Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-10-23
Srlctt Talt.
[From the Atlantic Monthlyl
THE BEST ORIGINAL STORY or TIE
DAY.
THE KINLOCE ESTATE,
AND HOW 1T WAS SETTLED.
CHAPTER XIV


NJ ark Davenport was prosperous in all his
undertakings. His position in the school did
not give much scope to his ambition, but the
salary be received was ample enough to pay
his expenses, while the duties were not so
onerous as to engross all his time. All his
leisure was given to literary pursuits. He
had many times thought be would relinquish
the drudgery of teaching, and support himself
by his pen; but he remembered the maxim
OF Scott THAT literature was good staff,
bat poor crutch, and he stuck to bis school.
AS he grew into practised writer, he became
connected with the staff Of daily newspaper
IN the great city. furnishing leading articles
when called upon, and he soon acquired
position ofluauence among his as oc ates. He
had maintained a correspondence with Mil
dred, and was looking forward to the time
when he should make visit to his native
town, hoping then. to be so well establish
ed in the world, that he might he able
to bring her back with him as his BRIDE
Every thought centred in her. He coveted
fame, wealth. position, only for her sake; and
stimulated by this thought, he had made ey-
ertions that would have broken down a man
less vigorous and less reeo.rte.
He received letter from innisfed one
day, after long interval,-so long that he
! Of evil as the cause of delay. He broke the
seal it was not from Mildred, but from his
cousin Lizzie These were the contents
My DEAR MARK,-l suppose you may
have been anxious before this, at not hearing
| from US; but the truth is, we have not had
anything very pleasant to write, aud so have
pat of sending 10 you. Father is by no
means well or strong. The lawsuit which is
now likely to go wrong, has troubled him ve-
ry much. He has grown thin, he stuops as
he used to. Then Squire Clamp has COM
! planned Of him before the church, and you
know father is over.seustive about his rela.
tiOns with the brethren, even with those
who are trying to ruin him. He is melancho.
ly enough. | hope be will be better, if he
gets through his difficulties otherwise ] am
| afraid to think Of what may happen.
lyon wonder, probably, at not getting o
letter from Mildred. Don't be surprised
when tell you that she has left home and is
| staying at Mr.. Affords. Mrs. kiploch has
! for long time wanted her to marry that
hateful Hugh Branung, and became so vio-
lent about it, that NJ dred was afraid of her.
! Lucy Ransom, who lived there, ran away a
short time ago, very mysterously. 1t seems
that the girl bad stolen something from the
house, and, after Mildred had plumply refus-
ed to marry Hugh, Mrs. Kinloch charged up
on her, that she had induced Lucy to steal
the papers or money, or whatever it was
Mrs Kinoch acted so like an insane woman,
that Mildred would not stay in the house but
ran over to Mr.. Affords, with only the clothes
she wore She passed by our house yester-
day. and told me this hurriedly. l have
heard, too, that Squire Clamp is about to
marry Mrs. Kinloch, and that he actually has
procured the license. Its very strange af.
| fair
40 fll out the account Of dsagreeable
things,-last evening, in one of the stores
people were talking of Lucy Ransom's fate
| las they have been for weeks,) when Will
Fenton, the cripple, said, he guessed Hugh
BrannDg could tell what had become of her
if he chose Hugh, it seems, heard of the
remark, and to-day, he went with dandyish
doctor, belonging TO the navy, | believe, and
beat the poor cripple with horsewhip, most
shamefully, | think this violence has turned
suspicion against him.
II am sorry not to have one pleasant thing
TO say, except that we oil love you as warmly
as ever, and hope to see you soon here. In,
deed Cousin Mark, | dread 10 write but
| il you don't come soon, think you will see
father only on his last bed.
Goodbye, dear Mark
"Your Cousin,-LIzzIE."
We will waste no time in attempting to
analyse Marks conflicting emotions, but fol
low him to lnnis6eld, whittier he went this
eame day. Great as was his desire to see bis
bstrothed, from whom he had received no let
ter Tor many weeks, he went FIRST of all, wher,
drty and affection called. TO see the dear OLE
man who had been to him more than ia
. ther.
Mr.. Aardwick was sitting in the corner
but rose up with new energy as be hear
the well.known voice. Mark was not prepa
red, even by his cousins forebodiug letter, t