The Penn's Grove record., 1885-11-21
GOLDEN

Beechleigh was a quiet little place
SO quiet indeed that it was difficult to
realize that it formed part of the living
busting, roaring world. Births took
place at rare intervals, marriages were
rarer still, and even death, who made
such havoc elsewhere, seemed to forget
hishappy valley, he waited so long be-
tween his visits.
In the very centre OF this peaceful
spot Miss Luttrell's cottage was situa-
ted. 1t stood Just above the river, down
to which the road ran, to hide itself
for awhile in the ford, from which it
rose yellow between the green beeches
opposite, to lose itself again in the woods
beyond.
Miss Luttrell was ~forty-two, yet tile
loveliest woman anywhere in East
Weldshire. She had changed some
what in looks since girlhood, but the
changes had all come SO sweetly and
gently that they had rather mellowed
her beauty than caused it to fade. Her
father had been Vicar of Beechleigh,
and, when he died, she had removed 10
the little old house which was called
the cottage, and had lived III ever since
in her qGiet way.
Everybody loved her, and she was so
much of a permanent constitution"
that none of the Beechleigh folks ever
wondered why such a fair sweet wo'
man should not have married, why she
should have won all love except the love
that crowns a woman's life. That she
should dream Of marrying now was OF
course out of the question. She was
the last woman in the world to marry
for a home-indeed she had rs nice a
home as any woman should wish to
have-and she was not N the least
afraid of old maidenhood. Besides there
was nobody in the neighborhood whom
she could marry, had she 50 desired,
and out of the neighborhood she never
wandered; and Beechleigh imagination
strayed no farther.
Beechleigh was almost an "Adamiess
Eden" Tho old Vicar was married;
only son was a tutor at Oxford; the
doctor was also married; SO were both
the lawyers; so were Captain Gray, who
fought as a muddy at Trafalgar, and
Mr.. AshburtoD, the curate.
After many years of unbroken quiz.
two stirring events happened at Beech
leigh in one week, Miss Luttrell an
nounced to her frienus and neighbors
that her niece, Alice Wentworth, was
coming to stay with her, and Mrs
Tichell heard from the steward that
Beechleigh Hall, which had been shut
up for a heightened period. was going
to be occupied again. and preparations
were to be made at once for the recep.
tion of its owner, Sir Alfred Bennett,
who was coming down for the pheasant
shooting.
The news was sufficiently startling,
accustomed as the inhabitants of Beech
leigh were to dull monotony: everybody
talked so much and so fast about both
events that they gel strangely mixed
up, and all kind of contradictory re,
ports got circulated innocently enough.
Then Alice Wentworth arrived, and
gave food for gossip, to the exclusion
Of all other subjects fol- some time to
come.
MIS-. Ashburton, was quite acckden-
tally on the platform of the little sta
ton when she arrived-Mlss Luttrell
of course was waiting-and, when the
train drew up. the curate's wife mod
estly withdrew and occupied herself
with examining the station masters
hollyhocks. So few passengers alighted
at Beechleigh that she had a good OPP
portunity of criticising them, and
in spite of her botanical preoccupation,
she gave minute attention tc a neat lit
tie lady in an ulster, wearing d small
felt hat and carrying a portmanteau,
who went straight up to gentle Miss
Luttrell and kissed her.
Mrs. Ashburton, having thus satisfied
her curiosity, employed the next few
days in imparting to those equally anx-
ious to obtain information concerning
the new arrival her impressions with
respect to Miss Wentworth, which were
not altogether ~flattering to that young
lady, the curate's wife not hesltating to
pronounce her style s'fast." The ar
rival of Sir Alfred Bennett at the hall
with an immense train of servants and
a party of friends proved however a
eounter-sensation.
Alice sat at Miss Luttrell's tea-table
on the third day of her visit, thought
fully helping herself to cake. She look
ed such a tired, sad little girl, although
oilG bdQ DCC1k tdlhllR p~iCdou4AlJ CuObSn
about her aunt's friends,
sit is strange to think that you have
spent ali your life here and never tired
of it, Aunt Helen.' - she said presently.
81 don't mean that this is not one of
the most delightful of villages. for the
people are most interesting-their char
acters are distinctly developed as they
could never be in the world, where al
their edges and angles would be rubbed
off,
sit is my home, you see, Alice
"But / am sure / should be tired to
death of my home If / had nothing else
for yer and always; and n does see
more of mankind at Kensington than
here. Don't you ever chafe and champ
and stamp and try 70 climb out of sour
world there is outsider
There is a very sorrowfnl world out
side.n
"a nice, clear. jolly, sparkling smil.
ing. happy world, Aunt Helen!n cried
the girl eagerly. Don't run the world
down because you don't know il
Have you even you-found your
nineteen years all sunshine and sparkle?'
asked Miss LuttrelI, not looking at her
niece, whose face flushed and whose
eyes moistened, but dreamily gazing at
the wet grass and limp flowers outside.
Just then the clouds parted, and a
broad arrow Of golden light shot out of
the murky gray sky. In afew minutes
all was changed. The heavens became
a lofty dome of purple, a few golden
clanna hnnn in the west the draaru