The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-03-30

reckless way In Which my great
grandfather spent his money, tho
estate became involved, and when
:. his eldest son came to be master Of
the manor he found himself in gaeat
difficulties.
However, lie worked well and
hard stinting himself to give his
children a good education and pay Of
the mortgages, so that, at last, the
estate was free. Bat atI this time
the house had been becoming very
much as it is now, and then fresh
troubles came.
"My Uncle Marmaduke died Of
consumption, and Aunt Jane ran
jaway- to be married-shes died q
1 Ilong time ago, II know, for her hus-
band treated her very cguellysz
! Then Uncle George was very Wild,
1 land spent d great deal of money,
1 till at last grandpa said he should
have no more; and then for some
years poor grandmama's mind had
become weaker and weaker with all
these troubles; she could not bear
themso well as grandpap. Well,
one night when they were all sitting
in the oak psrlor (my father was
abroad, you know, Uncle George
came in quite. suddenly-for he had
benin London-and whispered to
grandmamma. She was more fond
Of him than any Of the others, you
know, and so no one was surprised
when she got UP and went out with
him. But everybody was Mortified
few minutes afterwsrd to hear a
dreadful scream, and rushing out
they found grandmamma insensible
on the floor in the hall.
!, Uncle George seemed half mad,
for he disappeared from the house
in the midsts of all the confusion.
They took gradmamma to her room;
but, though she recovered from The
swoon, she never recovered her senses,
and they were obliged to watch her
day and night. She talked incessant-
ly Of her George, and ruin and duels,
and said things no one could under.
stand.
One night her nurse fell asleep,
and, awakening in the middle of the
night, found her patient gone. She
rushed out of the room and found
grandmamma at the bottom of the
oak staircase in a k ind of swoon.-
She was taken back to her bed, but
shSGeyer spoke again, and died two
days afterward. Curiously enough,
on looking.for her dressing-case some
days afterward, my grandfather could
not find it. Search was made every
where, but in vain. My father said
it was a great pity, for it contained
most valuable jewels given to grand
mamma by her mother and grand
mother.
"Well, all these troubles broke
grandpapa's heart, and he died. My
father then married mamma-who,
you know, was as poor as he was
and I was born. But things never
prospered with him. He lost, lost
always lost-and when mamma
died he gave up struggling. Poor
father!" said Janet, her eyes filling
with tears. "Ifancy mammals death
broke his heart, Henry. He shut
himself up then, and has been what
you see him, kind and loving to me,
but always determined to shun the
world, you and your mother being
the only visitors he has ever received
Henry Wood kissed his betrothed
tenderly. "It is very sad story, my
love-I see it all now. But we will
Danish 1t. Stay, though-what be-
came of the scapegrace, George2"
"He shot himself tive months after
grandmamma's death-he nevercame
to the manor afterward-and l fancy
it must have been grief and remorse
that made him put an end to his life,
Isn't it dreadful"
dreadful indeed! Your father
seems to have been your grandfath.
er's only good and filial child"
"Yes-he and Aunt Alice, who
died eight or nine years ago. She
never married, you know-but she
would not live with US. She said
that she was sure the Manor House
had lost all good luck, and she could
II T. "a