Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-08-07
Dark DarreII's Bride.
CHAPTER i.


no1rsss railway station and an equal dis
tAnce from the nearest town. Year after
year nothing more remarkable than death
OF a birth, n party at the Larchcs, school
feast at the Rectory, broke tho monotony
OF existence in the remote district, and the
sudden arrival, from 'forelgn parts" OF
the Lord Of the Manor, the master OF the
Court, who owned nearly all the property
for miles around, threw the whole district
into fever Of excitement, which was In
creased by the fact that no ONE expected
him.
lie visited the Court at rare intervals,
snd tho last time ho came, was about i've
years back. Tho people at Scarth Abbot
said it was shame for him TO go wandering
all over the earth, so as To be quite an alien
among his own people. But then the
Court WAS a great lonely, rambling place
for man scarcely more than thirty 10 III
habit, and with neither mother, sister,
nor wife; for the owner was still unInar-
ried, though he was the last In the direct
line. Scarth Abbot gossips shook their
heads when asked why the Court had no
mistress, and tolC dismal story.
Before the news OF the Lord-of.the-
Manor's return was fortnight old anoth-
er shock went through the inhabitants OF
Scarth Abbot.
1t was asserted that Miss Durnford, the
maiden lady who lived at the Grange, was
about To receive new inmate in her house.
hold, in the person of Il niece from "some-
where abroad" Wonders would never
cease, said the gossips. Miss Durnford
was first cousin TO the Sabines of the
Larches, who were very great people in
deed, and had been at Scarth Abbot since
Nf In L lfnnSnnIIataflV
newcomer must be second cousin to the
Sabines.
The villagers however knew nothing
about her except her name, and Miss
Durnford either knew no more or would
say 10 more; for she was no friend TO viii
lage gossip, and never stopped TO feed IL.
The Doctors wife contrived TO discover
that the young lady whose arrival was
considered so important was coming from
Canada, where her uncle held a Govern
ment appointment, and that she was sent
over to her aunt because she could not live
In the cold climate of the Dominion; but
here even indefatigable Mrs. Frampton
came to full stop, and could get no far
Their.
All in the village knew, when, one eve
ming in July, Miss Durniord's carriage
drove away towards the station, which
was 1T Moorstown, that It had gone 10
fetch Miss Costello, and all turned out
when the carriage came back, 10 try TO
catch glimpse OF the foreigner. But the
landau was closed, and nothing was visible
except q portmanteau on the box.
The carriage passed through the high
iron gates, swept up the drive, and
stopped before the deep arched doorway
OF an old red brick house with mullioned
windows, aud with turrets aud buttresses
jutting out where one would least expect
10 find any eXcrescence.
At the top Of the broad low fight Of
steps leading TO the door stood tall rath-
er angular looking woman of perhaps fifty
five or sixty, dressed in n black satin robe
of old fashioned make, and with lace cap
on her smooth gray hair. A pair OF grave
kindly brown eyes looked out from be-
Meath thick and still black eyebrows, and
the gaZers' somewhat formal demeanor
could in no degree be associated with
harshness or primness.
Out OF the landau, before the footman
could jump down TO open the door, sprang
q girl, graceful as a fawn and attired in a
trayeling-dress of the last Partisan style,
who bounded up the steps TO meet the old
lady's outstretched hands.
"Dear auntie," said u sweet young voice,
chow good OF you 10 come to the door TO
receive me ~
..Good OF mer' echoed Miss Durnford,
putting her arms about the girl, who was
taller than herself. "How else would
you have me TO receive my sisters child?"
kissing the girl fondly AZ she spoke
"Come in, my dear; you must be very tired
and very hungry"
"Neither the one nor the other" was
the merry response. "Ob, this dear old
house hope / shall not turn you topsy-
turvy, auntiel We Transatlantics are so
free-and-casy that / may do all sorts of
dreadful things; and l am perfect cata-
mount"
Miss Durnford smiled indulgently into
face lovely enough to win its owner par
don for far worse escapades than any
gently-nurtured girl of sixteen was likely
to commit, and she said kindly
dwell, well, we'll see; but j dare say
the Grange will be better for a revolution.
Old maids-in the country especially
grow selfish and narrow-minded, living
alone, and with no one to think OF but
themselves; il you do upset the prim order
of things little, it will be the better for
me-"
''You would rever grow selfish auntie,"
said Miss Costello, scanning her relatives
face with steady but by no means imper-
tinent gaze. al dare say shall tease you;
but won't IL can help it,"
Miss Durnford laughed; IL was not Of
ten she had anything TO laugh at, and this
exercise was novel and pleasant.
"Come to your room," she said, "and
will ring for Mary, the paror-maid, to wait
on YOU"
al don't need her, auntie, thanks.
don't trouble n maid much at home. oh"
as Miss Durnford, after ascending a
short flight Of stairs, opened an oaken door
--"what n darling old-world room l did
miss the old things In Canada SO, auntie-
everything was new and staring"
ado you remember Europe so well!"
asked Miss Durnford, as the girl threw off
her hat aud jacket.
"Oh, yes, auntie! We have been out
there only five years. l was seven when
we went to Vienna; and we were there
till uncle got this appointment in Canada.
Is not this place very cold in winter"
every cold indeed. We frequently
haya ha cnnv early aud