Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-01-09
An 0riginal Sturg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
MISS CAREY'S BOX.
BY AN OLD CONTRIBUTOR.
CHAPTER III.


CHAPTER III.
One of the prettiest pieces of country prop
erty in Durham county, was Sir Francis GOV
entry's place. "Beechwold;" )" the house. al
old Elizabethan mansion, surrounded by 6
fine extent of park, meadow and woodland
and commanding charming vie" OF the
Were river, which formed a portion OF the
southern boundary of the estate For many
generations it bad been in the possession OF
the family, passing from father to son, IN
direct line, from its first owner, upon whom
it had been conferred, as a mark of rcyal
favor, for services rendered the Crown, IN
the reign of the Maiden Queen. Continu'
Gus and almost unbroken prosperity had,
hitherto, been the portion of its occupants
who had lived life of comfortable seclusion
ENJOYING all the quieter pleasures of ample
abundance, and mixing but moderately. and
at rare intervals, in the gayeties of the outer
world. Living and dying thus in the old
homestead, it continued to be, to each success
sive generation, the very shrine Of their warm
est interests and holiest affections There
was scarce room, piece of furniture, in the
house, scarce tree within the park, about
which some special memory or association
failed to cling. Not woodland nook, not
path along the rivers brink, that was not hal
lowed by some legend or reminiscence Of the
past. .-.. ... ...- ..... ...
AS dear was the place to its present master
as it had been to his predecessors but not
with an untroubled heart could he now con-
template it, or look forward, with security, to
leaving it as heritage for his son, young
Frank, the pride and boast of the family, the
favorite among all the youth of the county,
who was so we'll fitted to take masters part.
Very weakly, very unwisely, with head but
not heart at fault, Sir Francis Coventry, in
trying to aid friend in misfortune, had
pledged himself to certain obligations which
he was unable to meet without giving mort
gage on his lands, and this mortgage, whose
existence was unknown to any of the house
hold but himself, hung like nightmare upon
his mind, and robbed him of his peace. 10
remove it, it was necessary that some impor-
tant steps should be taken. But how? There
was another property lying contiguous to
Beechwold, but this had long been promised,
as a marriage portion to Eleanor, the eldest
girl, and could not be touched. If Frank
-coufd7make d wealthy marriage, the difficult
ty might be met-and to this end Sir Francis
had lately bent his thoughts and aims.
Having given this Introductory preface to
my readers, they will be able to understand
the situation, on being ushered, one fine sum-
mer's morning, into the library at Beechwold,
where Sir Francis had just summoned his
son to private conference not without some
inward trepidation, for he felt by no means
assured that his listener would be pleased
with what he was about to say. Indeed,
such serious misgivings did he experience on
this point that it cost him an effort to bring
himself to seek the proposed interview but
he was so restlessly unhappy -sad anxious,
that he could no longer forbear hazarding a
throw towards the attainment Of the remedy
he longed for.
Frank came gayly and unsuspectingly gly to
answer his fathers summons, concelvlng the
business in hand to be of quite different ma
ture from what it really was. "You thought
1 had forgotten all about the poaching-afair,
didn't you, father?" he asked, as he threw
his cap upon table, and himself into chair,
his handsome face glowing with exercise and
health. "I've just seen Morris and given
him your message which 1 was prevented
from delivering yesterday; told him to let
the young rascal off this time, but scare him
horribly in view of future attempt. had
some trouble in prevailing upon him not to
make an example of Johnny at once"
"Yes-thank you, Frank-I had forgotten
all about it, was thinking, when sent for
you, of something else" said Sir Francis,
nervously, but resolved to come to the point
at once. Frank viewed him in surprise, and
saw directly that he was very much moved.
"Is there anything wrong, tather?" he ask
ed, with solicitude, changing his careless attl-
tude to one of serious attention as he spoke.
"Well, nothing very wrong-tbat is, moth
ing new. But the fact is, I've been in a lit.
tie trouble for some time past, and think it
is best to let you share it with me, though,
God knows, I'd gladly keep you from it if l
could" said the baronet, earnestly. He look.
ed at the young mans noble face and manly,
selfreliant aspect, with the feeling that he
could be tower of strength to him if he on
ly would. .------,s-.-s-~sr,,,-->-
"Trouble, and have been kept from know
ing it!-that is not right" said Frank, with
grave decision cit is my duty, as we'll as
my pleasure, to share your auxieties when you
have any-but what is it all about? Let me
help you at once, if l can
"Ah! you can, my boy-you can, il you
will" rejoined Sir Francis; and then he pro-
ceeded at once to make a clean breast Of his
secret, or at least to put his son in possession
Of such facts as it was desirable for him to
know. 1t seemed very bad news to Frank,
but he was careful not to betray more of his
CONSERVATION than he could help.
II suppose we can find some way OF clear
ing the mortgage off, he said, after pause
"In what way can it be done?" asked his
father. "The town house, as you we'll know,
wouldn't cover third of it."
"And Dutton is Eleanor's, or will be-"
"Yes of course, Dutton is not to be thought
Nj 7 IL La