River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-01-22
SIR LEICESTER.

had just finished my next Sunday
sermon when my study door opening,
my wife entered.
George" she said, "Jinks says he
thinks something is amiss up at the
Priory; for, as he passed awhile ago,
he saw the old steward, who looked
terribly scared"
"Why did he not ask the cause, my
DEAR" | rejoined."
"He did, but he says the old man
merely shook his head, wrung his
hands in the deepest distress, and hur.
ried away"
Digging my pen in my desk, to the
humiliation of its nib, reflected over
my wifes statement. Finally ! said,
MY love, whatever it is, it is evident
We can do nothing. Sir Leicester Con.
nington is not man with whom even a
clergyman can interfere"
"He is as mad as March hare, that
is certain, remarked my wife.
"My love-my love !" expostulated.
"Well, George, say mad. If we
were in the fifteenth century I'd say he
was dealer in the black art.
"As true as most such accusations OF
the period"
Perhaps, therefore, as we are in the
nineteenth century, | protest mad.
James Morgan declares the other day
he came upon him lying among the
ferns in the wood, talking like ma.
MAC to something he had in his hand.
Then he laughed, then he wcpt, then
he wrthed on the grass in agony, ut.
tering strange words; then, leaping up,
united his horse and rode off, like the
Earl King himself"
Gall true, my dear. Certainly, the
poor gentleman has something on his
mind, but Of what nature"
My observations were cut short by a
violent ring at the bell. The next mo-
ment the servant entering, announced
that the steward from the Priory wish.
cd to see me Immediately,
"Show him in here, Mary" said my
wife quietly.
If my wife desired TO obtain any in
formation she was gratihed; for, on the
old stewards entrance his appearance
fully confirmed Jinks' statement. HC
was pale to a degree, and his features
depicted suppressed but intense dis
tress. Bowling respectfully, he at ono,
delivered MS message.
Sir Leicester is sorry to trouble you
at this hour, SIR lac said, "but he'll
take it as favor if you'll come to hin
at once, for he's dying"
"Dying! J" | cried, surprised, for thai
morning | had seen him pass my study
window, looking as well as usual.
Dying" CALCULATED my wife, il
horror. "0h, what can be done z"
SONY, if you please, if Mr.. HartoI
will see him."
Certainly. Dear, dear me !" ! ejac
ulated, taking my hat. "Come, my
man; let us co."
believe my wife would, if possible
have liked to have accompanied us
but she whispered to me to return a,
soon as | could.
As We proceeded, | inquired Of thu
steward the nature of his masters sud
den malady.
Sudden % he repeated. "Sir, i'll
been of years duration. Tow the enc
has come. My dear master-you vii
hear all, Mr.. Hartop, from him."
The old mans grief was so eviden
that | forbore to question him further
and went on in silence.
Kenelm Priory was fine building o
the Eizabethan era. Five years pre-
vious to this story it had been taken b,
Sir Leicester Connington. The gen
try were delighted at the addition t,
the neighborhood, especially as tn
Baronet was unmarried, and not mucl
over 30. But it was soon found 81
Leicester intended to keep no society
With him came two servants-the ole
steward and an elderly superior femal
domestic. The other servants were en-
gagged from the town, and only employ
ed in those mental offices which neve
brought them in contact with thei
master.
The visits that were made at tn
Priory were never returned. Sir LIE
cester led the life Of a recluse. Fo
months together he never quilted hi
house then he might be seen riding O.
superb horse about the country, wit
the recklessness of maniac. or, as m,
wife had remarked, like the Earl Kim
himself. He never crossed a neighbor
threshold, and no strange foot crosse,
his.
For my own part | imagined 81
Leicester had committed some grav
sin, and was thus expatiating it by re
morse. II may be conceived, ther
that felt both curious and littl
anxious at the thought Of hearing tn
truth from the dying mans lips.
On entering the Priory, ! expecte
TO be taken up stairs 10 the upper foo
where knew we're the bedrooms; bu
instead, my conductor, crossing IN
spacious hall, opened the library doc,
and ushered me into Sir leicester
presence, where ! stood, surprised, mt
tionless, contemplating the dying mar
Dressed as was his wont, looking I
usual, pale, sad, and careworn, II
Baronet sat writing at the table, as vi
like dying man as any / had CIV,
seen.
On hearing my name he arose, az
with a grateful expression, advance
snd took my hand. He was Ia
well made man; gcntlemanly in the e.