West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-01-30
HER ANCESTRAL HOME.
by ANNE RICHARDSON EARLE.

Landor mansion had been handed down
from father 20 son, aud known as "Souirn
Landor's place.
1t stood alone, well back from the vii
iage> and was quite hidden from distant
view by the immense trees which spread
about II. A nearer inspection, however
showed Its pilAred portico and heavy
brass knockered door, its many windows
with their small picturesque pancs, and
It's gabled roof topped by the huge square
chimneys of by-gone days There was a
reverend majesty about il Nt This near
view as of Venerable aristocrat who
shows his birth and breeding.
At one Of its windows, upcn an after
noon in the fall, very modern youno
lady was sitting, the straight back of her
chair reaching high above her well
dressed shoulders, her nineteenth century
hali'sho resting upon footstool of
e'shteenth-centuryn needlcwork
"A new silvcr-mounted travelling ink.
stand stood upon the high sill beside
her, now silver bound lap-tablct rested
on her lap, and she was writing with an
unhesitating speed which showed that
her heart was in her theme.
My dearest, dearest girl" she wrote
"hrre am, alone in my glory, for good.
ness only knows how many hours, while
Aunt Augusta and the 'retainers' are busy
IN the kitchen, have offered my valua
bic aid, which has been declined, so NV
conscience is clear to devote myself To
you. am glad that il is TO you, and To
you only, for do not like to worry mann.
ma, with true accounts Of my unnatural
sentiments; yet it is relief onco in n
while 10 be able to say exactly what one
means.
"Corfdentially, then, aud to he ont
with the whole secret at once, this is n
perfectly terrible place, An ancestral
mansion is very fine thing TO pride your
self Upon when you are snug and safe in
the city where you cannot get at il, and
ITS ghosts and damp cannot get at Won
but In the reality it is awful in the ex
tTeme.
Poor little Aunt Augusta goes about
all the time with no other company than
the relics Of those who arc in their graves.
She shows me about the house, and not
room but some member of the family has
died IN; not an article OF furniture, nor
a picture, not even book, but has n
history connected with her dead pcrents
brothers, and sisters, grandparents and
their families, or great grandparents and
theirs.
Yesterday, as we stood in tho H.
brary, she pointed TO a long narrow table
in the corner THAT is the table upon
which all their collins have stood she
said, quietly. II gave me a shock which
believe / shall never get over shall
do no more reading in the lib,ary. There
arc very many and excellent books, BY
the-way, but they arc also Of a dead and
gone day.
81 do wish that you could see the po--
traits here and the miniatures. Nv poor
little great-grandmothcr Landor, who
died when she was twenty three, only n
year Older than ], and two OF Grand
mother Landor when she was young. She
was McCregor, and there are some
Scotch portraits OF her ancestors which
are very curious So you see, my dear.
there is plenty Of blood, but. after MI.
what does Il amount tol With the cx
ception Of Aunt Augusta, the T.andors
have been such short lived family.
am thankful that ] get my constitution
and blood too from mamma. / don't
care il her people did make their money
in cattle, and hadn't any ancestors. They
have at least the money, and arc slivc 10
enjoy it.
'I believe Aunt Augusta thinks that
papa made = mistake in marrying, at least
she never speaks Of mamma, and re-
member when ] vas little and used to
come here that il was always papa who
brought me.
Yesterday she talked 20 me for n Ioly
time about my responsibilities as her
heir, aud had not the heart 90 tell her
that If she left the place 10 me / should
sell II. 10 is an idea which shocks even
me, but sentiment Is a luxury which has
its drawbacks, and will not cncoura0e
It. OF course 7 should keen all the pict-
ures and the silver and books. and a
great deal Of The furniture. but the house
should go. cannot decide whether tits
my duty to tell Aunt a. and make her
declining days miserable, or whether IL is
best 70 say nothing at all If there were
any ono else who would value the place
more It would decide me, but / shall be
the only surviving Landor.
"Oh, write 20 me, Margaret dear. and
think Of me all the time r hope 20 bc
able to get away gracefully in two weeks
In fact cannot stand it longer. Have
you seen anything Of F. or n you
should, and he should ask Tor me. tell
him that he may write to me after all. IL
is 80 unbearably lonely that ] should bo
glad II he would, but ! will not promise |
70 reply. should be sure 90 shock him.
hesO adorcs old things, and the idea of 4
family. Pooh
"Give my love 10 my Of the girls who .
ask for me, and if you 20 to see mamma. I
as ] hope You viii, do not show her nav .
letter, but tell her 7 LONG 10 get back To- +
her, which Is truo-truc- trucw
a week passed, and the same vouno
lady sat OF the same window and wrote
Margaret Dcarcst-Yo came eafolv
such O leoturcl BIT 7 expected it.
shall not try to argue with YOU no least
not on paper, but know that if vou had
tho misfortune TO be next heir % such