The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-01-02

Maurice Fendall-he was the next heir
and Sir Herbert's uncle-came to live at
the Court; but he couldn't take the title,
and never penny could he spend of the
rents, even to keep up the place; so it has
4 gone to wreck and ruiu-a sore sight after
the grand old place of long ago
Maurice Fendall died, and left SON
Mr.. Rex-as fine young gentleman as
you'll find anywhere With the help of
God, maybe he'll come into his rights sooner
or later; but sure it is hard on him to know
that, while many's the time he has not a
five-pound note in his pocket, there are
thousands belonging to him in the bank, if
it could be proved that Sir Herbert was
dead and had no children.
"Mr Rex's aunt, Miss Letitia Fendall,
lives at the old house with one or two ser
wants, where in old times there were twenty.
She has little bit of money of her own;
and it is well she has, for times are hard
with them. There is beautiful young
lady living with her-Miss Gladys Luttrell
maybe you'll remember, sir, l told you
she looked like Lady Irmentrude's picture?
Mr.. Rex is in an office in Dublin, but comes
home sometimes. They do say he is in love
with Miss Gladys; but sure people cannot
marry on love alone-and there is not much
else for them now.
''But the strangest thing of all, sir, is
about an old crazy woman, Rachel Bray.
She lives at the Court, and many one
thinks that if she was right in her head,
and could tell she knows something about
Sir Herbert. She came first to Fendall as
maid to Lady Irmentrude, good-looking
enough young woman, but so high and
mighty in herself that she never had
word for the other servants.
'Well, sir, the morning after Sir Her
bert was lost they found her in her room
all doubled up in corner, and quite mad
entirely They knew that she had gone to
Sir Herberts room with message the
evening before, and they do think that she
saw something dreadful there that took her
wits clean away; but Heaven only knows
what it was Anyhow, she never got over
it-more's the pity; for, ifshe only had her
mind, who knows but what she might be
able to help our young master to get his
rights? She is very quiet; so they let her
stay at the Court, instead Of sending her to
the madhouse Just over at Boynton. But
sure the Fendalls were always good to the
poor
"Now, your honor, that is all can tell
you about Fendall Court; and yonder is the
end of the road Go on, Gipsy! By the
powers, believe the beast is fast asleep!"
r x
Two days before the close of the year,
Gladys, on her knees in the attic of the old
house, was busily turning over the contents
of many mouldy boxes, and trunks. She
was searching for some bits of fur-trimming
with which to adorn a red woolen jacket for
the old Jewess Rachel, which was to be
presented to her ON New Years Eve; the
poor creature had childish delight in
bright-colored garments, and suffered much
from the unusual cold of the season.
Gladys seemed not altogether pleased with
the result of her search, for she had ran
sacked box after box, till all stood open,
with their contents scattered over the floor
all save one-a heavily-made chest COW
cred with mildewed leather, with corners,
hinges and bands of curiously wrought brass.
II have looked over these rags and scraps
thousand times already" murmured
Gladys impatiently, "and might have spared
myself this trouble These bits of beaver
will have to do, moth-eaten though they
are. l hoped to find an old chinchilla muff
of aunt Letitias s, but it seems to have dis
appeared. You old riddle, what wouldn't
1 give for the key to you ?''
This last remark was addressed to the
brass-bound chest, which, dust-covered,
solid and invulnerable, stood in the same
spot in which Gladys had remembered
seeing it ever since she came, child of
five, to live with Miss Fendall. Many and
many time, when little girl, had she sat
upon that old chest, swinging her shabby
heels against its substantial sides, and won
dering with all child's eager curiosity
what it contained-it being to her youthful
imagination an exaggerated Pandora's cask-
ct, which she longed to open.
Long before many years before Gladys
was born-this chest had been placed,
locked, in the attic, and Miss Fendall had
strictly forbidden its being opened. Wheth-
er it was freak of hers to feign mys-
terry where none existed, or whether the
chest really contained what was best left
in obscurity, no one knew; and, as time
went on, inmates of the house learned that
inquiries on the subject were idle and use
less. No one, not even Gladys, the pet and
light of the house, could get gleam Of
enlightenment from the old lady as to what
the mysterious chest contained, The fact
that the young girl was allowed free range
over all the rest of the house and intimate
acquaintance with all else that it contained
made her exclusion from participation in
this one secret doubly trying.
Anything approaching mystery gained
strong hold on her vivid imagination; and
often Of an evening she would tell Rex, to I
his great amusement, the conclusions she
had come to regarding the contents of this I
box. and the romances she had woven about !
it. Topics of interest were rare at Fendall
Court, which perhaps accounted for the
zest with which Gladys always discussed l
the brass-bound chest.
aYoung people, began Miss Letitia, as '
she, Gladys, and Rex were assembled that
evening about the open fireplace in the
great drawing room, "to-morrow, New t
Years Eve, will find us without any pre- !
paration for merry-making. 1t grieves me ,
beyond words that such is the case, for {
never before, since these walls have stood, I
has the old year passed away without a
festival being held within them. During
your day, children, it is true, the merry
making has been simple and unpretending; s
but some difference has always been made.
This has been hard year for us, as you J
know; we cannot afford any outlay now,
and without money it is difficult to provide i
a feast The thought of the holidays pass
ing like any other sad days of the year has
made me very unhappy; and SO, for to- 5
night, l have decided upon some !
thing which will at least give Gladys some
this hour tomorrow evening c
you may open the brass-bound chest = /
If Miss Fendall had said, "At this hour
tomorrow evening the heavens will fall" ]
Gladys and Rex could not have been more d
but amusement soon gave way