The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1891-11-21
CHAPTER III.

DARRELL COURT Is A PRISON TO MEW
1t was a beautiful May day, bright with
fresh spring lovelineSs. The leaves were
springing fresh and green from the trees: the
hedges Were all abloom with pink hawthorn;
the chestnut trees were all i'm flower; the gold
of the laburnum, the purple of the lilac. the
white of the fair acacia trees. and the deli
cate green of the stately clmS and lines gave
q beautiful variety of color. The grass was
dotted with hundred wild-fowers: great
clusters of yellow buttercups looked in the
distance like the upspreading of the sea of
gold; the violets perfumed the air. bluebels
stirred In the sweet spring breeze, and the
birds sang out loudly and jubiantly.
Ii one spot looked more lovely than anoth-
er on this bright May day, il was Darrell
Court, for it stood where the sun shone
brightest, in one of the most romantic and
picturesque hooks of England-the part of
Woodshrc bordering on the sea.
The mansion and estates stood on gently
rising ground; chain of purple hills stretch
ed away into the far distance; then came the
pretty town OF Audleigh Royal, the Aud
leigh Woods, and the broad, deep river Darte.
The bank of the river formed the boundary
of the Darrell estates, a rich and magnificent
heritage, wherein every beauty of meadow
and wood seemed To meet. The park was
rich in its stately trees and herds of deer; and
not far from the house was a iir-wood-an
aromatic, odorouS iir-wood, which led to the
very shores OF the smiling southern sea.
BY night and by day the grand music of
nature was heard in perfection at Darrell
Court. Sometimes ii was the roll OF the wind
across the hills, or the beat OF angry waves
on the shore, or the wild melody of the storm
among the pine trees, or the full chorus of n
Thousand teaihered songsters. The court IL
self was one of the most picturesque of man
sions. Ii did not belong TO any one order or
style of architecture-thcrew was nothing stiff
or formal about it-but it looked in that
bright May sunshine noble ediice, with its
square towers covered with clinging ivy,
gray turrrts, and large arched windows.
Did the sun ever shine upon such a combi-
nation OF coiors? The spray of the fountains
glittered in the air, the numerous balconies
were filed with flowers; wherever it was
possible for flower TO take root, one had
been placed to grow-purple wistarias, sad,
! solemn pas>ion-ilowers, roses of every hue.
The star-like jesSamne and scarlet creeperS
gave to the walls OF the old mansion vivid
glow of color; gold and purple enriched the
gardens, heavy white lilies breathed faintest
perfume. The spot looked very Eden.
The grand front entrance consisted of n
large gothic porch, which was reached by a
broad fight of steps, adorned with white
marble vases filled with flowers; the ilrst ter
race was Immediately below. and terrace led
from terrace down to the grand old gardens,
where sweetest blossoms grew.
There was an od-world air about the place
something patrlcian, quiet reserved. Ii
was no vulgar haunt for vulgar crowds; ii
was not a show place; and the master of it
Sir Oswald Darrell, as he stood upon the ter
race looked in keeping with its surround
mgs.
There was diStingue air about Sir Os-
wald, an old fashioned courtly dignity, which
never for one moment lett him. He was
thoroughly well bred; he had not two sets Of
manners--onr for the world, and one for
private life; he was always the same, meas
ured in speech, noble in his grave condcscen-
sion. No man ever more thoroughly descrv-
eel the name of aristocrat; he was delicate
and tastdious, with profound and deeply
rooted dislike for all that was ill-bred, vulgar,
or mean.
Even in his dress Sir Oswald was remark.
able; the Supcrlne white linen, the diamond
studs and sleeve links, the rare jewels that
CLEANED on his tngcrs-all struck the atten-
ton; and, rs he took from his pocket richly
engraved golden snuff box and tapped itwith
the ends nj his delicate white fingers, there
stood revealed thorough aristocrdt-the
ideal of an English patrican gentleman.
Sir Oswald walked round the stately ter
races and gardens
Il do not see her" he said To himself; "yet
most certainly Frampton told me she was
here"
Then, with his goid-headed cane in hand,
Sir Oswald descended To the gardens. He
was evidently in search OF some one. Meet
ing one OF the gardeners who stood, hat III
hand, rs he passed by, Sir Oswald asked
Have you seen Miss Darrell in the gar
dens?"