Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-07-23
AGNES PERCY /;
The Rival Heirs Of AbbotsWold
CHAPTER 1.
THE HEiR OF ABBorswoLD.

| ." thc yt"i iioo, siuhii party vi lhuleS dh
gentlemen stood upon one Of the terrace
In front Of an old English Castle, called Ali
botswold.
That midde-aged man, Of hold front, an,
goodly presence, dressed in black velvet
with buckles of gold upon his shoes, and
sparkling diamond of wondrous size an,
beauty in his frillcd shirt front, is John Per
cy, the present Marquis of Abbolswold.
The youth by the lords side, with bool
in his hand, is Eustace Percy, II son of til,
Marquis, but not his heir. No,-Eustace il
only eighteen, and his brother Albert i.
twenty. Albert, bold, dashing, and hand
some, just home from Oxford for hunting
vacation, is TO succeed to the lordship d
this great estate, tor in England the oldes
son is sole heir to the real propcrty-ant
Eustace is hesitating between the Church
and the army. The marquis says nothing
to influence the boy either way; the mar
chioncss pleads for the church, while the boy
himself prefers tho army. And, wonderful
and paradoxical as IL may seem, u certain
beautiful maiden, named isabel st. John,
who even now steals sly and FACILITATING
glanccs at the pale student, whispers 10 him
that he shall be u soldier She knows there
will be danger; but she thinks she could
love a hero; and she knows Eustacc Perry
would be hero if he were soldier; for
she knows that he is noble and true, and
that Drawer youth never lived.
Eustace Percy was tall and well formed.
His face was strikingly handsome. His
brow broad and high his eyes large and
brilliant, and of a clear, cerulean blue; the
outline of his profile of the finest Grecian
cast; while his hair, of u golden brown,
cropped short over the white, full brow, was
suffered to float away over his shoulders
and back in II mass Of natural curs.
At short distance from the marquis
stood the marchioncss, engaged in CONVEX
sation with bevy.o girls, who were her
guests for the time. She was n handsome
woman, and fit companion for the lord
of Abbotswold.
=" Eustace," said the marquis, regarding
his son with look of tender regard La look
such us he never gave to the older son, sif
you feel as You look, you must feel rather
sad. What is the matter? nm afraid
shall have to shut your books away from
you for awhile. The doctor says your tenn
permanent is a peculiarly sensitive one; and
believe he is right"
" Yes" murmurcd the lad, half TO him
self, "and am as sensitive to things yet to
come as am to things already in the pres
ent. My father, there is u heavy load upon
my heart this day
There, boy-no more of that. never
knew you to fall into one of these fits but
something i'll came to pass directly thcreaf-
ter. The last time you were so sad under
heart-load, our little Bertha was taken from
us-the third and last of my daughters
leaving You and Albert alone for us to love
o, no more of il, Eustace Cheer up, and
look to where the sun shines. See how it
makes the thatch upon Callinglons cot look
like FURNISHED gold!'
The marquis gazed oil upon the fisher
mans cot as he spoke, and directly heavy
shadow rested upon his own face.
:" BY the way" he said, speaking in a
low tone, and looking to see that only his
son could hear his words, have you no.
ticcd whether Albert visits Calington's cot
tage of late rs he used to do -
E,istacc shook his head without answer.
ing
81 know what you mean, said Sir John,
sadly. :" ALBERT goes there ton often, and
tremblc for the consequences. Agatha Cal
lington is very beautiful, and wonder not
that the boy is smittcn hut lie should re-
member his station, and not bring II stain
upon his name directly under the shadow Of
his own home. | will speak with Inn.
should have done SD before. have neglec-
ted my duty
Aye, John Percy, you HAVE neglected
your duty and that neglect hath given
birth to curse that shall fall so heavily
upon your house in the Coming time That
enc whom you now love and cherish shall,
under its fiery touch, wish that he had new
er been horn
Indeed, my father, returned Eustace,
hopefully, !" dn not think Albert would do
anything wrong, Is he moi Percy2"
All, my boy there have been some very
bad qualities in the characters of men bear
ing that name. But will not borrow
Hal! cried Isabel st. John, jumping I'M
and clapping her hands al that moment, and
thus interrupting the marquis in his speech,
here come the hunters. Come, Mr.. Per-
Cyl" she continued, approaching Eustacc,
"you must smile now, for you know we
are to have grand time this evening-Eus-
tace! What is it? You are ill.,"
:" No, no, dear lady. 1t is only passing
thought. will Danish it speedily"
"What means that ?"
"Whal 2"
"Thc horses are walking, and there come
men out from the wood bearing something
like u litter
Aye-what is it?
And still the horses wak-walk slowly
that men who bear something like litter
can keep up with them. Slowly, SLOWLY
but nearer and nearer still, until those who
bear the INTERIOR litter it is-comc to
the terrace and set their burden down.
Lord Abbotswold secs what is upon that
litter, and with mighty groan lie buries
his face in his hands, and sinks down upon
his knees by its side.
The marchioness sees what il is upon that
litter, and with u low, wailing cry, she sinks
tainting upon it.
Eustace Percy gazcs upon the thing which
those men have borne from the wood, and
with his hands clasped and his eyes turned
heavenward, he prays for the eternal rest of
his dead brother!
Ayc-Eustace Percy is no more for the
church-no more for the army. lie is the
heir of Abbotswold, being the only living
child of John Percy.
The sad story was told in very few
words. Albert Percy had lost his life as
hundreds had lost their lives before. Excl
ted in the chase, determined to lead the
party, bent upon being the first to strike
the game, he urged his horse over barrier
too high for the leap; and when his COM
panions came up, they found the horse and
rider both dead.