The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-05-14

remarked, too pretty for the abode Of a bache
lor and a STRIPPING. r.. . adj
"And yet, Philip dear, there is no other tina
[ can think Of. The red room where we sleel
faces east, you know; aud the children's nurs
ery would not do at all and the blue room
land that with the pink roses on the walls are
Itoo shabby and small and, in fact, nothing
Ebut this would serve. See what a rich paper,
Ftoo, and how well it matches that lovely car.
pet and the curtains!"
1t aoGS a handsome paper, dark green IL
Icolor, but not sombre, being of a rich deer
emerald hue, and Of what is called "velvet
flock the most costly and elaborate of all pa
pers. l quite agreed with my wife that we
could not possibly put our delicate pupil il
Iany other room than this and it was accord
ling resolved that the green chamber should
henceforth be known by the style and title Of
Sir Frederick's room.
lit was in good order, or would be so when
3 few purchases, such as a shower-bath and
the like, had been made. But the bell-wire
proved to be broken and we had to get it re-
ipaired the best We might. There was, OF
course, no bell hanger in Oakleigh Parva, and
none III the neighboring village Of cambridge
hut in cambridge there was a blacksmith,
WHO COIlI, dl u DlIlCI3 CNCCICS LilC OCoIl Cu IT.
spair, and l gave the necessary instructions to
this descendant of Tubal Cain.
''Umph!' said the man; very well, sir
And SO It's here the young Sir is tc sleep
rather he than that's all | knows
And the smith whistled a few bars as he I'M
strapped his wallet Of tools.
Ny curiosity was piqued-I asked for an
explanation but Jonathan Brown, shoeing-
I-,x;4l, ,.~ ,.o4 ,,;II5ro. T., 10 communicative
He only growled out that 'luck was luck, y
and that IA most O folks had died, to be
sure, in that chamber, on which some thought
the ''old monks curse lay special heavy"
An old woman of the village proved more
garrulous; she explained that the prior Of the
little monastic community, having been eX-
PEELED with violence by the Stauntons, under
warrant from King Henry Will, had laid a
solemn curse on them and theirs, o. the acres
left from the monks, and IN the parsonage,
which was to be given to a hereto incumbent.
1t was still firmly believed by the more super
I%stitious villagers that at irregular periods the
shadOwy form OF a ghostly monk, in cow and
robe OF serge, passed nolseicssly through the
vicarage house and the laughter mansion Of
Staunton Dene, blighting those he breathed
upon, and that death never failed to attend
his boding presence. Several deaths had oc-
Cured in the green chamber in particular,
chiefly those Of young members OF the family,
and for the most part blooming girls, who had
faded and pined under 1.-THE CURSE until their
dim eyes had looked their last on the emerald
tinted walls.
l did my best to keep these fantastic rumors
from coming to Clara's ears, lest they should
alarm her. For myself, l was rather annoy
ed than impressed by them. | was not by any
means of a superstitious turn of mind, and |
quietly sat down the legend as an absurdity
unworthy of a second thought. We were very,
very happy at Oalleigh Parva; my wife re-
covered her good looks and sunny smile, both
of which had become rarer than in her early
life, and the children soon grew rosy and plump
of form, and throve wonderfully. Our new
home, indeed, might have satisfied the. crav-
ings Of much more fastidious folks than we
were. The people about us, though ignorant
We're generally well-disposed and grateful for
any little kindness. 1t was such q pleasure,
to Clara in especial, to meet with smiling faces
and g~ood-humored mods and ducks Of welcome
at the cottage thresholds, that we felt as five
were among old friends again. So the spring
melted into summer, and on the last day Of
June our charge arrived.
Sir Frederick's personal appearance surpris-
ed us at first. We had, Of course, sketched
an ideal portrait Of the young baronet, Citing
him, equally as a matter OF course, with very
hair, very blue eyes, q feminine delicacy
Of feature, and a sickly pallor. The real Sir
Frederick was a tall, dark-haired STRIPPING,
with a grave and handsome face, rather sun
burned, but by no means indicative Of a tend
ency to phthisis. | could not at first cOmpre-
bend why Mr.. Staunton should be so very ur-
gent on the score of his nephew's chamber
a warm aspect, since, so far | could
the young mans lungs were as sound as
my OWN. He was slight Of build, however,
and by no means robust but what puzzled
me most was the air of reserve, so unusual at
bis years, and which was quite free from that
awkward shyness SO common with striplings.
Sir Frederick W0S reserved to a degree that
chilled the warmth of our reception Of him,
and, though perfectly polite, gave an unplea-
SAINT impression OF being continually on his
guard. lie was accompanied by his travelling
tutor, o gentleman whose connection with his
pupil would terminate from the moment ofhis
arrival under our roof. This tutor, whose
name was Peters, who had been appointed by
Mr.. Staunton to his present post, appeared a
dry, hard man, who did his duty mechanical
w. but no more. He consigned the young bar
onet to our care with much the formality Of a
conscientious messenger giving up the custo-
dy of valuable property, and half wondered
whether he would not end by asking me for
q receipt for Sir Frederick Stanton. How
ever after dinner, and declining our offer Of q
bed, MIR. Peters took a cold farewell OF his late
pupil, and ratified of in his post-chaise.
That evening was duller than we had eX-
pected. Sir Frederick's reserve did not melt,
and his cautious manner and chilly politeness
threw a damp over us all. | am wrong, tho
when [ say all Emma and Kitty, whimsical
as children often are, took very kindly to tins
coId-mannered STRIPPING, refused to be daunt-
ed by his grave looks, and tyrannically de
that he should look at their picture
books and p~laythings, besides eXtorting a
promise that he should tell them some 'pretty
It was very odd. There was MIR.
Richard, laxative, bland, and beamlng be
nevolence at every word, and those graceless
little damsels had refused to be friendly with
that admirable man his nephew arrives mel
ancholy, grim and t%aciturn, and the little
witches take a fancy to him, at once, and
o him in some marvellous manner Of their
own, into a smile that seemed rare on his
bronzed face.
But Clara and | were not very well pleased.
My wife had been preparing to be good and
motherly to the sick boy, to hulior him, to
coax him into health, and to bear patiently
with his whims and probable peevislness, that
she felt terribly snubbed by the cold and dis
tant courtesy Of our young guest. She pro
nounced a private opinionthat the Lady Staun-
ton must have brought him up most injudi-
ciousIy. She thought him '~haughty." |
could not pronounce 50 positively o his char
acter; he was a problem to me.
When Sir Frederick retired to rest, Of course
I went up stairs to see if he was comfortable,
and to ask him how he liked his room, which
he had not before seen. He cast a quick look
round it, and I saw him SILVER.
you are cold p said |, and indeed the day
had been rainy, and Irecolfetted that Sir FIRE.
derrick had spent most Of his life in Italy.
':Not exactly cold be answered, musingly;