Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-03
fc,s.,susd from nrs. page,


70 very far from London, but 10 explore
those beautiful home counties, which in
d sone parts are as wild and romantic as il
the great Babylon.
'"'& For nv first fortnight, enioyed unin.
terruptedly fine weather, and was able to
walk nv fifteen to twenty miles a dav
Towards the end of the month, however
the wind changed, the sky, hitherto SC
blue. grew gray and gloomy, and | be-
gan to lear ! must turn my steps home
wards. | had set my mind, however, on
reaching certain point, and was not to
DC deferred from my goal by any amount
of rain and wind.
say ct they proved too strong for me one
evening when had by no means complet-
ed my usual distance, and found myself
literally blown to the door of an ex-
ceedingly rustic inn. where fortunately
L discovered / could put up for abe
night. L was not sorry TO be COM
PEELED 70 stop hel e, for. even through the
driving rain could see that it was situat-
cd In singularly lovely spot, on the slope
of narrow valley, crowned with woods.
and opposite what looked TO me a most
picturesque ruin. Be that as it might. the
rain prevented my seeing anything very
distinctly and was glad to change my
things. and sit down to rustic but not un-
-palatable meal. slept soundly all the
might. in spite OF the torrents of rain, and
the bowling wind which nevertheless
failed TO rouse me from my deep slumbers.
The next morning when | arose. to my
dismay. the rain was still falling heavily.
the sky wac like lead, and the little brook
that ran at the bottom of the valley was
SWOLLEN and turbid. II was impossible to
sconiinue my journey with any pleasure or
profit; and narrow, and to a certain de-
gree uncomfortable as was my present
abode, at any rate 1t was a roof over my
head. So resolved to stay till the rain
ceased, for perceived that my host was
honest, and that he and his wife were
worthy people. ! could not help being
amused by the wav in which the latter
seAred me 0ut OF countenance. but came
" the conclusion that it was my white lock
which 80 rivited her attention.
During the long wet morning looked
about IN vain for anything approaching
.ItasAtnrs in the parlor. In my research
cs, however. my eye lighted on many an
une1penedtr treasure In the shape Of here
an old Worcester vase, or stafford fig
ure. there a finely. carved oak table and
.CUeoors chair. 3 pair of embossed candle
sticks, Scared with many dint and
scrat oh, hut still beautiful in design and
worknsnship, and last, but not least, a
onrieus piece Of ancient-looking tapestry
IN sad condition. being hung as curtain
over the front door to keep out the
draught Whence could these treasures,
tN1Ieh contrasted 80 strangely with the
generally poverty -stricken appearance of
the place, have come? Probably, | con.
jectured, from the house across the valley,
which, from the appearance Of the small
portion could see Of IL. must once have
been q fine building. 1t might serve to
poes away the time II could persuade
mP hOstess TO give me. as far as she knew
=, the history Of the old manor and, with
this Idea, waited patiently till l saw the
good woman clear away the MONDAY
meal, idyup the parlor, aud sit down with
flnsdnp basket Of socks and stockings
70 mend. as srssa rsa-
drew my chair opposite hers, and eici-
tedg6J khe very 6rst question. the infor-
matfou that for many years she had been
servant to the family ut Fair Beeches, and
could tellDe noro than any one else of
the ol4pIAcas and Its inhsbitants. 1t was
evident l had set her off ON her favorite
Qrios naA Without mnch pressing. keep
ing me the whole time in full stare, the
old woman related TO me, with an inteli-
9ence and delicacy of perception seldom
found ipAers class. the following history
1t seemed that, up to some six Years
ago. there had lived at Fair Beeches. for
generations and generations. Il family of
ne nams Of Aylner. who in days long
gone by must have been people OF import
ance. They were. however, a quiet I'M
intellectual stock, taking no part in the
eventssof their Successive ages. and grad
ually subsiding, in their inaccessible val
ley. from gentry almost to the level of the
fnstics by whom they were surrounded.
From time to time, some of their mem
bers would separate from the parent stock,
and seek their fortune in London or else
where. but for the most part they were an
unadv entarous set, content to live and die
in obscurily.
Hswess ~ some part OF the reign OF
GeOfk0 III. that the family was reduced to
two brothers and their mother, a woman
Of much beauty and spirit, the daughter Of
. farmer from o neighboring county. She
advised her younger son, Godfrey, who
Inherited her acuteness, TO quit his pa.er-
nal home ON the death of his father and.
with few hundred pounds that were lett
hjm. 20 repsir To London, and see there
how he could turn them to the best ac-
count. Only too glad to follow her advice,
Godfrey readily turned his back on his
mother and brother, to be soon lost to
them in the great metropolis For year
or two they received letters from him, re-
laung that he was getting on well in Lon
don. that bis friends were numerous. and
that fortune was smiling on him; and then
these two ceased, and nothing more was
heard of him. aa
Meanwhile his elder brother succeeded to
the estate and with his mothers aid, made
1t an answer as it had never answered be-
fore. IN 10 the course OF time he married.
and 0ied, leaving an only son, who grew
TO mans estate under his grandmother's
care. his mother having early followed
her husband to the grave.
This grandson was old Mrs. Aylmer's
JOY and pride. He was handsome high
spirited lad, very like Godfrey, showing
traces Of all the good blood that run in his
Veins, and with q taste OF book-Iearning
quite foreign TO the Aylners in general.