accordingly, followed by workman carr
tng q saw and Pickaxe; and searching throuJ
The ivy in various places, for it here quite ma
tied the wall, he found, in fact, a windo
strongly defended with iron bars, but which 8
mitted the eye dimly to penetrate into roo
wi.nln. curiosity was alive to read the secr
OF this hidden chamber; and making footi,
Tor himself on projection of the wall, BY Il
aud OF stout boughs of ivy, he gave place to {
workman who had accompanied him, to bre,
out the bars with the pickaxe he carried. a.
give him access. While this work was goi,
on, he looked anxiously into the room, viii
ne saw better and better as the ivy VISA cleare
and the dimmed glass re moved. 1t vas tsp,
.tred and the hangings seemed to have fall
IN places through the eff acts of damp and tin
a bed occupied one end, With q canopy crown