Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1884-10-09

beauty. Now and then heavier gust
than usual swept the scudding sleet
against the window panes and barred
oaken doors of st. Cuthbert's as if
striving to force way within its COM
Portable precincts.
Seated in one of the large velvet
chairs, watching the freight cleaning
and sparkling on the diamonds which
covered her small white hands, was
an old lady with sweet patrican
face.
The snow-whitc hair was banded
smoothly back and a widows cap
with long lappets falling over the
black velvet gown made her look rs
one in IN old picture.
Philip might well be proud of his
fair stately old mother. In the un-
certain CLEAN of the freight, as the
wind threw the slcct with more furious
blast against the window, she started
up.
"What night for their coming
home! Surely hear wheels! Yes,
there they are! must ring and order
the servants up. Beryl shall have a
real Irish welcome" "
The old hall looked smiling and
bright despite the dark and rusty
suits of armor that deckcd ii, suits
that had done their duty well in many
u hard-fought field and gallant tourna-
ment. For the L'Estranges had been
soldiers from the time of Elizabeth,
when they had left their fair English
lands and made their home under tho
shadow of the lovely Tipperary hills.
Philip was the first son of the house
of L'Estrangc who had not followed
the fortunes of war; and it was he
who was now expected home with his
fair young bride.
As the great doors swung back on
their massive hinges, the servants
curtsied low, and the fond mother
rushed forward to welcome her boy
to the home Of his ancestors, and then
turning to Beryl, she took the slight
figure in her arms.
"Bcryl. my dear" she said, kissing
her tcndcrly, "l have often longed for
dear daughter; welcome to your
home, my sweet child!'
Then drawing her arm through hers,
she led her through the long array of
servants, Beryl bowiDg and smiling
kindly in answer to their murmurcd
words of greeting.
The months sped by, and as the days
passed the old dowagcr became more
and moIe attached to her daughtcr-in-
law. Every one loved her, high and
low, far and near; the poor and sick
found good friend in Bcryl, and there
were murmurcd blessings wherever she
appeared.
How Philip loved her, and how
proud he was of the light and happi-
ness he had brought to his beloved
mother! And soon his joy would be
greater, for there was little heir to
the old name and place expected ere
long.
Three years passed and Sir Philips
cup of JOY seemed full TO the brim.
The winter, with its frosts and
SHOWS, held sway again, and the long
corridors and galleries of old st. Cuth-
bert's echoed to the sound of little
feet and Ginning baby laughter, as
Bcryl, still as fair and girlish as OF
yore, played hidc-and.seek with her
little boy and baby-girl.
Philip, while he smoked his cigar,
watched them with deep tenderness
in his eyes as he thought how he had
been blessed above his fellows.
The thaw had begun, and Philip said
the hounds would certainly be out by
Thursday. The sun continued to shine,
and bit by bit the green fields showed
out, and, except in some sheltered
hooks, the snow had disappeared.
Thursday came bright and beautiful,
one of those mornings when the hedge.
rows glisten in the morning sun and
the birds pipe forth as if In thanks for
the bright, glorious sunshine.
Philip and Beryl rolled along in the
latter's little carriage, the ponies bells
making musical chimes on the CLEAR
air.
Philip had not given in to his wife's
entreaties to let her ride, us he knew
there was still q "bone" in the ground
so she had to content herself with see.
ing what she could from the road.
Very lovely she looked in her warm
furs and little hat with its scarlet
feather.
"What large meet, Philip! Every
body is out. But the hounds are moi
come. Oh, suppose Sir Horace is moi
in hurry. He is letting the sun have
n chance; the frost is not all gone yet. '
"What, not going to ride, Lady LES
trangcP" half-a-dozen voices choruset
as husband and wife appeared on The
field.
"Sir Philip says the ground is too
hard" Lady L L'Estrange answered.
"He.is quite right too" declared tn,
master, as he rode up at that minute
II kept back the hounds purposely
that the sun might have time to softer
it little"
"Oh, Philip, here come Spruce ant
FREELY! How well they look! Which d,
you ride?" asked his wife as tn,
groom made his appearance with th
two hunters.
"Well, | think the mare. Eh, OLE
lady, what do you sayP" and Philil
caressed the bright arching neck lov
ingly. Just see to your spurs, James
and think you may as well girth VI
a hole tighter"
The groom touched his hat and, hav
ing obeyed his masters orders, re
mounted his horse, while Philip rod
back to Beryl and told her to be care
full with the ponies, as they would b
likely to pull hard when the hound
got away, and with ''good-by, IN
pet; take care of yourself" he rode u
to the covert.
1t was hard day for men an,
horses-three times they had foun
and each time had lost their fox, th
sharp east wind that had sprung IL
making the dogs wild and uncertain
just day to make men cross AM
horses fretful and impatient-far wors
than if there had been an actual blank
Even Fireny, who was looked upon a
q perfection of temper and training
began to tidget and take her fence
hotly.
1t was large, srtaggling cover
they drew now, and the fox-"an oil
dog"-went away very soon. Th
hounds seemed to settle down to thei
scent, and it looked like a good run.
They started over large pasture