St. Landry democrat., 1879-08-02
$sos!., e. the &! & 8!!.s.!as:
SIR LEICESTER

had just finished my next Sunday
sermon when my study door opening,
my wife entered.
George" she said. "Jinks says he
THINKS something is amiss up at the
PrioEy ; for, as he passed while ago, he
saw the old steward, who looked terribly
scared"
"Why did he not ask the cause, my
DEAR" rejoined.
"He did; but he says the old man
merely shook his head, wrung his hands
in the deepest distress and hurried away.
Digging my pen in my desk, to the
annihilation of its nib, I reflected over
my wife's statement. Finally I said,
"My love, whatever it is, it is evident
we can do nothing. Sir Leicester Con.
nington is not man with whom even a
clergyman can interfere"
"He is as mad as March hare, that
is CERTAIN remarked my wife.
"My love-my love p [ expostulated.
"Well, George, I say mad, If we
were in the fifteenth century, I'd say be
was dealer in the black art"
Gas true as most such accusations of
the period"
Perhaps, therefore, as we are in the
nineteenth century, I protest, mad.
James Morgan declares the other day he
came upen him lying among the ferns in
the wood, talking like a maniac to
something be had in his hand. Then he
laughed, then he wept, then he writhed
on the grass in agony, uttering strange
words; then leaping up, united his
horse and rode of, like the Earl King
himself"
"All true, my dear. Certainly, the
poor gentleman has something on his
mind, but of what nature"
My observations were cut short by a
violent ring at the bell. The next mo-
ment the servant, entering, announced
that the steward from the priory wished
to see me immediately.
"show him in here" said my wife
quietly.
If my wife desired to obtain any infor-
nation she was grstifed for, on the old
stewards entrance his appearance fully
confirmed Jinks' statement. He was
pale to degree, and his features de-
picted suppressed but intense distress.
Bowing respectfully, he at once deliv-
cred his message.
"sir Leicester is sorry to trouble you
at this hour, sir, he said, but he'll take
it as a favor if you will come to him at
ones, for he is dying"
"Dying!" [ cried, surprised; tor only
that morning I had seen him pass NV
study window, locking as well as usual.
"Dyingl" calculated my wife, in
horror. ooh, what can be done?"
"Only, If you please, if Mr.. Hartop
will see him"
Certainly. Dear, dear me /" I eiac.
ulated. "Come, my man, let us co."
I believe my wife would, if possible.
have liked to have accompanied us but
she whispered to me 10 return as soon "a
could.
As we proceeded, I Inquired of the
steward the nature of his masters sud.
den malady.
"sudden!" he repeated. "sir, it's
been of years duration. Now the end
has come. My dear master-you will
hear all, Mr.. Hartop, from him. g.
The old mans grief was so evident
that forbore to question him further,
and went on In silence.
Kenelm Priory was q fine building of
the Elizabethsn era. Five years prev.
ious to this story it had been taken by q
Sir Leicester Connington. The gentry
were delighted at the addition to the
neighborhood, especially as the baronet
was unmarried, and not much over
thirty. But it was soon found Sir Lei
cester intended to keep no society. With
him came two servants-the old ste ward
and an elderly superior female domestic.
The other servants were engaged from
town to town, and only employed in
those menial Offices which never brought
them in contact with their master.
The visits that were made at the
Priory were never returned. Sir Lei
eester led the life of a recluse. For
months together he never quilted the
house; then he might be seen riding on
. superb horse about the country, with
the recklegsness OF q maniac, or, as my
wife had remarked, like the Earl King
himself. He never crossed neighbor's
threshold, and no strange foot crossed
his.
For my own part, I imagined Sir
Leicester had committed some grave sin
and was thus expisting it by remorse.
Il may be conceived, then, that I felt
both curious and q little anxious at the