Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-01-26

ruins in England. over the pointed
arches. the UNCOVERED cloistcrs, and the
marvellous carvings there still hung an
air of sacred grandeur and venerable
worth.
The new manson which seemed to
spring from the old, comprised many Of
tlle ancient rooms-the red room, where
Marie OF Scotland had reposed; the long
magnificent library, where learned men
had sought to explore the great secrets Of
NE; The bower-room, where the stately
Elizabeth had coquetted with the men she
Drst inspired with love; and vaulted
chambers, once occupied by knights and
sqliires, but now given over to servants
Perhaps the most beautiful part Of ancient
tlNcfscroft was the grounds. There were
deep secluded hollows, where the water
lay in silent pools and herons built their
rests. forest-lands, where the deer rested
in their coverts and the trees were centu-
rics old.
The modern mansion faced the west
the ruins lay TO the south; and rlyers-
croft Hall as il stood now was one Of the
most luxurious homes in England. The
western sunlight fell Upon it. lighting up
the gray ruins rs with gold; it fingered on
the grand oricl windows framed with
roses ana passion-flowers, on the broad
terraces, and on the well-kept gardens
And standing where he could see both the
Hall and the ruins, his heart and soul in Il
glow OF rapturous delight, was Vanc Vi
bart. The carriage had been sent to the
station for him; but he had preferred
walking through the park. Now he stood
entranced, lost in the superb picture before
him.
$780," he said to himself, "this is one OF
the ancestral homes OF England NowI
know what ancestral means. \ man
could love, fight for, die for such a home.
A noble name must so with it, and noble
deeds should enrich it,"
There came to him as he stood a meme.
~ Of his own youthful abode; the old-fasll-
toned homestead, the cloyer-felds, the pools
where the cattle drank, and the mill
stream. And, noble though he was in
many things. a pang of regret shot through
his heart that such a fair Inheritance ms
Ulyerscroit was not his. How he would
have gloricd in it! How he would have
loved 1t! 1t seemed TO him that above all
other men he should have appreciated
a noble name. lie half smiled, half sighed,
As he thought how proud he would have
been once upon IA time TO enter such state
~ portals as these.
HI" massive doors were opened, and he
entered "A place before which the giories of
LulWorth faded completely. lie WAS
shown into the library, where Lord Aud
ley waited hiIn. He received Il welcome
80 warm and 80 gracious that he could not
help feeling quite at his ease ana even
happy. They spoke Il few minute OF Sir
Laye and his failing health.
IL believe" said Lord Audley, .'that
you axe his adopted son!'
"les.' replied Nanc.
The impression lett on Lord Audley's
mind was that some kind OF relationship
existed between Nane and Sir Ruye.-
Then Loru Audley spoke of the bridge.
'.To-iuorrow,' ne said, W will drive
slowly aiong the banks OF the river, and
You snail Judge for Yourself rs To the best
Nltcio 1t. Ml daughter, Lady Liiias Aud
ley, VIII 80 with us. And now the dress
lds-ocil has rung, you Will 20 10 your
rooms. We dine at eight. You are not
too tired to join Us, l hope:"
Nhlie his portlnautcau was being un-
packed and his clothes being arranged by
4 qulck-handcd valet, Nane stood at. the
window, strangely haunted by dreams OF
his old home. lie could hear the home
voices, and lie could see The house by the
mlll-stream.
"Why should this come over ne now?"
he thought.
~ nv XII O1u suDcTStIS
ton which said that when q man was
haunted by dream OF youth, il was "a sign
that some great event was about to take
place IN his lite.
NV nat can be going 10 happen TO me."
he wondered; ana then he laughed 1T his
folly. "Nothing more than this that 1
am 10 erect Il bridge which Will be the
pretticst In England"
The FIRST dinner-bell rang, and he has.
tened 10 the dramin.-roon. The magnit-
cent room was empty.
lie never forgot !, Impression it made
upon him. Through 81 long windows he
had II glimpse of as, flowers and
trees, with the CLEAN OF the river in the
distance. In the room itself were tail
Sowing plants, beautiful ferns and cXot-
les, exquisite pictures, priceless works of
art. He wondered what it could he like
to live always in such an atmosphere of
luxury and wealth. Then he found HIM
self wondering what his mother and bright
eyed Kate would say to such an apartment
rs this.
The next moment he bad left such
thoughts far behind. Everything around
him had sunk into insigniicance. Life had
completely changed for him. One moment
had changed the whole course OF his exist
encc.
There was q sound at the farther end of
the room, and, looking, he saw a picture
that so daZzlcd his eyes he could see moth
ing else. Curtains OF rlch crimson velvet,
with golden iria2e, separated that part OF
the drawing-room from q large and mag
~niiiccnt cou>crNA ;ogy. At first he saw on
~ a white hand ana arm, an arm SO round,
so white, 80 beautiful, that ii was like the
work OF Il sculptor. A diamond bracelet
cllsped it. Ine hand slightly parted the
curtains. Then the whole figure appeared
that Of "a tall slender girl draped in
shining silk and priceless 'ace, perfect in
every movement, peerless in grace and
~ mmetry.
With oae keen rapid glance lac seemed
70 take III every detail of the loyelincss
that had no peer. The girls face was ra-
dainty fresh and bright and her luXuriant
yellow hair looked like dead gold crowned
with diamonds. There was q rose-leaf
Hush on the delicate cheeks; the eyes were
the color OF wool-yioiets; the lovely mouth
was perfect III shape, and proud rs IL was
sweet; the firm white throat clasped by \
diamond necklace, and Il diamond cross lay
OH her White breast. Lovely, dainty,