The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-04-02
THE pHAnro on orDEADmouK TOWER
CONCLUDED.

CONCLUDED.
The proprietor of this medieval place
was couple Of centuries or so in advance
fit certainly; butAstill he was very old
fashioned. He met me at the gate in the
most courtly manner; indeed, took him at
first for sort of heraldic butler, and very
nearly addressed him with: What ho!
seIeschal. But, fortunately he introduced
himself as Mr.. Bantyen before 1 had time
to say it,.
''He showed me up to my room himself.
was extremely anxious to make me comfort
able, and apologized for everything.
"He was portly old gentleman, with
gray hair, prominent eyes, and rather
weak, undecided expression of countenance.
and he was dressed like one of Seymour's
caricatures, in short-waisted coat-name-
1y, cut very high in the COLLAR table
cloth rolled round his neck for tie. panta
looms and pumps
"When was left alone, I inspected the
room, the furniture of which would have
set up curiosity shop. It was panelled
with oak; and the heavy, high-backed
chairs, the table, the tall wardrobe, were all
of the same dark material. There was q
queer mirror, composed of three pieces. set
aslant at the further end of the room, SO as
to reflect everything in it in distorted
fashion; and pair of dueling swords were
crossed over the high, carved chimney
piece. But the bed, my dear fellow. the
bed! Why, it filled half the room, and
must have been originally intended for an
entire family; the hangings were thick and
just the bed to lie in state in.
'Itwas not altogether cheerful apart
ment, but could hear the grouse Growing
through the open window, and that sound
was lively enough to subdue any amount of
upholstering gloom.
II was sufficiently up in history to know
that my host was dressed for dinner. SO 7
put on evening things, and went down
stairs.
'The table was laid in the hall, and as T
had to pass through it to reach the drawing
room, saw that the party was to consist of
three Mr.. Bantyen? or son? or another
gun?
Neither. On opening the drawing room
door, l was received by q charming girl of
twenty or thirty-I never can guess at the
beardIess dcars' ages while they have figures
and smooth eye corners-and Mr.. Bantyen
intimated that he was widower, and that
this young lady, his only child, kept house
for him.
''And very we'll she kept it, too. nice
little dinner she gave u.s. A copitoI
manager she must have been, for everything
had to be fetched from tremendous dis,
tance, and trifing slip of memory might
have left the household without oil or
Worcester sauce for week.
"She was little bit shy at first but unite
self-possessed, and evidently ruled the
household, her father included. She was
we'll educated. read the papers and mapa
zines, played the harp, sang and was rather
glad, think, to have civilized being to
talk to-
Il have shot over moors in Scotland VIII ere
the grouse was more plentiful, certainly;
but still the sport was very fair, quite good
enough for my. purpose. The old gentle
very fairly, too, with an antique Manton
which had flint locks; he could do nothing
with percussion gun. In the evening 7
played at piquet with him, or at chess With
his daughter; and after pretty heavy snr.
felt of balls and dinners, that little hit ~
domestic quiet came in most acoentohIy
We soon got very friendly together, and in
fortnight was quite like one of the fa.
mily, and Mr.. Bantyen told me all his nr;.
vate affairs. p'
1.-The family property had once been verv
good. but succession Of extravagant nos.
SCISSORS had mortgaged all that part mon
which money could be raised, and the bor.
rem heath, with its old tower, was about all
that was left However, the old gentleman
had not always been quite so much straight
ened as he was at present. but misfortune
had befailen him during the last few years,
the principal being scampish nephew of
his dead wife's; who had got his unce-in-
law to be security for him in some affair or
another, and had then been guilty of dis
honest trick, which that nnoffending rela-
tive had to pay.
.'You may well understand that did not
asis for any details upon so unpleasant a
@uoJect; SO, whether this black sheep had
cone anything which was absolutely felo-
ri x.~kI L.
cost Mr. Bantyen so dearly to get him out
OF the scrape, and then start him off to