The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-06-28
@isfellaaeuas.
THE Old KEEPERS STORY.

W~NNSVvV~~ WV
,e THE Old KEEPERS STORY.
1t was a quaint room in which ] sat
with the freight flashing into each corner
and tho stuffed birds, foxes aud pole-cals
looking life.iike in tho blaxo; a quaint cot,
iage room, but the essence Of comfort. As
I pulled at tho stiff glass Of whiskey anJ
water, and puffed my meerschaum, felt ex'
ccssiyely comfortable. WINS In no hurry
to get my wet wuter.boots dried, which by
OF the hearth.
Ny temporary host sat opposite /; fine
athletic old man, with sDow.white hair and
whiskers. The cut Of his coat md the wa
ry look on his weatler.beatcn, honest tucs
sufficiently told the ex.gamekeepcr, had
not the retriever Wip at his feet and the GUN
behind him added evidence. A fine spoc-
linen Of his class, ho wss well.kni, and &C.
i've even ut eighty years Of age, and with
a frank, clieery look in his eyes that told Of
s,raight. forward truth and worth. , 80 %
! had been snipe-shoo,ing on some
marshes I rented Of the lady of the manor
and having got soaked in deep rivulet
from fall, had sought shelter in the keep
er's cottage. To 10 q sportsman WINS, OIL
course, a passport to his favor, added Ia
which, his grandson. Tom, was my invari.
able attendant and hag.carrier. The old
man hal seen but once, save when, q,
my renting tho shooting FROM Lady lin
wood, he, as her head keeper, had shown
me the boundaries. The great hall was
closod, for Lady Llnwood, a childlcss wild.
ow, lived permanently n Nice, and her tair
estates were oil let. She was the widow
Of poor lieutenant colonel knighted for
galianr service, and had sicceetied to the
property in lack Of direct heirs. .'h
Seaman, my boet, was something more
than head keeper. Evidently, he had bcel'
ono Of those trusted, ancient servants, 10
whom the honor and wclfare Of fnmily
urc dcar as It's own members. And by, the
sad look on his face whenever he spoke Oi
the squires Of Linwood I fanried some por.
ton Of tho family history was inournfdl
and unhappy
"Do you see much Of Lady Linwood ~
I asked. go .'7 y ".'' ir '"' '''
"Nover, sir. She is always abroad, anil
there's never been Linwood here since
the last squire died" .r..
"That was long ago!"
ayes, sir, long ago. Five and forty
years agonc, SIR! he said, musingly, lris
eyes fixed on the Gre. "Five and fHiy
years agono-and It seems but yesterday
+ WINS interested. The keepers manner
dictinn, and expression were all unlike his
class, and l felt a curiosity, as, we NIL
do, when something tells us Of hidden
history. ' '''.
81 suppose the last squire had q good
stock Of game ?" said l. ....... I,.-
'.Yes, sir. Hundreds Of peasants he
turned out. | was yo,ingsier then-,in.
dstkeepcr and used to fetch the sacks
Of barley for EN- 90 ..-.r '.,-...,t
"And was he, much Of n sportsman -
"Ycs, sir. With the gun, rod and horse,
he wasn't equalled all the country round,
lie was q tall, fne man, with coal black
hair and whiskcrs, pleasant aud kind to the
tenants, but with fearful temper, If any
thing would 70 wrong. He'd rave and
swear and smash NIL round him IN the
room, when he was in one Of his storms,
Tie only person who managed him wus
Miss Dora"
Hste the keeper became silent and a
look Of deep sadness came over his rugged
face. ..,......... 5000,
"You'll have to stay long time. sir. for
your things AFRO soaketi. Sc. IT, you'd like
10 hear ii, III tell you the story, suppose
Unlike old men, sir, and love to malln
der" he added, with a smile OF natural
dignity and courtesy as might have become
lMr. George Linwood Eve and forty
years ago was the squire. Ito lived here
with his rnother,a gentle lady. She wax
always on her sofa, and never we'll, but IA
kind rs an angel to tho poorly Mics Dora
Maitland, her neice, came to, stay up ut tic
hall with them. Her parents were very
poor, and she'd ak sistcfs; 80 they were
glad-Miss Doras parents, mean-awlien
Mrs Linwood said she'd adopt her a, her
daughter. I heard this, you. know, sir,
from the Iadys maid at tho Nall, who was
afterwards my wife. She 'diod yean ago."
!, And the old man sighed, and glanced ut
an empty chair near bis own. ,..,.., .,.
20 s,yell SIR" he resumed. sMiss Dom
came, and Mrs. Linwood was very fond Of
he's. So was everybody. for, she, was %
sweet and gentle, and her voice was like q
birds. Everybody about the estate knew
iMss Dors, as che used 70 70 about In Her
broad hat and carol hes ssngs. for AL tho
world like blsckbhd in a. holly. The COT
iagers used to know her, for, whenever, any
ous, WINS IN. there Miss Dom was, petting