Nebraska advertiser., 1876-08-03


seated side by side, smoking their
morning pipes, discussed congenial
subjects, or lapsed into quiet enjoy
ment of their tobacco.
It was half-past ten before they
reached Holly Hill, as various pack
ages had to be left at different houses
upon the road. They stopped at an
inn for half an hour, where Charley
stood treat. Then he and Bilge sci
forward upon the pedestrian portion
of the journey, but not mentioning to
any one their destination. For the
first three miles the country was bare
and fiat; but after that distance had
been passed over, its aspect grew more
picturesque.
"All you see about you now is the
Blakely estate" said Bilge.
Charley's heart gave leap. Could
it be possible that he was the heir OF
all this land?
Presently they came to high wall
that bounded the road on either side,
and above which rose thickly-planted
| trees.
This wall encIoses the grounds, a."
again said Bilge; I'VE shall be at one
of the lodges directly"
And in few moments they stood
before tall stone gateway, surmount-
ed by two large globes. The stone
work was spotted with gray and
lichens, and the iron bars of the gate
were corroded by rust. Through
these bars they could perceive broad
winding carriage-drive, darkened by
the dense foliage of the trees with
which it was rooted. Weeds and
grass grew up rankly in the once
carefully-kept gravelled path, and the
shrubs and flowers by which it was
bOrdered struggled wildly over it,,
and the trees cast upon it their with
cred leaves. Just within the gate
was pretty Gothic lodge, over which
the woodbine and roses trailed luxu-
riantly, loading the air with perfume.
Leaning their hands against the
gate they found it gave way to the
pressure. They pushed it open and
passed through. The lodge door
stood wide open, but there was no
person within; so, without further
ceremony they walked up the drive.
How refreshing it was beneath the
the cool shadow of those trees, after
the hot, dusty road How fragrant
to their nOstrils the pleasant damp
smell of the woods! Gradually the
trees became less dense. and through
the thinner canopy of foliage the sum
light made golden tracery upon the
ground, tracery of ever changing
patterns, as the light wind quivered
among the leaves.
Presently they caught glimpse Of
the Hall, with a large lawn in front
fit. 1t was heavy-looking build
ing, erected in the time of the first
Georges. It had flat facade Of red
brick, only relieved by the white
stone-work of the windows and of the
pediment. AT each end was a cum
brous-looking wing. A portico, sup
ported by clumsy Doric pillars, form
ed the grand entrance. There was
an air of profound desolation over the
house and all its surroundings. The
windows, where they were not hid
den by rotten shutters, were begrim-
ed with the dirt of years. Upon the
the lawn the grass grew rankly );
weeds choked up the flower beds.
The evergreens, that had once been
trimmed into the shape of peacocks
or of geometrical figures, had long
since outgrown their artificial proper
tions, and looked like grim, distorted
monsters. The statues, and urns, and
the fountain were now broken and
discolored. The bright, cheerful sun,
so symbolical of teeming life. only
served to heighten the corpse-like
of the scene.
The two men walked up to the
house, stood contemplating it for
few moments, then passed round to
the back of one of the wings, just in
time to see an old woman issue out of |
a door with bottle of wine, covered |
with cobwebs, in her hand. At the
sight of the strangers she stood still,
and eyed them uspiciously.
Isn't that Mrs Miller ?" said Bilge
to her.
That's my name, was the answer.
in anything rather than an encourag-
ing tone.
II thoughtitwa though it's many
d year since I saw you. You haven't
forgot old Jacob Crime, 1 s'pose?"
"Oh, no; L amt forgot 'im," ans
wered the old woman. dri!y. "But
you amt he; he's been dead this
many year"
"Oh, no; I amt be, come to pay
you a visit from t'other world" ans
wered Bilge, jocularly. II am his
nephew. You remember Jack BiIge,
he sailor; and this here's your
grandson"
"My what ?" cried the old woman,
sharply.
Your grandson. Sarah Gandy's
BOY"
"I don't want anthing to do with
Sarah Candy, or herson either" ans
Eered Mrs. Miller, sourly. "She's
lever come near me these seventeen
'ears and 1 don't want anything to
10 with her, or anybody belonging to
Ter. And 1 must tell you that strang-
'rs amt allowed in these grounds"
"Well, but you can call US strang- /:
re, Mrs. Miller" said Bilge, deprec- :
.tingly