Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-02-17

this. Long before l. knew you or hac
seen your face. ] had heard of White
tBrook Manor ana Its master and mis-
ress. MY mother has often told me Of
the friendship that had existed between
my grandfather and your mother, and
have seen her lament over the change
brought about in the Warden family
But, Janet, saw you-and ,then--then
you know what happened. vow, Janet
ifyou were worth thousands year, youi
face would seem no fairer, your heart nc
purer, in my sight. Will you not, can
you not, believe me when / repeat love
you for yourself, and that your wei hi
In gold would not enhance your value in
my OPINION, Whatever IL may IN oIner
people's?"
aft is 80 goods so kind of you to say SO
Henry" said Janet, tearfully. "And
believe what you say, indeed do; but
but my father is so grieved when he
thinks he has to give you portionles;
wife that it makes me grieve, too"
'Then grieve no more, my darling
for if you do, / will-what shall threat
en- you with? All, ! know. Pll run
away with you, and then you shall have
no grand wedding, as my mother insists
upon"
Janet laughed.
"Oh, Henry, as if / cared for that
But what was it you wished me to tell
you last night? You said before you
went away you would come this morning
to hear"
Henry Wood drew her toward the
broad window seat near him, and his
face grew graver.
"Janet. dear, I want you to tell me
how your grandfather managed to lose
his fortune as he did, and how your
father has never been able to retrieve
it. Are you vexed at my question
ing?",
very sadl However, | will tell you as
well as can. Listen, then. You know
for years, owing to the reckless way in
my great grandfather spent his money,
the estate became involved, and when
his eldest son came to be master OF the
manor he found himself in great diff
cultes.
However, he worked we'll and hard
stintlng himself to give his children a
good education and pay eff the mort
cages. 80 that, at last, the estate was free.
But all this time the house had been be-
coming very much as it is now, and then
fresh troubles came.
"My Uncle Marnaduke died of con-
sumption, and Aunt Jane ran away to
be married-she died long time ago, l
know, for her husband treated her very
cruelty. Then Uncle George was very
wild and spent a great deal of money,
till at last grandpa said he should have
no more; and then for years grandmam-
mas mind had become weaker and
weaker with all these troubles-she
could not bear them so we'll as grand pa
pa. Well one night when they
were all sitting in the oak parlor. (my
father was abroad, you know, Uncle
George came in suddeniy--for he had
been in 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 ev-
erybody was Mortified a few minutes az
terward to hear dreadful scream, and
rushing out they found grandmamma in
sensible on the floor in the hall.
Uncle George seemed half mad, for
he disappeared from the house in the
midst of all the confusion. They took
grandmamma to her room; but, though
she recovered from her swoon, she new
er recovered her senses, and they were
obliged to watch her day and night She
talked necessarily of her George, and
ruin and duels, and said things no one
could understand.
Zone night her nurse fell asleep, and,
awaking in the middle Of the night
found her patient gone She rushed out
of the room and found grandmamma -
the bottom of the staircase in kind
sWoon. She was taken back to her bed,
but she never spoke again, and died two
days afterWard. Curiously enough, on
looking for her dressing case some days
my grandfather could not
find it. Search was made everywhere
in vain. Ny father said it was a great
pity. for 1t contained most valuable jew
els given to grandmamma by her mother
and grandmother.
"Well, all these troubles broke grand
papa'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 II fancy mammals death
broke his heart, Henry. He shut him
self 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
las ever received"
Henry Wood kissed his betrothed
enderly. at is very sad story, my
ove-I see It all now. But we will ban
sh it. Stay, though-what became of
The scapegrace Georgef"
"He shot himself two months after
yrandma's death-He never came to
he manor after ward-and / fancy it
must have been grief and remorse that |
made him put an end to his life. Isn't |
t dreadful"
dreadful indeed! Your father seemed |
o have been your grandfather's good
md filial child"
"Yes-he and Aunt Alice who died |
light or nine years ago. She never |
married., you know-but she would not |
ure the Manor house had lost all good |
uck. and she would not live in it to see
ts ruin"
"Ahp' said Henry rising from his seat !
nd shaking his head: "Ianet, dear, Won
ave quite given me the horrorsl Now.
or q change, let us take walk round |
he gallery, and you shall tell whose are
II these venerable portraits"
They sauntered slowly along, Janet |
'ointing out each ancestor as they passed I
he portraits, her lover making his COM
nents upon it.
"Janet, l can trace likeness in this
ace to yours" he said, as they stood OPP
osite the fair young girl with the pow
cred hair and laced bodice. "You have
er eyes and smile"
"Do you think so? All, no, she is so
rettyw
"And pray what are your" was the re-
1rt.
''She is my great aunt, Lady Leigh"
lid Janet, without answering him. "She
led very young, believe"
"And who is this ferocious old gentle
lan" asked Henry, looking at very
rim painting in a suit of armor with
rawn sword in hand. she looks saw
% enough to swallow the whole lot Of
is relations, Janet"
doesn't he? That's Sir Marmadukc
'arden; he was quite as ferocious as
3 looks, l believe. Nurse GRAVITY used