Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-10-20
masters wedding Cay"

ing in. Just at that moment a raven
croaked under the terrace wall. The
interruption came so unexpectedly,
the sound was SO forcboding, that La
DIV Tankerviic shrauk instinctively,
and shudc;ered.
"You think it an omen Of evil,
said her husband, with concern.
Let US rather look on it as u wei
come. These ravens have been here
from time immemorial they are the
last of our reta!ners: it is but their
rude way OF showing gladncss.
The bride tried to smile.
81 was silly she said, "and nerv-
Gus, Yes ! it is a good omen, for see,
here he comes, soaring over the para
pet, and with a white peace offering,
| declare, in his boak, like the dove
from the ark. What can it be !
As she spoke, the raven rose hcavi'
ly over the terrace, Tapping his wings
slowly, and lowered just above them.
"lIe does not fear us, at any rate,
said the earl, "and that is sign Of
welcome. Stay, | will scare HIM till
he drops his burden, and then we will
see what it is. | cannot make it
out"
He uttered quick, loud cry, as he
spoke, and the raven, with n frighten.
ed croak, let go his burden, and Jun
bered away.
Strange, cried the young noble,
rs he picked up the parcel, which had
fallen almost at his feet, "this is a
folded parchment. 1t is tied and
sealed like some important law paper.
Gracious heaven what do | read :?
The superscription is, THE last 'ciH
and testament Of Ralph, earl Of 1on-
AerriWe.' Why, my darling, this is
the lost will, unless my eyes, in this
moonlight, deceive me-
True enough, it WAS the lost will,
as they soon Convinced themselves, be-
yond the possibility Ct doubt, when
they came to examine it, deliberately,
in the lighted dining.room, within
doors "'lhcm's my very letters,
clicd old Williams, between laughing
and tears, Il knows the big " and
the two U.s. (he pronounced them
with Il h,) sand that's jim Jones sig
natoor likewise: Lor' bless Inc, what
a mirracul J.
a search, the next day, under the
terrace-wal, revealed large cavity,
filed with yariou, other articles, ap-
parently stolen by the raven, and hid
there. 1T IS most probable," said
the young cml, shat my poor Old
predecessor was examining this very,
will, with other papers, when he was
struck with death, and that the raven,
carried off the document and secreted
it. l have heard of such curious
freaks before"
Lord Dormer made no opposition
to the surrender of the estates. He
was very wealthy, in his own right
and besides, he saw the folly Of a con-
test
st was lucky chance, my lord"
said the old family lawyer, when he
announced this result, "that brought
you to the old castle for your wedding
tour. Otherwise the will might never
have been found, for the raven was
plaialy carrying it otto some other
secret receptacle, God knows where"
"It was not chance reyerently re-
Piled the young bride, who was pres
ent, SIT was Providence. w hatever
else is false. his is true-tbat God
reigns, and reigns in all things. Not
sparrow falls to the ground without
his sanction"
you are right, my lady, and |
stand reproved,' said the cid solicitor
1T was Gods doings, and His alone.
All this happened nearly half a cen
tnry ago. The castle has long since
been restored, and is no more deSolate
and in decay. But the bride still
lives, and often tells to her grand
children, as they listen at her knee,
the romantic story Of the recovery OF
the will From "Petersons Maga-
ziue" for November.
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RuSi,spSs