Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-25
ASHTON COURT.
CHAPTER /.


grace the gables OF the ancient pile, and wan
dered from easement to easement, vainly trying
to pierce the close shutters, and peer into the
dreary rooms where costly furniture lay mould
ering in the darkness. as precious treasures
laden with the dust of earth lie hidden in hearts
that close their portals TO the light, and live in
darkness, though the sunshine shines for all.
The silence of the Court had been unbroken
through all the glorious Summer-tide ever since
the tenth OF April, when the solicitor of the
late squire with his own hands closed the shut
tiers and barred and locked the doors in ODE
dience TO the will of his client.
OCuTiOus strangers had climbed the fences and
wandered through the woods, across the lawn,
trying. like the sunshine, to have a peep INTO
the ancient grandeur OF the rooms, talking
meanwhile Of the eccentric will of old Mr.. Ash
ton in suhdued voices, though within each
darkened window some ghOstly thing were lis
tening To their words.
The squire had been an old bachelor who.
troubled all his life by poor relations, had cum
ningly devised a plan for reyenging himself at
ter his death.
The will was read in the library to a group of
mOuTneTs clustering around the great table
where the spiders prOmenaded now. between
their dizzy teatS among the lofty shelves; and ii
the lawyer had been a man of humOr, he might
have gained intense amusement from the faces
OF his listeners, a. in legal language the long
expected document informed them that Ashton
Court was left in the charge oftrustees to be the
property Of any OF the numerous relations of the
squire who should earn by his own exertiOns FIVE
thousand pounds within five years of the tesla
tors death; but in default of any of the said re-
latOnS fulfilling the conditions of the will, Ash
ton Court was to b. sold, and the proceeds
given to the County Hospital; but for five years
the house was 10 be shut up and left to the ten
der meTcies of the spiders and rats. s.tle only
companions of his lonely life" the test ator adj
ded. who had afforded him nothing but amuse-
mcnt-'
Five thousand pounds. With despairing Gag
eTue>S each eXpcctant heir reckOned up his
share OF abilities, and looked with greedy, jeal
GUS eyts on the aces OF his kindred, all engaged
III the same dresry calculation. There was a
strong family likeness between the A>htOns
present; all were lean ,hOllOw-eyed, with mouths
that, like all their features save their noses
pointed downward. Even their sandy hair re-
fused to curl, but parting each one from his
neighbOr, pointed. like 80 many fnger-posts,
with dismal significance down Their noses
certainly locked upward, but instead of having
anything noble celestial about them. were nit
companions to the low, narrow foreheads and
small, Cowncast ewes that cleaned 80 dSper-
ately at the contents of thi dreadful will.
Five thousand POundsi-a groan of unanimous
wrath and dismay fell from their lips, they
cogitated the awful condition OF the will. and
rushed away TO hide their disappOintm mt in the
IOsOmS of their several families, and 90 over
again the dreary sum of their talents and oppOr-
tunities, in vain hopes to find the golden KEY
that would unlock the Golfers OF the worlds
wealth.
1t was balmy spring tide then; primroses were
blooming IN the hedgerOws. and young lambs
were PLAYING among the daisies, in blissful ignOr-
aHce of the serious business of life. The roses
had blOOmed and faded since; the lambs were
staid sheep, intent on earning subsistence from
the Autumn paS-ure or, Sadder still, had been
the Wet ms OF the butchers knife
The harvest sheayes were garnered but the
A>htOnS had nearly all given up the hope OF
calling the fertile corn-tiells OF Ashton theirs,
and summed the Court in envy. hated. and all
nncharitableness towards every one who could
hope To reign a. master in its stately home. But
one glowing evening. gentleman and lady ar
rived at the little station, and walked together
through the lane that led TO Ashton. The like
ness OF the former TO the family OF the Ashtons
was diversified by the expression of a determ-
lHed will. The young lady was like no one but
herself; from the strange tinge OF her cleaning
COppeT-eOlOred hair, To the willful, peculiar
voice, she was perfectly original. She had
line face, a bonnie face, neither pretty nor
handsome. nor beautiful, but one that would
haunt YOU in YOUR dreams from the very inten-
sity of its wonderful expression.
