Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-11-29

afterwards supported himself bY the alu
of his versatile pen, having Joined The
STAFF of leading newspaper.
His mother had another brother
besides Sir Fredprck, an officer, who
died in India, leaving his widow and
infant son to the care of the birpnet.
Charles Ravenne had been brought up
at Ravenholme as heir 10 the properly,
but hls constitution had never been
-trong, and he died at sixteen of cOn =
SUMPTION. His mother had fingered
hut a few months after losing hln; and
for wears Sir Frederick Rdvenne lived a
lonely, gloomv lite at the grand Old
place, dlsliKed by his ueighbors and
feared by his household AID lenanlr &.
Ravenne Castle had different lopk
twelve months after SIR FiedeTlck'-
decease. Sir John, who uad spent the
Intervening time III the travels for which
he had so often valnly lOnged, then
took possession of his ancestral home;
aud very ALTERING were the comments
upon the bright, handsome face that
smiled from the open carriage aS II
passed between the lines Of welcoming
villagers.
The county famihe, lost no time IN
making Sir John at home amongst
them; prudent 'mammis' especla''
planned va,ious entertainments in hi~
honor, taking care that dear louisa
or dear Floreuce' should shlue as
queen-rose on ,uch occasions.
Sir John entered heartily into the
festive spirit Of tie Time; his life had
known little Of enjoyment, aud ycuns
men bldse and weary OF the gay eX-
Isle &C into which they Lad entered
with every thought seli-cenlcred. mar
yelled at the evident reality and fresh
ness of his pleasure in garden-parlv.
ball. aud rOut.
Sir John was emlnenuy cMva!rOus to
.dies, young aud old, but he liked
quiet as well as Intellectual or political
d scussion with his hiendS Of the Steiner
sex: he b ,d views of coutesSiug one oi
t,e ,uuty seats at the next elect III.
No idea of marriage crossed his mind;
he had formerly been too busy for seh-
,,uental musings. and, thOugn hr
toourht The Young ladie. OF DownShire
very handsome aud chnrmios. s.hi' pulses
never beat the quicker at Tie touch OF
sentle hand or glance from witchins
eve. But love VIII win to-mo.row."
ne not to-day aud fate, in the iaresi
Of guises, soon overlook the young
Barunel 'iancl -iree.'
Whilst at Geneva he had addressed
Miss Clilheroe through hi' solicitors
proposing to close the lawsuit by re.
nounc:ne the Rlvenne claim; but that
Young lady had chosen to consider The
communication as insulting 10 her sex.
She wrote
Il am quite able to attend to bn>i-
ness, and, IL being nv dear fathers ex-
press size tnaL the clain shou'd be
contested aud leg-lIY decided, be-
that the suit may continue. ! repca'
hat have studied every particular oi
he case, and am acquainted with ever,
relative proceeding. The Raveun,
claim is an in Justice which embulered
III, dear fathers lie. and will be do-
nounced rs iniquil Gus alike by judgt
,nd jury
Let her have her will them said Su
John tv Mr. S.anlon, sending The lett
tor hi, perusal; she has certainly iu-
herted the parental obstnAcy.'
Little spi fire! sand the lawyer, aS
he rtru,ed the barouel's letter and
enclosure. III she is acquainted With
The whole of the seventeen years pro-
ceedings, she is more learned Than any
IF the learned counsel employed IL
'Ravcnne W. ClitherOe.
Sir John cosi,aled with some cup-
o,ity coucernlng his neishbOr when be
first took up lis abode at Ravenne
nut the round OF gaiety soon changed
the current Of his ihuughts. aud lie en-
tirely forgot Miss Clllheroe, sf er hear
lng from his b0u-ekeeper that. durins
he seven month, siucc The SQUIRE
death, that young lady had remained
IN retirement, Only Visiting IN the morn
Ing at some intimate friends, and
-pendIug her time quietly III the con-
pan Of her maiden aunt.
Que moralng Sir John vas walking
,me quickly from Holmeby, when il
occurred to him that By takn! the dis
puted path he should save the round OF
hIs own park and get into the garden bN
The side-wicket. H. had received |
letters that must be answered b fore
luncheon; so. whisilng to bis grea
retriever Rollo. he valued over The park
'ence aud found himself within hi
1eighbor's domain.
Conscience pricked him rather as to
but he became defiant and
Im led In hardened wrou,- ,-dIins aS he
loliced the many boards erccltd alonI
,he roBd-'Trespassers Vigorously prose-
cuted Private path to C.itheroe, No
admission on business for R,veune
Jastle.' 'Man.lraps and spring-gun~
sept here,' Beware OF the blood hounds
g..
Neither man-trap, sprung-gun nor
blood hound barred he BaroneL's pro-
,ress 10 Ravenne only something in-
fiuiitly more fatal and 6estrnctive--ihe
perfection of girlish beauty. Face TO
ace they came al winding of the path.