Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-12-21


Ssgc "ne, bat ali-I have. 0bcs l hoped
better things, darling"
The speaker was the young carl of Tam
kerville He stood. with his newly welded
bride. on broad but decayed terrace. over.
Looking wide sweep If hillside aud river
Il was uicht bul the moon was shining. sil>
veriDg all things with is magical Tadiuncs
Behind him was long, low, picturesque edi>
fee, half castle, halt manor house, dilapida.
ted aud in ruins.
81 would be happy anywhere. dearest"
was the fond answer, seven in the poorest
cottage, wore ynu with NE"
E-is bun littlc moro ihan n cnttager's fare
I have to "fFer you" said the y,iuue husbund,
sadly UT, when Ge"fFrcy TaGkerville. eve
hundred, Years aga, bmlt this castle, lie held
a hundred MINORS Whon his descendent.
Sir Godfrey, ileaped his horse from youder
parapet, aud wAs dashed to pieces. sOOucr than
to surrender l., the Yorkisls who had stormed,
tho walls, the possessions OF the iAmiIy were
even greater. But now, this ruined castle,
and few barren acres, represent our entire
wealth. Ah, 0wendoIine, had known that
| was to be d,sinhorited | wonld mover have
asked YOU 10 lie mine-'
"Hnsh! mt u word of that" replied the
bride, laying her hand lightly on his lips,
''yon would have done me n great wrong,
Besides you were not 10 blame. YoNr cousin,
afier years Of estrangemeni, had aekuawls
edged you as heir of his estates, bhd the IL
tlc lie could not keep irum ynu. he after>
ward changed his mind, that was all"
Yet answered the young earl, 81 am sure
there was will Ia my iavor The did earl
said tu me- hpve come TO die in the home
II our race. aud realize ut last that have
u" right to disiuhcrt you, simply because
hated your Father. YcWs agnI made will,
lsaving tn my broiler,in,iRw. Lord Dormer,,
all, except tins caste. which is entaied on
this tite. But now ! havO executed later
will, giving everything to YOU II was on
this assurance, darling. that I come to yau,
aud sp"ke Then tha old earl died suddenly,
was fund in his library chair n corpse ; had
died, it vas Snpp,Sed, while noking over his
papers. If the late, will was ever distracted,
at that time. Certain It Is, it was
never found"
IL Iave always thought it very strange. es-
Ieciaily as no one was here, you say. who
could have had auy interest in making away
with the will.
"On the contrary, the old butler, William,
my fast friend lie himself Was ono of
the witnesses TO the will But see, there he
comes to summon US 10 dinner. An earl of
Tuukervilie is poor Indeed when ono npod fOls
lower is butler, tootnlan. valet. Ftcwnrd. every
thing, and on his masters wedding day"
The young bride turncd to take la,t look
at the landscape. before going in. Just at
that u,ouen, raven croaked upder the ter.
race wall. Tho interruption came so unex>
uectcdly, the snuud fbrhodiug. that
Lady Tunkcrsile shrank instinctiyely and
shuddered
''You think it an omen of evil, said her
husband, with concern. let us rathOr look
on il as welcome These ravens have hoen
here from iu,e immem"rial; they arc tho last
of cur rotaincts; it is but thoir rude way Of
slipwing gudness"
TIE bride tried to smile.
Il was silly" she said. "nnd nervous
Yel il is g"od omen. for SEQ here he comeu,
soaring over the purnret. aud with white
peace Offering. l daO are, in b 8 beak, like
the dove from the ark What caD IL be 7"
A. che spoke, the raven rose heavily over
tho terrace, Aipping his wings slowly, aud
h"vrred just over them
"He does not fear u, at any rate" sbii the
earl, 'Rud that n sign 0f Welcome Stny.I
will scare him tall he drops his burden, and
thOn will sec what it is. / caDuot make IL out"
b. uttered quick loud cry, aS he spoke,
aud the raven, with frightened croAk, let 90
his burden, mud numbered du-kily away.
Strange" cried the yUunR npble. IS ho
picked ny he parcel, which bHd faIlcu almost
vt iii- feet, this is ioIicd parchment. Il
il tied mud sealed Ike some important Law
parer. Gracion. heaven shat d. read
The srpotscription H. Tile i1a icW anil tess
f9mentoI Ra5,h. rfo| TrHkerCjIle Why,
my darling. this is the losi will, unless my
eyes. in this moonlight, dereive me-"
True enough, it yHs the lost will, ~ they
sonn convinced themselves, beyond the pos.
sibdiry Of a doubt when then they came 20
examine it in rhe lighted dining room. within
doors. "Themis my very letters" cried old
Williams. between laughing and tears. IL
krOws the big W and the Two r." (ho pro-
nnuced then, with a H. +-aud that's Jim Jones,
s'Gnatnor likewise I,or' bless Us, what .
mirracul 90
a search, the next day. under the ter{.ce
wall. revealed large cavity. flled Vifh -,
rious other articles, apparently stolen \ ne
raven and hid tbGie. III Is most preBable.g
-aId the vnHng earl, tist my pOOk old ne.
deee-sor was examining tbis win, Win
other pnners. when hr vas strRek with deaah.
aud that the raven. en;rringJfIlrnueh the omen
widow, carried of tlys docnmenf and se/
cretsd it. haze Igse heard Of such curis6S
freaks befo'e "
Lord DOtms7 made no Opposition to tie
surrender Of the eststes lie was very
wealthy m his OWn right; aud besides. ho
saw, yle folly of coutest.
y~f"It was a Incky chance. my lord" said the
family lawyer, when be announced this re-
suit. that brought you e. the old eastle for
Sour wedding tour. OtherWise the Will
m gbt never have been found, for she raven
wHs evidently carrying it Of TO some ether
secret reeepiaclr. God knOWs where"
"It was cot chance" Teverently replied the
young bride. who wSs present. ''rt was Provi-
dence. Whatever el-e is false, this is trus-