The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-06-10
CHAPTER I.

the month of July. "A silence deep and
undisturbed seemed to have fallen upon
the stately castle of Trenham. No
n was visible; all sounds Were
hushed. y w .
In the deep green woods around
could be heard the fall Of the grand
cascade, the singing Of the sumnler
brook, and the faint whispering Of the
wind among the trees. In the heart Of
the wood, where the shade was deep,
and cool, the birds were singing, but
h the sun shone brightest and
warmest their song was hushed. The
bees roamed languidly from flower to
flower. Those woods Of Trenham were
wondrously fair and beautiful. Under
the shadow Of the tall trees, us far as
the eye could reach, wild flowers raised
their heads in thick abundance-lhe
starry primroses, the sweet cOwslips,
the dainty white stars" the blue bells.
In the midst of Trenham woods
stands the castelar, old gray stone
building Of grand and imposing aspect,
with noble towers and stately tuirets,
and large windows looking like huge
diamonds in the sunlight-a castle that
speaks of ancient grandeur, one Of the
stately homes of England" the cradle
Of a noble race. Magnificent gardens
and pleasure grounds surround 1t; on
n side is a broad, deep lake; in front,
q green lawn, at the bottom Of which
stands a grove of the famous chestnut
trees for which Trenham is celebrated.
There could be no fairer home, 10 more
picturesque or beautiful spot. Artists
come from far and near to sketch its
beauties.
The library at Trenham castle was
perhaps the most beautiful room on
this hot July day. 1t was cool and
shaded. The long French windows
were sheltered from the SUI by q rich
%profusion Of roses and eglantine. They
opened on to a small green path which
led to n of the most beautiful glades
in the wood-a glade where the tall
trees meet overhead, and the golden
light that comes softly filtered through
them is rich and mellow.
On this morning Il couch was drawn
to one Of the library windows, and on
it reclined the countess Of Trenham--
q tall, fair lady, With a gentle face
full she had neither violet eyes nor
but SHE had q gracious and dignified
Il1u1114SAS q SCAAhS 1891 SUNs
face; in her eyes lay a shadow such
as would fall upon one who knew what
it was to live in fear. She sat, on this
burning July noon. looking intently
down the green glade, watching the
shadows that danced upon the grass,
and the birds that rejoiced in the warm,
bright sun.
Lady Trenham vas not alone. At
the table, writing busily, pausiug at
times to consult one Or other Of the
papers that lay near him, sat the earl
of Trenham-Ia noble, stately .1ian
seemingly just in the prime, of life-a
mar with a proud face and powerful
frame-one who looked every inch of
him a soldier and u gentleman.
One thing married his face, end that
was its expression of indomitable pride
pride that would neither bend nor
break, that knew no limit or bounds,
directed his every thought, word and
action. 1t was not ~vanity-Lord Tren-
ham was too proud to lie vain; nor ar
r~ogance-he was ever considerable and
kind to his interiors. Pride Of ace
and of name, pride of high lineage
and spotless descent, pride that was the
ruling passion of his life, spoke in every
feature of his face. Intiexible will
be imprinted there-,he will Of q man
who would suffer all, dare all, but never
yield. 1t was q face to admire, per
haps, hut not to love; and the lady's
eyes fell w~istfully upon it.
In that same face there was, too,
an expression Of habitual restraint
and suffering. For all his broad acres
and fair lands, his stately castle, his
title and rank. Philip, eleventh earl of
Trenham, had never been a very happy
man, nor led u very happy life.
His sorrow was the same :s taat
which falls to the lot of SO many 9th
ers-want Of money. His ~father-IIu-
bert Trenham-had been n uf the
widest men of the day. He sQ,lan-
dered a magnificent fortune, and died,
leaving his estate burdened with debts
and mortgages heavy and numerous.
When Philip, Lord Trenham, sue
ceeded his father, he succeeded also to
a load of care and sorrow. The large
rent-roll was absorbed in the payment
of interest; the lands were mortgaged;
there was no ready money. Most Of
the splendid old family plate had been
sold; there were NO horses in the sta
bles; the hounds had long been given
up; and, what made matters still worse,
there was no credit for the beggared
heir of Trenham.
1t would be the work of a lifetime to
redeem the property and pay of the
| debts; and to that work Lord Trenha:n
pledged himself. The town-house in
Grosvenor Square was let, and the
| young earl settled down at Trenham
| with his life's task before aim. File
was then only twenty-one. He dis
missed the large and useless retinue
Of servants, retaining only a few; then
| after two years of seclusion and enccn-
omy, he went to Germany, and there
| Lord. Trenham made what he after
wards considered the greatest and only
mistake OF his life-he married for love,
without thinking Of money. For six
months he dwelt in the little village OF
Eichstein, on the Rhine. There lie met
and loved the tall, fair, gentle lady
who became his wife-Hilda Won Reich
arr.
She was the only daughter Of lie
Baroness Won Reichart, the widow 81
q brave German officer. The baroness
had no fortune-only q LIE interest
In some property which At her death
reverted to another branch OF the fam
4 delixht that she received the PROPOSE
OF Lord Trenham for her daughter
hand. To her simple and inexperiencet
mind, the young English earl was I
millionaire. Hildn would be d countess
would reign over one OF those gran(
English homes OF which she had reak
and heard.
The chances are many that. ~ Philip
Lord I'rennarn. had met Hi1da In lib,
brfl1iant crowd Of d London season
he would hardly hare noticed her. !
fs quite another thing to meet d gentle
fair-haared gtrt with dove-lfke eye.