The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-11-07
~Qal4eIIiMlLfeG.
onieei Nos. s5 n 81 Fourteenth Street.
THE ~BEYERLEYS.

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In II remote country region, RENDERED
in winter almost inaccessible by the over
flowing Of two neighborlns rivers, stood a
the beginning Of this century q lious'
called boutwell, Hall.
Even now, although tho sound Of tn
railway whistles reaches the spot, It nigh
safely challenge most places In Englant
for thoroughgolng seclusion, while thcr,
are dismal elements enough aud TO spar
in the mists that iloat up, shost-lilsc
across the river meadows, tho high ant
unkept fences ieathcred at the top by sly
n~iticant willows aud alders, and the man,
m~onotonous lanes that intersect this re
gion. Wholly impassiblo In wet season'
except by boats, which are in good ant
sober earnest put in frequent rcquisitior
by the farmers and other inllabitant!
around, these lanes nre ut the best 0
times so full OF ruts us 10 try the fibre 0
the most highly patented carriage springs
Subtract some seventy years from TIL.
year Of 1854, and it will b. found natu,a
enough that some surprise wus ielt in tn,
neighborhood when the Lady Griseldq
Nciuler accepted the hand OF Humphrey
Beverly, OF Boutwell, Hail. :
But her %fatlier, Lord Westcsley, with
more children on his hands than lie knew
what to do with, and with lneaus scarcely
equal TO his position, was not sorry to
graft One daughter OH to that OF Il fairly
wealthy commoncr like Humphrey Bevcr.
ley. especially rs the Beverleys could boast
Of an indisputably good pedigree, the title
deeds OF Boutwell, Park going back to the
days Of the p~lantayenets.
Lady Griselda was one OF Il hevy OF
beautiful ~sistera, and not the least ainbi.
tious among them; but the objects she
sought were admiration, with IN unlimit-
cd license to do whatever she listed; these
granted, and she installed sovereign ludv
OF her own will, she did not particularly
insist upon rank and IN enormous estab.
llishuent Us necessary to the salvation Of
her ease OF mind.
For her fist few seasons Lady driSclda
Vcnner shrugged her shoulders ut mar
rage, Her tlirtations had been many and
Intoxicating, but her head was never for 4
moment in danger Of being thwarted it! its
schemes by her heart, The beautiful eyes,
that took away both the heads and ~!,e.rts
OF icr, lovers, never left a point in the
game she loved to play and she played it,
as will be secn. to the end.
Lord Westerley and family were doyn
at one OF their country houses, soma dozen
or so miles from boutwell, Hall. when
Lady Griselda met Humphrey Beverley
for the first time. L was at Il ball, and
his warm admiration, more apparent and
upsopi,ia;;cated than that to which she
Vas accustomed, gaze her a new sersa-
ton. The acquaintance vas prosecuted.
Lady Griselda's sisters leased her about
her country admirer, and there were, Of
course, rumors OF j rival, to whom Hum,
rhrey had shown some attention. Then
came & heavenly August day when the
Westerley party vent. by Humphreys in
vitation, to picnic ut the Hall. Every one
.raved about its romantic solitude, its pan
elied roouls. the primitive gates in some
OF the passages and landings, the family
portraits, and the silver and old china
that appeared In abundauce wien the
profuse luncheon Humphrey had pro-
yided ior his guests was brought ont
under the trees, as well as ut the equally
profuse tea that awaital Them later on in
the dinins-room. The gay party, pleased
with q novel entertainment, and finding
in their handsome host 4 rolnantia variety
from the type OF men with whom they
were most f~amilisr;-lsed 10 Court and
London ways, praised ali they s.iw with
well.bfed extravaganza and In truth there
WAS much that deserved admiration.
It was not n grand place, but it was
very charming. Iheorchards laden with
fruit were 4 sight to see, and the grounds
abo.lt the house were decorated with pea
cocks and srilina and fancy arbors, and
shapes OF many descriptions cnt out in box
and yew. The quaint garden TOO WA per-
feet OF its kind, complete with dial und
rockery.work, old.fashlone cd flowers richly
colored, as August flowers must always ho,
n regiment OF snails in the box borders,
and ribbon grass with no blades alike,
Humphrey made an admirably attentive
host, and he was so great a ilvorite that
until late in the day hcsaw lar less OF Lady
Griselda than had become usual in their
recent meetinga.
1t gave her leisure to observe his popu-
larity with others. Many OF the guests,
although Of the immediate neiyhborhood,
were strangers to Lady Griselda, Tor the
Westerleys lived but little at that time in
SlOughshire, and she Don perceived there
was no lack OF candidates iMr the honor OF
presiding at Boutwell,, and that by all the
laws OF probability and vanity OF man that
post would not be left much longer vacant.
Her father, her sister, her icllow.guests
were enthusiastic in praise OF the Hall
and its surroundings, and why should she
not tak6 it at their valuation? Others
coveted the prize; there would be pleasure
in disappointing them all and securing it
to herself; and q husband like Humphrey
unused to any save country ways, would
surely interfere but little with her free
dom.
Etc and she were the last couple to re-
turn to the house, after a parting stroll
through the Strawberries, and as they lin
SCLSS ~ lLlC lliAl llCI htStHhN ttlAl liz llslu
gathered for her fell from her conniving
hand, and she must needs sit on the lowest
step Of the staircase, and with her very
own fingers rcarrange its disorder. He
leaned on the carved oak balustrade,
watching her dexterous handling OF the
flowers, and looking at her auburn hair
the rarcst tint Of the kind he had ever
seen-at her beautiful face, with its archcd
eyebrows and aristocra,ic features and its
delicate skin, more delicste by reason OF a
few most exquisite irecklcs. lie ycarned
with love toward her, and with regret over
his own deficiencies. Could he ever hope
to grow worthy OF SO much beauty, inno-
ccnce, and grace? y Z.
Such were his thoughts. Man.like, he
made no allowance Tor the nature within
being possibly at variance with the fair
exterior, and the hour was too strong for
him. Gazing ut her thus in silence for
some moments, he spoke his thoughts
aloud; and, browning triumph OF that
happy day, he was not repulsed. There,
in that old hall. their fate was sealed, and
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