The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-02-28
GDId ne not return to the Manse2"

sNo. He Just walked away, and has
not been seen since in the neighborhood.
"Wen," laughed Ethel, "he certainly
is the oldest human being lever came IN
contact with. Do you think he has lett
the village forever?"
mo one knows; he may return at any
moment, or he may not 1t is just as he
takes the freak, presume.
Bidding the kind woman farewell, and
thanking her warmly for her protecting
care, she ran down the path as the coro-
neted coach of her grace the Duchess OF
Westmoreland drew up to the door IN
order to carry her to her new home, and
she was soon entering the winding walks
that led to the. castle.
She almost forgot the sadness OF her
lonely lot as her eager eyes drank in the
splendor of the grounds through which
they were advancing. Everything that
could charm the senses was here found
in luxuriant perfection.
Grand old trees, exquisite hooks OF
rarest beauty, miniature lakes, profu'
sions of sweet eXotics, rustic bowers, ivy
wreathed labyrinths for quiet rest and
reflection, were on either hand, while the
castle itself was perfect monument OF
architectural magni6cence. Pillars, tur.
rets, domes and wings were all that
great wealth and the most cultured taste
could make them.
The Duchess was lady Of remarkable
beauty and grace still, although she had
passed her seventieth birthday.
Her husband, Charles Worthingtoni
tenth Duke of Westmoreland stern,
austere man, had died suddenly one veal
before; therefore, leaving the gayeties Of
the metropolis, she had retired to Castle
Cairn, in order to spend the first year oj
widowhood amid its beautiful seedusion.
To this retreat she had brought hei
granddaughter, Lady Claire Linwood'
only child of her daughter Bertha, whol
after marrying a peer of the realm, the
MARQUIS of Linwood, had soon followed
her husband to the tomb, leaving the
little one to the fond care Of The
Duchess.
This child, then, constituted the who'll
family now at Castle Cairn, for her sol
Edward, who since the death OF hi!
father was the rightful Duke of West
moreland, was away from his home and
had been for years, travelling through
both continents.
His had been a rowing disposition. Rest
less and fond of change, rich and with
out ties, as he had evidently preferred
single life, never having presented hi:
parents with daughter-in-law, he has
been at liberty to give up his time to the
amusement he liked best on earth, traV'
cling.
Now, however, that his father had
passed away, it was expected that he
would return in few weeks to fill the
honorable station he was henceforth to
occupy as Edward, eleventh Duke OF
Westmoreland.
1t was in this home Of almost regal
magnifcence that our friend Ethel New.
ergail was received as governess and
companion.
She found her young charge an ami.
able and affectionate girl, whose lame.
. ness and delicate health caused her to
prefer the quiet of this lovely home to
the rush and gayety Of the city. In hei
Ethel soon found some one to love, and
before she had beenwith her week she
saw that her affection was fully re.
turned.
Very grateful, then, to God was she
for this pleasant occupation, and this
lovely shelter in which to stay until the
time should come when she was to open
the package and discover the secret OF
her birth and the place where awaited
her the small competence that her aunt
assured her would be sufficient for her
maintenance the rest of her life.
[To BE CONTINUED