The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-01-13
THE ENFIELD COURT ROBBERY.

CHAPTER I.
''When are 50v going to feturn Lady
hse as yisit Auus + noes 2" ask cd my niece
COS. oyelV mornia.s = fz st. sit is
s5a4.vg. ~ srfs ~ sin s8s s
In day o. So" ] replied, lowing the
duty mus be peri rmed, particularly as Lady
Dasent had, al &C she called, seat us an invi-
tation 70 ball which aas shout . rake place
az Enneld Court. In my Utmost heart should
have been pleased had Lady Dasent's visit
never been laid. We had lived il seclusion
for SO long that almost dreaded any inter
Tuption to the even tenor Of our quiet exist
epce. But Amy was eighteen, and Just at the
was my duty to set my own feelings aside, and
allow her to enjoy the present to the utmost.
We lived just on the outskirts of one of the
principal sou hern provincial towns, in little
paradise which some one had aptly designated
the "Wren's Nest" Thought it perfect and
would not have exchanged its peaceful beauty
for Enfield itself, which was considered one
OF the finest places in the county.
Owing 10 Lord Ddsent's very delicate health,
the family had been absent some wears; but
directly they returned, Lady Dasent had called
on US. The Court was barely mile distant
by road, and we were really their nearest
neighbors. 1t behooved me, therefore, for
Amy's sake, to make an effort to return her
visit.
''Whst do you think of our going to Enfield
this afternoon, Amyf' said, presently.
81 think it would be delightful" she re-
piled. "Shall we walk or drivel"
Drive, decidedly" rejoined. The day was
lovely, and | inwardly hoped that Lady Dasent
might be enjoying its beauties herself, and
that we might thus continue our drive, having
done our duty by leaving cards only But my
hopes we disappointed. Lady Dasent was
at home; and we were ushered with due cere-
mony into her beautiful drawing-room where
We found her most graciously inclined toward
as both.
Her daughters were playing lawn tennis,
she told us. Would we like to join them on
the terrace1 Very gladly would | have de-
elined; but glance toward Amy decided me
otherwise. Very probably my diminutiye
groom and ponies would be entertained hos
pitablv during our detention; and | could
quite fancy, after the splendors of Enfield
that Joseph would return home signally dis
satisfied with the humble ways at the Wren's
Mes.
Accompanying Lady Dasent, we found our
selves IN the midst of quite large party of
young people, some playing lawn-tennis, but
the greater number merely looking on.
Amy was swept from my side Immediately;
but my anxinus eyes followed her, and with
pleasure | observed the cordiality with which
the Misses Dasent welcomed her.
By and by saw her standing under lime
tree at some little distance from where was
seated. She was dressed in white: and as she
was look OF heral beauty about her.
"How very pretty your niece is, Miss
Courtenay," Lady Dasen observed.
'Yes; l think she is rather pretty" re-
piled.
Some one else thought so, too. Just az
Lady Dasent spoke, saw a gentleman intro
duced to Amy; and while we remained, he
deierminedlv maintained close proximity t.
her side. He was young, good-looking and
evidently bent upon making himself very
agreeable to my niece.
Hitherto Amy had lived life Of complete re-
tirement. had guarded her with a Jealous
care from all contact with any outward in
duences that might prejudice the future OF nv
darling She had been consigned to my care
by her mother on her deathbed when an infant
OF few months old, and l had accepted the
charge, vowing 10 be faithful to the utmost of
my ability.
/ had loved her mo her, but had adored
her ia her--my youngest brother-who had
gone out to India with the fairest prospects
and came home, at er being there only for
few years, to die. Out of large family was
the only one lie who could possibly have I'M
dertallen the abs0lu charge of Amy.
And here was |, with my youth far behind
me, an unloved old maid, until the child came
to me- and in the clasp of her little chubby
arms / seemed to grow young again myself.
Mysorrows became dim in the distance as my
charge grew; every day and hour adding to
my devotion to her, and, thank God to her
love and affection for me. We were not ich,
but we had enough. and was enabled to have
governess for Amy, SO that not even for part
of her education hal she to leave me. Some
times l wished she ha some companions OF
her own age, but when | mentioned it she
always rejected the idea Of such necessity.
She was perfectly h ppy. What more did
want? N"thing, exceDL to insure her contin-
ning to be happy all The days OF her life
Lady Dasent's desire to cultivate our ac
oiV FAM tad Of lnae ID,
for Amy; the Misses Dasent were about her
own age, and, Judging from outward appear
ances, nice, lady-like girls, who seemed anx-
ious to be friendly with her. Still, / shrank
from giving encouragement to the intimacy
between them; I r though Amy's birth was
that OF lady, still the Misses Dasent were
unden ably above her IL rank; and-perhaps
from an old fashioned idea on nav part OF DOS
sible patronage rather threw obstacles In
the way of any sudden friendship between
them.
But am anticipating, and must revert to
the introduction / had witnessed In the dis.
lance between Amy and Mr.. Alfr d Mauever-
eT, which was the name OF the individual
before alluded to- did not make bis acquant
ance that afternoon; that was an honor re-
served or the following day, when he, accom-
panic by two OF the Misses Dasent, came over
to the Wren's Nest to invite Amy and myself
TO a small afternoon par Y.
1t was the beginning of many visits both on
their part and orr own; in fact, hardly a day
passed without our seeing at least Mr.. Maui
everer, who invariably found some pretext for
coming over to us, ii we were not to be at En-
field. And then came the ball at Enfield
Amy's first, destined to be a most eventful
one, and to which she went srrayed In simple
white.
/ was not altogether comfortable on the
score of her growing intimacy with Mr.. Maui
everer. Perhaps he was rihlng with her perhaps
he was not In every way desirable himself. A
Thousand disturbing possibilities kept shooting
through my. old heart, as ] sat watching my
darling at her first ball, looking radantly
pretty, while Mr.. Mauleverer redonbled his de-
votion and inundated himsells so thoroughly at
her shrine as to insist on TAXI g me in 10 sup.
per-a piece of ciyility which | duly apprecia-
ted
Never before had | seen the Dasents cele.
brated gold plate, which was on this occasion
fully displayed. 1t was magnificent. Such