The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-08-27

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either side. 1t was unusual to see trees like
these planted by the side of a highway, ami
/ could not resist the conclusion that this
must have been the main approach to the
hall In past times. 1t led. however, straight
into little village, consisting of not more
than score OF ancient houses Beyond tn /,
village l could see the river and q bridge
with high-crowned arch, which l Learned
subsequently had accommodated all the
traffic In that sparsely inhabited district
since the days of good Queen Bess Beyond
the bridge again all was open country
looked round In bewilderment in search OF
the hall
Suddenly i caught sight of It, standing
hard by the road, on the very edge of the
little river. A great rookery Of lofty elms
had SHIELDED it at first from my observation,
so that did not see 1t until we were almost
at the door. We passed through fine gate
way, flush with the village street, and found
ourselves in n large quadrangle. covered
with grass, upon which one of the gable
ends of the hall looked out There was
another massive stone gateway opposite to
that by which we entered this inclosure, and
here the dog cart stopped.
AS l jumped to the ground, the iron
gates of beautiful hammered metal were
thrown open, and Daisy and her uncle stood
before me. They gave me a cordial greet
ing Mauleverer being ms usual, quietly
courteous Daisy's face was radiant with e.
happiness that seemed to answer that which
filed my own heart. l forgot everything
about my strange companion in the railway
carriage in the joy of the moment.
We We're standing, found, on n broad
terraced walk which stretched along the
main front of the hall and warm garden
wall of red brick which was continued, for
hundred yards or more beyond the end of
the house ITSELF The hall was venerable
and imposing structure, built at different
periods and in many different styles of archi-
lecture The oldest portion dated back from
the reign of Henry VII and was fragment
OF some ecclesiastical eiifics which had been
sacked and confiscated at the Reformation
The most modern part was that in front of
which I now stood, and which had been
erected in the reign Of James 1.
There was something very striking both in
the appearance and the situation of the
house. 1t stool, as have said close to the
village street: and yet the double gates. and
the great vale quadrangle, to say nothing
OF the tall elm trees seemed to shut it off
completely from the outer world. The river
ran so close TO its northern walls that there
was hardly room to pass between the house
and the edge of the stream. Here, on the
south side, where had met my host and his
niece, the broad walk on which we stood was
the only level piece of ground. Immediately
beyond it the park land rose steeply toward
the sky line.
house at once beautiful and romantic,
thought, and Enthusiastically house with n
history. / could imagine that in the dark
days of winter it wore ghostly aspect, as
1t rose amid the skeleton branches of the
elms from the edge of the sluggish stream
that swept past its walls. But to-day it had
pleasant appearance enough. for the sun
was shining upon lis richly tinted brick
work, and upon the mullionel windows en-
rched with numberless heraldic devices in
stained glass.
do you admire tho house!" said Daisy,
with a smile that had something in it of the
pride of ownership.
"Indeed l do" / responded. "But is not
the situation, so close to the village on ono
hand and to the river on the river, rather
peculiarl"
al thought so myself, at first" interposed
Mauleverer, "but l find that we are as COM
pletely secluded here as if no village at all
existed; and as to the river, you know there
is no house so dry as one that stands on the
must not keep Mr. Fenton standing here
Let us show him something more than the
outside of the house."
We entered, through quaint stone porch,
large hall. with immense open fireplace,
low paneled roof of carved oak, and col
umns Of the same wood supporting the cell
ing. There were doors leading from this
hall in almost every direction. The apart
ment itself was furnished in n style which
correspondent with the architecture. There
were heavily carved Jacobean chairs and
tables, a lounge or two some magnificent
black oak cabinets and an antique clock
which would have created furore If IL
could have been seen at Chri'ty's. An inn
mense staircase, up which it would have
been an easy matter to drive the traditional
coach and-four, led from the hall to the
drawing room floor The walls of the stair
case were hung with splendid tapestry.
From the gallery to which the stairs gave
access was conducted by my host into the
drawing room, an apartment which CORE
sponded in size with the great hall below.
At either end of it were smaller rooms, one
fitted as q boudoir and the other as a Ii
brary; while beyond these again were suites
of spacious bed rooms, many with rudely
carved walls of paneled oak, and others
hung like the staircase with venerable tapes
try
could not refrain from giving audible
expression to the admiration with which /
saw the noble dimensions of all the apart
ments. and the fine taste with which they
were furnished.
EYES," said Mauleverer, "it all doea
credit to the people who have made a rant
shaclle old house habitable in wonder
fully short space of time. When l saw it
three months ago, nobody would have sup
posed that it could ever again DO made fit to
live in. Yet we find it comfortable enough
now-do we not Daisyp
"Oh, sit is q charming place." she an.
swered. "But you know, uncle, 1 have
already told you that for some things-such
as brightness and life and society," pre-
ferred the Grand hotel at Scarborough"
ayes, my dear, know you are always
throwing Scarborough in my teeth. Never
mind; we shall see 1t again some day"
had tried to catch Daisy's eye while her
uncle was speaking, but sho would not look
at me-"
"You have something here at any rate"
said switch you can't get Mt the Grand
botaI