The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-10-02
Lord Wilbury's Money Lesson.


speaking and tying up number of bust
ness papers with red tape; Mrs. Dc Cour-
cy was crying; and young Lord Wllbury,
the Generals nephew, was sitting moodijv
putting a cigar and looking foolish. His
uncle at that moment had Informed him
that he was ruined. Then Wilbury, with
some emotion, threw his cigar away, and
strolled out into his park, aud spent an
hour rowing in dismal meditation through
the avenues and glades which would soon
De his no longer. 1t is not pleasant to be
ruined, when one is peer accustomed to
enjoy EGO, 900 year.
Wllbury was not one of those perverse
clubs whose minds are warped with con-
cclt, and as he mused he felt less sad about
his own ruin for himself than for the grief
"rl,,;l WaiGh no knew it caused his fathers
oloIicls hio GUDU+ .-A---a.
While In this humor of self -reproach Will
bury saw his cousin, Lucy De Courcy, a
bright girl of eighteen, cantering down the
road that bordered the park with groom
behind her. On catching sight of him she
lighted, took her habit with one hand, and
joined him.
"Well, Willie, what makes Won look 40
glum ?"
because am ruincd;" he answered
quietly, as he made room for her to sit be-
side him on the stile.
You're joking, I suppose?"
mo; In quite serious. HASN'T your
father told you9''
'No; he never talks to me on business.
Though OF course, sir, have heard of your
wild goings on at horse races and cards.
Oh, Wllliel why do yougamble like that 2''
Lucy glanced on the ground; she had
turned Y,o1o n oJ,o 4
more while her cousin and she said not a
word more while her cousin and she
walked sadly towards the hall. But, all
Of sudden, she put her handkerchief up
to her eyes, and dried gone tears that were
trtckling fast, and said, 'sNow for the old
gallery at the Hall, where the aifnor of
many brave De Courcys is kcpt--his fay-
orite place of retirement for working or
reading"
The dinner on this evening was very
sorrowful affair, and nobody ioined VII
bury when he went into the gallery after
dessert. A servant brought HIM coffee,
and there he sat alone by the fire Of logs in
the huge chimney. whose andirons were a
pair of metal dogs of the size of mastlffs
Presently, when he had smoked out his
cigars, the detected peer dug his hands
into his pockets and gazcd at tho faces in
the fre-taces of creditors mostly; and
yet Lucy's pretty features would often
shine out to among the blazing Goals, and
her cousin kept recollectng how she had
cried on hearing that those old coats of
armor which orname nted the wall around
him were 10 be sold
r" Suddenly he heard clank, and tho ne xt
moment sword, shield and lance came
Gathering down altogether from the ped
| estal above the the wainscot on which
stood the lay figure of Guy de Courcy, clad
| In armor that had borne the brunt Of Agin-
court.
There was no light In the gallery, except
that of large moderator lamp burning On
| the table, but moonlight strcamed through
the windows, making the armor gleans,
ana the helmeted figures wear grim, hard
| look. Staggered at first by what he had
seen, Wilbury, who belonged to a genera
ton skeptical of miracles suspected that O
trick was being played on him, and he ap-
proached tho wall, prepared to find that
somebody had been donning Sir Guys
armor to frighten him. But this was not
| the case. Hc ascertained the fact by draw
Ing a, table to the wainscot, placing a
| chair on 1t, and climbing until he could SEQ
| the presentmcnt of Sir Guy quite closely,
touch it, and feel it's limbs. II was truely
wooden figure, and Lord Wilbuly could
only account tor the threatening gesture of
its arms by conjccturing that the hands,
which had been weighed down by holding
the lance, shield and sword, must have got
1erked back when those weights had been
| withdrawn.
But he was little unnervcd at the same
and was gladwhG he climbed down to find
that his cousin Lucy had entered the gal-
lery, her bedroom candle in hand, and was
staring at him with cursosity. r
"Oh. Willie, whatever have you been
| doing2" she exclaimed. ~ came in to
say good night But are you taking all
| those shields and lanccs down ?" -
mo; these two came, down of their own
accord" J" answered Wilbury, brushing tho
dust of his hands. . +