The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-02-04


the oaken door was rusty and hard to turn;
the massive oaken door chung to the jambs,
as if held by something within, but yielded
at last and swung slowly back, grating on
its hinges. Yes, here was the crypt, cool,
silent, and solemn. A soft light filtered
in through some unseen opening, revealing
round massive arches sustained by still
more ponderous columns. All was plain
and simple, and there was nothing inside
but an oaken chair and old carved table,
and in one corner an ancient stone coffin,
with cross elaborately carved upon the
lid. Upon the table stood vase with the
remains of faded flowers, book, (it was
old Montaigne,) and open at the passage ::
sMiserable, according to my opinion, is a
Inan''-a feminine hand had annotated in
the margin, in pencil, "or woman"-'who
has not at home place to himself where
he can make much of himself, where he
may hide"
lf5ass' harlie breathed a sigh of relief There
was no mystery here then; this was his
mothers summerhouse that she had dis
covered and kept to herself. 1t had been
hiding place, perhaps, in the troubled
days of civil wars, and before then the
last resting place of the fathers of the Pri-
ory. He looked about for other relics of
his mothers former presence, and found
in one corner little ivory tatting shuttle,
with thread still attached to it. He let it
lie there, and then he picked up little
diary, evidently the repository of his
mothers secret condolences. Looking over
the pages hastily, he caught sight of his
own name repeated here and there with
some little incident recorded of his childish
development One passage, to which his
attention was attracted, ran thus:
II am unhappy at winning all this
money, and yet | can't help going on.
What shall | do with it? If I give it to
George he will spend it. 1 should like to
build church with it, or perhaps hos
pital, and yet, after all, l should like to
keep it for Charlie; to say to him some day
when he is overwhelmed with youthful
troubles Here, Charlie, here is plenty
of money, dip your hands into it; go, spend
it and be happy For it is so easy to be
happy when We are young, alas y
''The poor mother! y said Charlie, soft
ened, and then, after a pause; "Well, |
suppose the dad spent the money. Never
mind, I've got youth and health and the
best sweetheart in the world, and 'Wayland
Smith to make the running for me"
Charlie locked up the place, leaving
everything as he had found ii, But all
he had seen strengthened his resolution Of
keeping the Priors, if by any means he
could, clear off its membranes. To have
stranger cropping about the place and
transforming it, would be desecratiOn.
.rsga, he went to look for Dell, and happily
found her coming across the rose garden
that was now in its full beauty. Dell was
looking for him, in fact, having budget
of news to impart.
The stepmother had just conided to her
that she was going to marry again--to
marry Mr. Paddock, who had made her a
most eligible Offer Mr.. Paddock might be
A self-made man, but he was of the most
distinguished presence, with the entree to
the very best society, and of great wealth.
Issuing from her present retirement, Lady
Richards intended to take her place in the
fashionable world, and, under such auspices,
Dell might expect to be settled advantage
ously before long. Lady Richards had not
failed to remind her stepdaughter that she
was entirely dependent upon her, and that
upon her dutiful conduct and obedience de-
pended all her future prospects.
Charlie was highly indignant at the news.
He went at once to his aunt and remon-
strated with her on what he called her in
fatuation. The man was well enough, he
said, as a chance acquaintance, but neither
his character nor his breeding was of a kind
to warrant him in seeking to enter his
Charlie 81 family. And his object was
evidently merely to get hold of the reve-
nues ofthe Combe property and apply them
to his own uses. Lady Richards was, OF
course, indignant at Charles interference,
and the climax was reached when he as
serted that he would not allow Dell to re-
main under her stepmother's roof for sin
Gle hour after Lady Richards marriage to
that man. Nor would lie have the we'd
ding celebrated at the Priors. Lady Rich
ards must leave before that event took
place He would send her formal notice
unless she would promise him as much as
that.
In all this Charlie was very high-handed
and perhaps unjust, and his threats clearly
went beyond his powers. For what voice
had he in the disposition of Miss Richards S
future? And as for Ladypriors, it was
doubtful whether he could call it really his
own.
'I don't intend to leave the Priors, cried
Lady Richards Indignantly. sit is you
who will have to leave, not 1. l have some
one to protect me now, Sir, and he will see
that you are put in your proper position.
"And what is that, pray" asked Char
lie, with forced calmness.
"The gutter, Sir, cried Lady Richards.
'sSon of disgraced gambler, what better
fate do you deserve p
After this declaration of war, there was
nothing more to be said. "We shall have
to run away, Dell" said Charlie, as he took
gtco- 80, ehal