The Penn's Grove record., 1885-03-14
TaE STEWARD or ABBEYLANDs.

TaE STEWARD OF ABBEYLANDS.
81 do hope Arthur will not accept
that situation MaggieP'
"What situation, dearp" L asked,
without even looking up from my WORK.
s'Tbat stewardship in ireland. l have
a presentinlent that something bad VIII
come of it if he does. 1t Will worry
me dreadfully, Maggie, If you n the
children go to live III that Wild half
bar arous place. The house looks as IL
it would tumble about your ears, IN
spite Of its stately towers and magnif-
cent carving. Why, half the windows
are boarded up, and the other half bro
kenl No, YOU must not let Arthur go. -
"Ellie, child, wake up; you're dream
ing and chattering such nonsense! RouSe
up. dear, and finish that sleeve. I'm so
anxious to get this little frock nnlshed
before Arthur comes home" l SAID,
briskly plying my own needle. You
used not TO sleep IN the afternoon,
Ellie"
.sHave | been asleep, Mag2o asked
nv sister. looking at me with a very
troubled. thoughtful countenance. Il
do not think | even closed my eyes
and vet | saw and beard"
ssThere, there, dearl Keep your day
dream till Arthur comes home; he'll en-
ioy it, but I'm too busy. Besides, l
don't care about hearing dreams told;
/ get a cold creepy sort of sensation
down my back. Moreover, they're all
nonsense, you know, and really mean
nothing.n :.
s.But Tell me one thing, Maggie y
said nv sister earnestly. HAS there
been no talk of Arthur going to Ire
land. of his living in-in that great
house with all the turrets and win
dows?n
s'You silly child, do YOU suppose there
is the least chance of his leaving Lesson
Brothers now, when he's almost a part
ner in the firm? And, of all places on
the face of the earth, | think Ireland IS
Arthur's pet aversion. Do you know,
Ellie. | shall BE- very cross with you If
you do not try to conquer that absurd
habit o have of making your dreams
realities and fretting about them. Not
enc haS,eyer come true yet"
THAT'S no reason they may not some
day, Maggie dear, 'replied Ellie g%ravely;
land indeed | can't help thinking things
and seeing and hearing things too.
There-that sleeve is finished; and now
put away the work. Arthur will be
here presently"
"And, like all inconsiderate people,
he hates amateur dressmaking. He
thinks four active, energetic, destruc-
tive little people can be clothed by
magic. You must accustom Ernest to
..,aI .,o.,HSnno Ei1ias ppana rp hIS mind
beforehand for a sewing-machlne and
perpetual needlework-u unless indeed
Ernie becomes so rich that you can af-
ford to dispense with economy alto
gethsr."
''I'm af aid there's not much pros
pect of that, Maggie" replied Ellie, in
her quiet calm way, which left one in
doubt as to what her individual wishes
were with regard to Ernest Hamilton
and his future prospects.
Then we both hustled about and made
the room tidy for my husbands coming;
for Arthur is terribly particular, and
cannot endure the faintest semblance
of a middle. Afterwards, at my sug-
gestion, my sister went upstairs to put
her unruly locks in order-she had been
romping with the c~hildren~and to make
herself a little smart generally, as a
wet bird had whispered to me that very
likely Ernest would come home to tea
with Arthur.
e'Arthnr is late this evening"" said
aloud, as l rang for lights and vlgor'
ously poked up the fire. Dear me,
how Ellie's silly dream troubles mel ]
wonder if there is any chance of his 60
ing to Ireland?"
"Of whose going to Ireland?" asked
Arthur, who had entered unseen, laying
his hand upon my shoulder. "Wha
are you talking about, little womanP'
"Ellie had a silly dream, dear, an6
I've kept thinking about 1t. She fancied
we were going to Ireland to live in {
great tumbledown CASTLE"
beside a lake with high hills at the
back and the sea beyond-such a beau
tiful country, but such horrid people
l thought they killed you," supple
mented Ellie, entering the room, fol
lowed by Ernest Hamilton, ''and-an6
set fire to the grand old house. 1t was
such a pity, although the place was III
ruins. You are not gong to Ireland
are you, Arthur?"-and she laid hel
hand upon his arm, and looked up al
him with sad troubled eyes.
"Why. of course Pm not going, yOU
silly child What earthly business could
take me to Ireland2 No my dear, I'm
a fixture in Oxford street, and more
likely to be so III future, for Mr.. LeesoI
desired his solicitor TO draw up the arti
cles of partnership to day; but-by Jove
it's rather a rum thingl-we had a lOt
of drawings sent in to-day to be en-
graved of such a tumbledown old Irish
castle, situated in such wild, grand
scenery, lake and all, as Ellie describes
Did you see them, Ernestp'
Yes" replied Ernest rather gloom
lily; II took sOme instructions about
them"
Are there two square towers, and Z
massive arched DOORWAY covered witt
curious c~arvingsp" asked Ellie breath.
lessly, "Are there tr~ees--great trees
with ugly gaps in them, as if some had
been pulled up by the roOts2 Are sOmt
of the windows boarded upp"
"There, there, my dearl Those arr
the marks and tokens of a score of lrlsi
castles-and English castles too, fol
that matter. You must have COPIED
dozens of such sketches at school; you
can find the various characteristics
towers. arched doorway, quaint cary,
ing, hill, valley, wood, water, et coterC
in Maggie's ~sketch-b0ok at this pres
emit moment, . said Arthur gaily. Don
look 50 exercised in your mind, Ernest
and, for goodness sake, clear up YOU
clouded face, Ellie. You look as sol
emn as If you had seen a ghosti'
IT'D rather have seen twenty ghost!