The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-05-31
Select Story.
THE SPHlNX-A MYSTERY.
CHAPTER /.

/
am by profession a harrister, and as
| there seems to be a popular notion that all
young barristers who write their experience,
or otherwise figure in polite literature, are
briehess, it may be right to say that am
not altogether briefess barrister, having
held several briefs and earnestly expecting
nOie.
My friend Charley Deben, from the city,
came up to my chambers one day last De-
cember, bringing me an Invitation from his
family to 90 home with him and spend
Christmas. | had been great many times
with Charley to his paternal roof tree in
Essex, and / never failed to greatly enjoy
myself each time. | liked the old people,
and also his brothers and sisters whom | saw.
They were true and natural English people,
who had grown up, as it were, out of the soil
like the violets by the hazel root or the May
blossoms on the hedge-rows. But there was
Il secret which outweighed all the rest hun
dredfold. Charley's grown up sister Ethel
had fairly entered into possession of the va
] cant space in the core Of my affections. The
very first time met her she exerted her pc
cuIiar influence over me. What young man
does not know the tender anticipation with
| which ne looks forward to meeting the sis
/ ter Of his friend, whom he has heard about
more than once before in lovabe terms from
/ her brother, who already has excited a gem
/ tie interest in his breast 1t was with this
/ feeling that first encountered Miss Ethel
| Deben. | had gone with Charley to his
home. Oak Hail. Essex, to spend a week
, in the wild fowl shooting, and it was then
met her for the first time. Her almost per-
/ feet FEATURES, but rich black hair her bright
complexion, her dark blue eyes in which
! truth and tenderness :, s,emed mirrored, her
quiet ladylke manners aud sweet smile, had
captivatod my heart Succeeding visits had
/ only completed my thraldom, and her dear
/ image was never far from my thoughts it
disputed my attention with files of parch
ment deeds, and perpetually intruded itself
amidst dry legal clauses and references to
prccedtnl~, and WAS ~ much out Of place
amongst them as Il picture of Arcadian life
in laboratory oi physi apparatus. 1t
was rathera horelr.s passion of mine, how
ever, for Ethel Ueben was not only beautiful
amiable, admired, but also well lowered and
calculated with legal acumen but at the
same time with very small satisfaction, that
such prize Il, she was would soon be carried
of. My own circumstances were at best only
promising, and | could only keep in the
background while sume more fortunate in
diyidual whose bread has been buttered for
him by kinder fortune, played a leading
part and wsn the rare need. But although
| kept carefully in the background | was
only too glad to avail myself Of Charley
Ieben's invitation to spend Christmas in hel
society. Like the moth, | was drawn in.
! iuyincibly to the candle, and so went down
with him to Oak Hall, happy to see and be
near her again, but guarding myself cauti
ously against any betrayal of attachment.
| We arrived at Oak Hall on Christmas eve
We had found a trap waiting for us at tht
nearest railway station, and had driven six
miles in the dark, through a wooded up
land country, to the house, which stood on
hill surrounded by park with some fin,
! old timber, 1t was wet, inflated, bolster
GUS night, and we were gratified to see thu
warm light of the windows of the old famil,
home appear through trees at last. Charley
urged on the horse, and we soon drew up il
front of the house--a square comfortable
old red brick mansion, with pllared por
tico, many plain obong windows. tall chin
ney tops, and stone coat-of-arms over tn,
doorway. Two great cedars stood sentine
at each end, and spread their black fake
over the lawn
Mr., Deben, a hale, hearty old gentleman
was ready to receive us at the door, and Mrs
Deben met us in the lobby, where Charley
was soon engaged with his younger brother
and sisters in scramble for presents. Whel
| entered the drawing room | found goo,
number of people there, one or two of whom
| had met before, and others who wer
strangers to me. Ethel Deben was the frs
to meet me and shake hands. She came for
ward with her usual frank manner, an
at once introduced me to another smilin
beauty who followed her Miss Rose Her
rick, Ethels friend, was fair Saxon type G
beauty, all roses and little lilies and dimple,
Her hair was of a flaxen brown, but soft a
silk and wavy over the temples. When sh
q laughed her blooming face was the incarns
! tion of merriment and fun. Another Of th
/ guests to whom was introduced for the fir,
5 time was young squire called Haywood,
fine, brown-haired, broad shouldered youn
fellow, with many fine brown and broa
4 acres to match, He looked aud was goo
fellow. am obliged to confess it, but