They walked on in silence through the woods
whose missions are performed, folding their
wings To rest Out OF the trembling shadows
they came on the lawn, where sun-dial marked
the nj Sht of time upon its hawed and broken
face The two stopped there, and the man
raised HI hand, and POINTED silently TO the no
bic building beyond, where the swallows
wheeled in airy rings around the iyied Chin
heys, and che setting sun cleaned redly on the
walls. The fragrance OF hidden flowers stole
around them like spirit voices from some unseen
world, and the dash OF distant waters sounded
softly through the air.
beautiful, murmured the Young lady, ''Jut
YeTy deSOlate.'
..Dt>olate now - was the reply, '1but as your
home, Mary. your ehildren's home, perchance,
how beautiful, how cheerful, with human pres
ence breaking its slence!'
Father" she interrupted eagerly &" want
nc stately mansion for my home; we have been
happy in our simple life. Why break its peace
with your wild dreams? why weary your brains
with plans and hopes that will never succeed?r
:. They snail succeed, Marv," he replied.
You shall 1T Id will that a lghty hall lady
81 Ashton Court yet. my child
- would rather be mistress in our own little
home, my dear old father" she said, clinging
f1ndly To his arm. What's the good of il ali?
Won't il he the same hundred years hence,
whether you die master of Ashton, or the M dest
~ neI Of two acIes of leasehOld?"
- Child, tell YOU have made up my mind
. hen unmake IL father; there's nothing
easier IL III world. ,
- Mary, Will YOU be ssriOus"
.. ] am, father, she replied.
"1heH talk as though you were, ~ said her
father. g l tel yCu will win Ashton Court, or
else leave my bones TO bleach on the highway OF
life"
"The road-surveyors won't allow You to do
that nowadays, father said Mary. :" Don't
be seLtims a wha'e -er else yJu may be-"
He snatched his arm n ON her clasp, and paced
% and FRO before he spoke TO her again.
- Mary. YOU have been good daughter TO me:
needS"
.. don't see any need Of it, father. To quote
an old song, you've a crown you can spend, q
daughter and FRIEND and many more OF the
good things Of this life. Ashton Court viii be a
needless luxury, that would spoil everything
else; as one handsome thing puts its shabby
"Nou shan make me angry, Mary, however
much you may try it. 1 repeat once more, 1
will win Ashton I'm going to London to invest
my capital in a business that with care and tai
ent will yield Eve thousand pounds profit in less
than five wears; but 10 do this must save every
farthing must pinch and starye, and deny
myself for those years-for you, Mary-remem-
Der that, child-for you
"Save yourself the trouble, father; you know
/ don't want it,
0But want IL for you" he said. "To see
YOU where you will shine 50 well, In your proper
place in society, Is the acme OF my dreams,
Mary-the end of my ambition"
a. But TO gain this remote end, you want me,
in the meantime, TO earn my living, father, as a
prelnsIe 10 becoming lady OF Ashton"
That's 10 exactly" he returned, without mo-
ticii the bitterness of her words. "Get a sit
uaf,au as n gOvernes-, under q feigned name,
Mafy and cheer your labor l cheer mine,
viii the glorious prize We strive for"
GLORIOUS, indeed she ans sered. "a pile
of stones, q few acres Of earth-wealth, that
canAply buy the gaudy tinsel and outward
49, OF hfe-Tank that will only fetter us To the
iron laws of society, TO be possessed for few
brief wears, then lost forever. All thisi is pow
srIess' 10 save the aching heart or stay the hand
Of deAth. A glorious prize, in truth; but viii
help you to win ii Ike du'uul daughter )