Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-03


 earned and elegant leisure. Situated on the high banks of the Humber, some miles below the junction of the Ouse and Trent rivers, the noble mansion commands a view of rich vales and verdant meadows in two countless those of York and Lincoln-between which the Humber itself is the dividing line. Linwood estate, comprising some twelve hundred acres of fertile fields and charming woodlands, lies upon the Lincolnshire side of the river even here greatly affected by the tides, which, rolling in from the North sea, rise to a height of twenty-two feet for spring tide and thirteen feet for neap, at the old city of Hull not many miles below. The fortunate owner of this magnifi- cent property is typical English gen tleman proud of and welded to the traditions of his family, his class and his country, and a strict observer of so- ciety's conventionalisms; but, withal, a man of sterling worth and integrity, and possessing, beneath the crust of hls somewhat cold and polished exterior, a kind and generous heart. At the time of which I write, Col. Towards family consisted of his wife, an only son, late ly come of age, two daughters, of ten and twelve years, respectively, and their governess, Miss Graydon, whose father, Lieut.. Graydon, then retired on half-pay, occupied one of the pretty cottages, a number of which Col. How ard had erected on various parts of his estate.
 Fair Agnes Graydon! sweet, mother less, noble girl! I wish that 1 could do justice to the picture she presented when first saw her; but far more gift ed pens than mine might essay the task in vain, for she was, in truth, that inde- scribable creation-a well-nigh perfect woman-beautiful as good and good as | beautiful!
 Although but eighteen years of age, | her faultless form, rather above than | below medium height, was fully devel- oped in all the contour of it's graceful | lines-a lovely casket enshrining a still more lovely soul! Her classic and proudlyborne head, crowned by a wealth of glossy chestnut hair, through which there gleamed at times faint suspicion of gold, was matched by a | face of purest Grecian outline, lighted | up by eyes of wondrous tenderness and | power, which seemed reflex of all womanly virtues, but the color o1 which, beneath their long, sweeping lashes, no man might tell, as, from dark gray to deepest brown, they appeared to change with the varying emotions o1 each passing hour.
 By singular good fortune the Towards had secured the services of this glorious creature, whose scholarly attainments and ladylil1e accomplishments were 1T strict keeping with her personal charms to conduct the education of their daugh ters, Ethel and Pauline; and most faith fully she fulfilled the trust, for, undel her earnest and systematic methods no only did the girls make astonishing prog ress in their studies, but were con frmed and strengthened in every higl and holy impulse by her precepts an example, which ever tended more deepl to impress the teachings of their invali mother, from under whose immediat care they were now, necessarily, muc removed. Everywhere the presence c Agnes Graydon brought life and joy the darklin shadows of sorrow and sick ness seemed to fade away before he D heavenly smile, and despair transforme itself to hope under the influence of he . sweet, LOW VOICE, atIuneu co sy HuPaUlA with all human suffering. Beloved b her pupils, deeply respected by thei parents and almost idolized by the grea
 staff of servants, no wonder that lii !, should seem to her well worth the li' ' ing, the while she conscientiousl
 walked in the straight and pleasar path of duty and by her own honest to \ frightened the burdens and cheered tt / declining years of her widowed fathe
 whose only child she was and wh
 without her aid, could hardly have e:
 isted upon his slender income. M
 Graydon and Frank Howard, u
 coloners son and heir, were gre;
 friends, and the young man preferre - the companionship of the old soldier
 that of almost any one of his mo E..I