The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-03-16

! since the door hau last Deen opened nau au'
ed an extra thickness to the layers of du
which lay on floor and wall and window LEI
ges. But, gathering up her silken skirt
her hand, she hesitated not to enter. nor fol
got to carefully close and lock the door b.
hind her.
And if the same supposititious individua
could have peered through the keyhole, or b
any means, legitimate or otherwise, have peue
trated with his eye the solid oak door, he woul
have seen the same naughty dame kneelin
among all the dust and CRIME of years upo
years, regardless of the consequences and tn
damage done to her satin and brocade, il
! front of a massively carved chest, and runnin,
her delicate, taper fingers in and out and al
over its clumsily nodded ornamentation, pres
sing every knob or projection and examining
every inch of its worm eaten surface with the
closest scrutiny and patience unaccountablt
and unprecedented. Then, at last, after al
hour or so spent in this employment, she rose
with half weary, half angry exclamation and
mnttered: II must stay no longer or | shall
be missed, but 1 viii come again and again,
and never rest until have learned the secret
of the spring and what lies hidden within!'i
The two brothers grew up to manhood,
being in their several ways as handsome a
pair of young men as one would wish to look
upon; and year by year the dark look in the
face of Lady Isabella grew deeper and more
fixed. She was never in the least degree,
outwsrdly, unkind to her stepson, though she
bit her lip and clenched her hand when the
country people dropped their courtesies, or
pulled their forelocks in salutation to 9Th
young Squoire." There was nothing in her
demeanor toward him to cavil at, except her
coldness-but she was as cold as statue al
ways, unless when under the dominion of one
of her sudden outbursts of temper-and to
every one, except her son, Anthony. And
when her eyes fell upon him, or her hand
touched his, the statue became living,
breathing, loving woman, though proud al
ways, as proud as Lncifer, with the pride
which cankers the heart!
With regard to Reginald himself, be ad.
mired his stepmother exceedingly for her
grace aud beauty, for she was a beautiful
woman still, at more than forty years of age;
but there was no particular affection for her
on his part, and he eschewed her company at
all times in favor of that of old Deb-who
was very old Deb now, and whose one great
hope and earnest desire of living to see her
young master coming OF age was not destined
to be grai6ed. She died honored and full of
years, but much troubled in her mind. toward
the last, By premoni,ion that in one shape
or other some mischance would befall her
young lord. as it pleased her to call him,
when she was gone, and could no longer
watch over him with her falling sight, and
guard him wish her palsied hands. 1t was
observed that for some time after the death
of Deborah Lady Halliwell wore a brighter
look and trod with lighter step than she had
been won't But the festivities in connection
with the coming OF age of the elder son were
fated not 10 take place, for the old, faithfnl
serving woman was followed to the grave in
the same year, aud, within month Of his
Who died in consequence OF an accident in
the hunting field, and Sir Reginald reigned in
hts stead.
SIR Hugh was deeply regretted by all who
knew him. for be was careless, good natar.
ed soul, with ready hand and open purse,
who, if he accomplished no great actions,
no mean ones. Nobody but he
himself knew whether he had been disap-
pointed in his second marriage or if his wife S
beauty had compensated for her
cold and naughty disposition. On his death.
bed his glazing eye sought hers, and his stiff
fening fingers closed over hers as be tried
feebly TO lay them 10 the hand Of his elder
son, while his younger knest in an abandon
ment Of grief beside him. Presently, with a
last effort, be raised his head from the pill
low, aud gazing on the two be loved best, ex'
claimed; 'IsahelIa-R ReginAld-my son
your mo,herr' as though he would commit
each to the others charge, aud then fell back
and died
This at any rate was the meaning the new
baronet attached to the action, and the
eoartsey and consideration with which he
considered it his duty TO treat the widowed
Lady Halliwell was the subject Of admiring
comment to all who came in contact with
them.
A year passed, dnring which time, every
day at a certain hour, Lady Isabella retired
10 her oratory-which had been fitted up for
her according to her traditions soon after her
first arrival-to pray. At least, as she invari,
ably gave orders that on no account was she
10 be disturbed, such was considered to be
her pious occupation; though, strange to say,
,he often emerged from her retirement with
! baffled look upon her face, as though her
prayers had given her but little of satisfae
ion or relief
But at last one day, when the first year Of
mourning for Sir Hugh was over aud complet
ID, she appeared, after longer absence than
usual, with flashing eve and heightened
,olor, and an air of hardly concealed triumph
about her, which caused her son Anthony to
,xelaim with 6lial pride and affection;
''Wby, mother, how handsome you are
o day But how is this? Your gown is
covered with dust, and there is actually a
,obweb on your sleeve.
And indeed her black velvet robe was sadly
and soiled.
"Ah, yes, true But what of that ?' she
'eplied, pushing him hastily from her with a
confused look. Listen, both of you. |
nave been looking through the old armories
n the tapestry chamber, and examining their
measures of lace and brocade, such as were
worn by your worthy ancestors, and | have
lad a wonderful thought come to me''-the
urning of her sentences, when excited by
my cause, still occasionally betrayed her
oreign blood-"which is that we give a ball,
/ ball of fancy dress, masked ball, in honor
,f"-here she paused, aud her thin nostrils
luivered as they did only when she was
strongly moved-"Sir Reginald here. A
birthday ball, she continued; ''for we have
lone nothing yet to celebrate his accession,
Let il be given on the night of his birthday
on New Years Eve-and let him come of age
over again, and you and |, my son, and she
aughed softly, twill pay our court to him
% the Master of Madden ~ with graceful.
weeping eourtsey and a sideloug glance of
half concealed mockery, And do you and
he both array yourselves hravely in the cos.