The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-01-11

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I'd vas beddher, mine friends, you don'dfeel
too bigD
q. E. Adams, In Hdrper's Magazine.
THE ENFIELD COURT ROBBERY.
CHAPTER I.
"When are you going to return Lady
Dasent's visit, Aunt Francesm asked my niece
Amy, one lovely morning in August. sit is
quite q fortnight since she called"
"In a day or sou ! replied, knowing the
duty must be peri rmed, particularly as Lady
Dasent had, since she called, sent us an inVi-
tation to a ball which was about to take place
at Enfield Court. In myinmost heart l should
have been pleased had Lady Dasent's visit
never been paid. We had lived In seclusion
for SO long that 1 almost dreaded any inter-
ruptfon to the even tenor of our quiet exist
ence. But Amy was eighteen, aud just at the
age to appreciate a little gayety; and / felt it
was my duty to set my W feelings aside, and
allow her to enjoy the present to the utmost.
We lived just on the outskirts OF one OF the
principal southern provincial towns, in a 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 to Lord DAsent's very delicate health,
the family had been absent some years; but
directly they returned, Lady Dasent had called
on us. The Court was barely a mile distant
by road, and we were really their nearest
neighbors. It behooved me, therefore, for
Amy's sake, to make an effort to return her
visit.
"What do you think of our going to Enfield
this afternoon, Amy7" I said, presently.
81 think 1t would be delightful" she re-
piled. stShall we walk or drivea"
sDrive, decidedly, /" 1 rejoined. The day was
lovely, and I inwardly hoped that Lady Dasent
might be enjoying its beauties herself, and
that we might thus CONT tue our drive, having
1~-- -. 1-Ar ~ .-s- ~z-1- @~1- D-4 -
hopes we e 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
us both.
Her daughters were playing awn-tennis,
she told us. Would we like to join them on
the ~terracea Very gladly would I have de-
clined; but q glance toward Amy decided me
otherwise. Very probably my diminutive
groom and ponies would be entertained hos
pitably during our detention; and 1 could
quite fancy, after the splendors of Enfield,
that Joseph would return home signally dis
satisfied with the humble ways at the Wren's
Nest.
Accompanying Lady Dasent, we found our
selves In the midst of quite q 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 anxious ewes followed her, and with
pleasure 1 observed the eordiality with which
the Misses Dasent welcomed her.
BY and by saw her standing under a lime
tree at some little distance from where I was
seated. She was dressed in white; and as she
stood in the half shade, half sunshine, there
was q look OF ethereal beauty about her.
SLOW very pretty your niece IL, Miss
Courtenay," Lady Dasens observed.
eyes; I think she is rather pretty" I re-
piled.
Some one else thought SO, too. Just as
Lady Dasent spoke, I saw a gentleman intro
duced to Amy; and, while we remained, he
determinedly maintained a close proximity to
her side. He was young. good-looking and
agreeable to my niece.
Hitherto Amy had lived a life of complete re-
tirement. l had guarded her with a jealous
care from all contact with any outward in
fuences hat might prejudice the future of my
darling She had been consigned to my care
by her mother on her deathbed when an infant
OF a few months old, and l had accepted the
charge, vowing to be faithful to the utmost of
my ability
+ had loved her mother, but I had adored
her fafher-my youngest b~rother-who had
gone out to India with the fairest prospects,
sndcame home, afi er being there only for a
few years, to die. Out of a large family I was
the only one left who could possibly have I'M
dertaken the absolute 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 rich,
but we had enough, and l was enabled to have
a governess for Amy, SO that not even for part
Of her education had she to leave me. Some
times l wished she hal some companions of
her own age, but when l mentioned it she
always rejected the idea of such a necessity.
She was perfectly hsppy. What more did !
wanta Nothing, except to insure her contin-
uing to be happy all the days OF her life.
Lady Dasent's desire to cultivate our &C.
quaintance presented at least one advantage
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; for though Amy's birth was
that of q lady, still the Misses Dasent were
~undeniably above her in rank; and-perhaps
from an old-fashioned idea on my part of pos
sible patronage rather threw obstacles In
the way of any sudden friendship between
them.
But I am anticipating, and must revert tc
the introduction had witnessed in the dis
lance between Amy and Mr.. Alfred Maulever.
er, which was the name of the individual
before alluded to. l did not make his acquaint
ance that afternoon; that was an honor re
served for the following day, when he, accom-
PANEL by two of tine Misses Dasent, came ovel
to the Wren's Nest to invite Amy and mysel
TO q small afternoon parry.
1t was the beginning of many visits both OF
their part and onr own; in fact, hardly a da,
passed without our seeing at least Mr.. Maui
everer, who invariably found some preteXt TO
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 eventfu
one, and to which she went arrayed in simpl,
white.
l was not altogether comfortable on tn
score of her growing intimacy with Mr.. Maui
everer. Perhaps he. vas lrifing with her ;perhap
he was not in every way desirable himself. I
Thousand disturbing possibilities keptshootin!
through my old heart, as I sat watching m,
darling at her first ball, looking radiantll
pretty, while Mr.. Mauleverer redoubled his de
votion, and inundated himself SO thoroughly
her shrine as to insist on taking me in to sup
ted.
Never before had 1 seen the Dasents' cele
brated gold plate, which was on this occasion
fully displayed. It was magnificent. Sucl
tankards and salvers of solid gold, to sa
nothing OF plates, spoons and forks, all ap
parently OF the precious metal. Our CONVEX
sation naturally turned upon this display; an,
just as we were admiring it, Florence Dasen
happened to join US.
"Miss Courtenay has been admiring tn
plate" remarked Mr.. Mauleverer.
eyes; isn't 1t beautiful" she replied
But, really, ! think pretty china would be al
most nicer. l believe papa would prefer it
but we can't get rid Of our plate simply be
cause It is entailed; 50 are mammals dia
monds."
Lady Dasent was wearing her diamonds tina
evening. From my quiet corner in the ball
room, 1 had especially noticed the necklace
which was rather a tight circlet round he
throat, set in squares of aformal but, of cours
magnificent description.
A few trifing remarks followed; ard the
Mr.. Mauleverer conducted me back to my sea
in the vicinity of which we found Amy, t,
whom Mr.. Mauleverer was engaged fer tn
nextdance.
I must say they looked a charming coupl
as they moved away. suppose my eyes wer
expressive of ny thoughts, for Lady Dasent'
voice close beside me seemed to echo them.
.oThey make a good pair, don't theyf' sh
said. "Ah, Miss Courtenay," she continued
81 am afraid you must not expect to keep you
niece always; some one is sure to carry her Of
soon."
81 am in no hurry for that time to come"
replied. "But, Lady Dasent, do you min,
telling me one thing: who is Mr.. Maulev
srerr'
"Who Is Mr.. Maulevererl" repeated Lad
Dasent, with a shade of sarcasm in her voice