The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-21
THE RIDDLE OF THE
RING.
4 Roundabout Romance in Three
Chapters.
BY W. W. FEM, AUTHOR OF "HALF-
HOURS OF BLIND MANS HOL-
DAY." ETC.
CHAPTER II.

the South Downs. and consequently on
the borders of the luxuriant and beautiful
weald of Sussex, just where its wealth of
foliage and rich vegetation gives way to
the stunted herbage clothing these pre-
cipitous and chalky hills. and not far
from the picturesque village of Poynings,
stood the old-fashioned brick mansion
known as Dene Court.
The place was peculiarly secluded;
dreary to degree it would doubtless
have been pronounced by visitors from
Brighton, who from time to time may
have peeped down upon the gray roof OF
the old house il their excursions to the
overhanging Devils Dyke. And, truth
to tell, there might have been some rea-
son in their criticism, for it was just one
of those dwellings that in the winter-time,
ut all events, suggested the need of open
house, and merry company to gather
round the hospitable table, or sitin cheer
full groups in front of blazing logs when
the sports of the field were over.
As may be guessed, however, from the
reference made to its occupant in the
preceding chapter, such festivities were
the last things likely to awaken the
slumbering echoes of its old rooms.
Scrupulously neat prim, and precise,
and at the first glance austere of counte-
nance, was Mrs. Scobell. Advanced in
age, although still hale and active, a
widowhood of some forty years had re-
vived in her many an old-maidish habit,
which, indeed, her short and childless
married life had never entirely repressed
A scarcely less genial guardian, perhaps
the Fates could hardly have found for
the buoyant, high-spirited girl, who had
now, as we have been told, become an in
mate of Dene Court.
Such character as Marion Farley's
was about the last in the world that Mrs.
Scobell could have understood She had
a sort Of traditional idea of what young
ladies should be, and therefore never
dreamed that the niece who owed every
thing to her could ever presume to vary
from that standard which the old lady
had set up. She expected all'girls to be
deferential and amenable to the dictates
of their elders, and she had
scarcely the wit, after six
months close intimacy, to see
that she was dealing with far from
faultless disposition. Whether Mrs. Sco-
bell had any definite notions about her
neice's future, beyond the fact that she
intended her to inherit her property, we
can not divine; but certain it is, that for
the present she considered that, 50 long
as she required the undivided compan-
ship and attention which her niece sup
piled, it must be rendered at any cost.
Notwithstanding the kindness and
.uxury which surrounded her, the stately
gravity with which it was dispensed, the
intense monotony and dullness of the
life, the utter absence of society, and
the peculiarly retired situation of the
house, formed painful contrast in Mar
ions mind with the life at the fashion
able school in the neighboring watering
place Of Brighton, which she had SO late.
ly left. Nor was it therefore wonderful
that six months under her aunt's roof
sufficed to arouse in her feeling of re-
bellion at the dependence to which she
attributed the monotony of herexistence.
Yet, not unmindful of, nor ungrateful
for what he aunt had done for her, she
had the true instinct of lady, and never
gave much outward evidence of the rest
less spirit at work within her, and this
self-control that she exercised probably
increased the suffering which her prison
like life entailed.
Beyond periodical visit from Brigh-
ton physician, and an occasional call
from one or two neighbors of Mrs. SEQ.
BELLS own standing, age, and habits, and
the clergyman and his wife, no one
crossed the threshold of Dene Court from
weeks end to weeks end; and drive in
close shut carriage now and then to re-
turn these visits, constituted the most
notable events Of the household. Like
the rest of the young ladies educated ut
Brighton, Miss Marion Farley had been
taught to ride, and frequently, of course
had Joined those cavalcades of galloping
beauties under the riding-master's escort
which are so prominent feature of life
at the fashionable resort, and during hel
long pupilage she had become intimately
acquainted, not only with Cliff Parade,
bat with all the many picturesqe rides
across the Downs Now, however, this
healthful and spirit-stirring exercise was
denied her, not from any objection on the
part of Mrs. Scobell to tle thing itself, mol
any difficulty in supplying her niece
with well-trained horse-for no money
would have been spared on this head
any more than it would upon anything
which her aunt, with her kind but mar
row views, considered likely to conduet
to the girls welfare. But Marion could
not ride entirely alone, Or with groom
only; hence, though the subject had beer
frequently discussed, it had always beer
abandoned as impracticable, until on'
one day the old lady, seeming, contrar!
to her custom, to notice Sigh detection
which Marion was unable to conceal
said, as if by inspiration:
why, my dear, it has been very fool
fish of us not to think of 1t before; bu
there would be no objection to you
riding with female servant, if one coul'
be found capable of managing horse
There mhst be many farmers daughte