Middletown transcript., 1872-01-06
CHAPTER II.

y knew nm nOt-l sougnt MN not
lie wits my fathers guest
lgavc him not one smile more sweet
Than those gave the rest
r. Hiines B'y',y.
Towards the middle Of January. 1863.
Sin KALrn TugvgLLyS returned to Eng
land for the purpose Of claiming kcswick
Grange, now his by reason Of the death of
his father. Sir Robert Treyclyn. vino,
however. left the property in an cncum.
bcrcd state. Sir Ralph Trcvellyn was
scarcely known in the vicinity Of the
Grange, save by the mysterious tales
which were told of his early lfe--for he
had hitherto passed most Of his time upon
the continent, seldom visiting his native
country, and then only for Intervals of a
few weeks. Born Of an Italian mother
whom Sir Robert had welded At Florence.
while on his travels. hc new bnronct in
hcritcJ no great liking for England or his
English connections. ltal y he considered
as his country--aDd. accordingly on his
last return to the Grange, he brough, with
him several Of his Italian relatives, among
whom was his eog;iu, AnlErrE MiNorrI--
aud whom. it was rumoured. Sir Ralph
intended 10 marry. The beauty Of Ar
lcttc was strictly Of the Ausonian type
dark. aud volup,uous her features
discovered that latent passion and fire So
peculiar to her race. Sir Ralph had much
Of the Italian cast Of countcnancc, and
wi,hal. peculiarly sinister expression,
which struck the bchodcr Mt first sight
Ills long, thin red lips, and long, shining
teeth, in conjunction with an also long
thin. aud hooked nose, gave him some.
what the appearance Of n wolt. Of hi.
nose. however. he was particularly proud
calling it :. the true falcon bcak"
Following u time. honoured custom i,
such cases, Sir Ralph Trcyclyn, on taking
possession Of his patrimony. paid visit o
ceremony to the ncighbonring gen,ry
and then shut himself up in the Grange
seldom visiting npywhcre save at the man
sion Of Sir Henry Norton. about thre,
miles distant Meanwhile, il was sal,
that Rir Ralph and Arle,te would Ger
tauly be married in the second month u
Spring that the nup,ials would be celc
brated in the abbey chapel; and that tn
baronci, though Of the established church
had yielded to the demands Of his ltalial
friends and sent to London for cer,ail
ecclesias,io of ,hc Roman faith. who ha,
consented to perform the ceremony,
Among tho members Of Sir Henry Nor
TONS family. was MAupE MognnEy--th
baronets ward--and for whom Sir Hcnr
entertained an affection little less iha
that which he bore to his own family
Maudc Alocbrcy was the last Of he
race. Her father. ycoman Of th
county. had died several years previous I
the time Of which we write. leaving her ,
the care Of his distant kinsman. Sir Hcnr
Norton. who had promised Walter Mo.
brey to take charge Of Maudc until sh
came Of nge--at which period small M
nuity was to bo hers by rcversion.
was while visiting the Nortons ,ha, s
Ralph became acquainted with Mauie
: aud his pleasing address aud insinuai,n
manner badc her like him. despite bis u,
prepossessing appearance and the myster
: which shrouded bis life on the contincn
This liking Of Maudc soon grew into 4,
cidcd prefercnce--till. at length, il becan
qucSttbu WIN sOlDc nt 10 Wnut ths pnt'
net really intended. The preparations &
his marriage with Arlettc Minotti sti
went on, aud M did his visits to the maj
sion Of Sir Henry Norton. The beauty
!, Maude was Of tho opposite kind to tina,
Arlrne Minotti From her Saxon ance
: tors Maude Inherited the fair complexion
: blue eyes, and auburn hair peculiar to th
, , pcople---whilc the mould Of her fea,ur
!, was Of the purcst type Of beauty. and b
= mauuers had that namelcss charm viii,
IL the concomitani alone Of superior brce
ing aud rc6ncmc0t.
. A few days previous to that 6xed I
!, tho marriage Of Sir Rulph and Arlett
!, the expected prisat arrived At tho Grsna
: aud With him . mystcrions.lo looking ps
4 sonngc. evidently an Italian of distinctic
: aud supposed TO bs the father Of Arletl
During his sojourn Of two days. tho my
,erious stranger kept himsslf IN strict I
clusiou. not going outaide Of The Grane