The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-03-03
PYcoTT HALL.
ENGLISH STORY OF THE LAST CENTURY.

very ancient town, ana has remains OF soma
very fine old dwellings. OF these a large
mansion standing onthe outskirts of the town
is ole of the best known. 1t is built OF red
brick, in the Elizabeih an stvle and consider r
ing the time that has elapsed since its cree
ton, is in fair condition. IL is now occupied
as q farm house, but q large part Of it has
been removed, ny the walls were considered
unsafe.
This place, known as Pycott Hall, was for
merly The seat OF a family of that name, who
rose into favor in the time of Henry the
Eighth, John Pycott having been n tanner of
Midllesex, who did good service FIR the King
in some way by aiding him to get rid of one
Of his wives In AIary's reign the Pycotts
had to flee into Lincolnshire, and find safely
there ~nmongthe fensand morasses; but soon
after Elizabeth's accession TO the throne the
family came again into notice, and Richard
Pycott, the son of john, was enriched with a
fine estate in Leicestershire Then it wns
that Pycott Hall was erected, md it long lad
the reputation of being one of the most Gle
gantly adorned mansions Of the midland
counties.
The daughters OF the house welded with
some of the weRlthiest uud best known fami-
lies in England, but the Pycotts lost caste by
uniting their fortunes with Cromwell during
the great revolutionary struggle. On tha res
toration OF Charles the Second the family
was allowed TO retain its lands but it had be-
enme considerably impoverished. and never
recovered the high position it occupied dur
ing the first c injury of its existence.
The head of the family ranked among the
country gentry, and the younger members
married in their own station and became
naval and military officers, and gentlemen,
farmers.
When George the Third assembled the
throne in ICY, John PI cot was the posses.
sor of the estates. lie htd been in the navy,
but retired before he passed the grade of
Lieutenant, and settled down as q plain coun-
try Squire. He married a Miss Brauntone
by whom he had a numerous family, nil of
whom died in infancy except one son and
taughter-th the son being named George aud
the daughter n Ann was courted by one
Sileby, whosefather had amassed n considerl-
Die fortune as a %viBtner, aud purchased au
estate II fuw miles fIom Hin Lley, known as
he Red tiRies. Young Sileby, his only child,
:lme into possession at the age of twenty
1ne, aud suou aiterwGrd made tie ucquuiut-
tnce Of tie Pycotts A friendship sprung up
De,ween George Pycott mud Sil5by, aud
through that Shelby rs attracted to the Hall
aud became euaruored OF Aun. who was very
lovtly. In the Spring of l7Gl tie two young
'leu went to London tOgr tier. George re-
.urred within h month, but SllebyrumuIued,
under l~reteuse TINT some business mutlers
required his attention. George, however,
communicated TO his father the secret of his
y Quick return and OF his companions re-
calming behind
Shelly had been brought up chiefly in the
~uietrovolis, and had many acquaintance
I.cre. These, George soon discovered, were
&c; OF q very reputable kind, consisting of
rs: young men, galnbltrS aud free l~ancers,
Nhowould not hesitate totake q mau'hpocket-
'nok II they had a chance. Moreover. Sil,by
3'i female acquaintance of no doubtful
-haracter, and ON these lie spent his money
freely. 1t was a discovery of these facts which
I'D irei George to hasten home, for he was q
yoIpgmnn of good principles, aud was, more
ove- in 1.-Two with q very beautiful girl, whom
he expected shortly to wed. When the elder
Pyecti learned how Sl,by was occupied in
London, he spoke to his daughter on tue sub.
jet, and she at once agreed with him tina
i.rr lover WAS not the kind of man who wns
caleulaled TO make Il desirable husband. Con.
sequeutly, ON receiving S.leby's first letter
from London, she gave him TO understand
That she knew the course hewns pursuing, and
tnat sue desired no further communication
with him.
Months passed, and Siloby still remained
IN town. Presently it was reported and cor
rsctiyturned out that hehad executed a mort
gage for a large sun on his estate, and had
actually sold all the timber upon it. After an
absence of nine months he returned to Red
tiates, but Pycott saw nothing of him for a
long time.
Early in l7G2 Squire Pycott met SiIeby on
the stairs leading to the Grand Jury room in
Leicester. Neither spoke or made any sign
II recognition. Sileby stood and blocked the
pa sage, and the squire enGeayored to move
him TO one side with his hand. Sileby drew
his sword, whereupon the Squire stepped
back to the landing. Shelly passed the'Squire
leisurely and with an offensive air, and the
Squire said
You will hear from me again, sir"
A duel was arranged, aud the Squire dis
armed his antagonist. Pointing his sm ord to
sileby's heart, he said:
Dog. if your life was worth ANYTHING. I
would not hesitate.
Another ioug Interval passed without Sile-
by's coming across any of the Pycotts, but
they had heard often OF his domgs, and knew
that It would be but a brief space before his
career Of riot and perhaps crIme was ended.
One day in theLutumn OF 1862 'SquirePycott
received a messageiroln a DR.. Grayton, ply
siclan whose character wnsbld, and who was
apet companion of Sileby, that the latter was
dying, and desired to make peace with the
sluire before he passed away. The Squire
was 0 generous, wGrm-heurted man, ana his
kindlynature respondedAt once tothe request.
As he was starting for the Red Gates Ann
Pycott said:
Father, it is to be feared that theunfortu.
nate man has no Bible or good Uook near him
in his illness Garry this p~rayer-book and
leave it with him, and bid linn read and act
upon it."
Squire Pycott put the book in the left in
side pocket of his ~riding.coat aud departed.
On reaching Sileby's house he was met by
DIR. Grayton, at whose suggestion he un.
buckled his sword and left 1t in the hall, lest
the sight of it should awaken unpleasant
recollections.
The Squire found Sileby in q darkened
room on a curtained bed, with medicine bot
ties arranged around. On II small table near
the bed Lay a prayer book aud bible. US
though handy for the sick man, SHELBY ex-
pressed regret for Lis conduct, and the
Squire softened of things, and at a late
hour departed for home, taxing a bride path
which led down threeor four fields to theinain
road, which, though it ran close to Sileby's
house, curved around il almost in the shape
OF the letter s. As the Squire rode along
the path ne heard tho sound of horses hoofs
on the road, brt they apparently soon passed
out OF hearIng. As the Squire turned from
the path TO the main road, he found himself
suddenly confronted withtwo mounted men
One of them seized his bride re n ana liz
Squire instantly drew his sword. To his
surprise, however, he found that the bluds
was broken Oh within xix inches of III,
handle. Before he could recover from his
amazement the other hersemin made a
thrust ut his breast with his Nv ord, which
came in contact with the p ayer-llook that
was still in his pocket, as lie had found
Sileby already supplied with one. His as
I. ,s ~. 49,. 80" $780,. ILL.,. III IT -