St. Paul daily globe., 1895-12-25
IllIAINIIll lIIIilil

1t was, as far as l can ascertain,
In September of the year 1911. that
a postchaise drew up before the door
of ASWarby hall, in the heart of Lin
colnshire. The little boy, who was
the only passenger in 1t, and who
jumped out. as soon as the chaise
had stopped, looked about him with
the keenest curiosity during the
short interval that elapsed between
the ringing of the bell and the open
ing of the hall door. He saw tall,
square, red brick house, built in the
reign of Anne; a stone-pillared porch
had been added in the purer classi-
cal style of 1880; the windows of the
house were many, tall and narrow,
with small paneS and thick, white
woodwork. A pediment, pierced with
a round window, crowned the front.
There were wings to right and left,
connected by curious glazed galleries,
supported by cOlonnades, with the
central block. These wings plainly
contained the stables and offices OF
the house. Each was Surmounted by
an ornamental cupola with gilded
Vane. An evening light shOne on the
building. making the windowpaneS
glow like so many fires. Away from
the hall in front stretched a fiat
park studded with oaks and fringed
with frs, which stood out against
the sky. The clock in the church
tower. buried in trees on the edge OF
the park-only its golden weather.
cock catching the light-was striking
six. and the sound came gently beat
ing down the wind. 1t was altogether
a pleasant impression, though tinged
with the sort of melancholy appro-
pirate to an evening in early autumn.
that was conveyed to the mind of the
boy who was standing in the porch
waiting for the door to open to him.
He had just come from Warwick
shire. and was an orphan of some
six months standing; now, owing to
the generous and unexpected offer Of
his elderly cousin, Mr.. Abney, he
had come to live at Aswarby. The
offer was unexpected, because all
who knew anything of Mr.. Abney
looked upon him as a somewhat
austere recluse. into whose steady
going household the advent of a
small boy would import a new and,
it seemed, incongruous element. The
truth is that very little was known
of Nh Abney'S pursuits or temper.
The professor of Greek at Cambridge
had been known to say that no one
knew more of the religious beliefs OF
the later pagans than did the owner
of Aswarby. Certainly the library
at the hall contained all the avail
able literature of the Mysteries, the
Orphic poems, the worship of MlthraS
and the Neo-PlatOniStS. In the mar
ble-paved hall stood a fine group of
Mithras Staying a bull, which had
been imported from the Levant at
great expense by the owner. He
had contributed a description of it to
the Gentleman's Magazine; and he
had written a remarkable series OF
articles in the Critical Museum on
the superstitions of the Romans OF
the Lower Empire. He was looked
upon. in fine, as man wrapped up IN
his books. and it was matter OF
great surprise among his neighbors
that he should ever have heard OF
his orphan cousin, Stephen Elllott
much more that he should have vol
upteered to make him an inmate OF
Aswarby hall.
Whatever may have been expected
bv his neighbors, it is certain that Mr.
Abney. the tall, the thin, the austere,
seemed inclined to give his young
cousin a kindly reception. The mo-
ment the front door was opened he
darted out of his study, rubbing his
hands with delight.
How are you, my boy? how are
you? How old are you?'' said he
THAT is. YOU are not tco much tired,
I hope. by your journey to eat sup
per?''
NO. thank you, sir said Master
Elliott: II am pretty well"
That's a good lad" said Mr.. Abb
nev. And how old are you. my boy?'
1t seemed a little odd that he should
have asked the question twice IN the
first two minutes of their acQuaint-
ance.
I'm twelve years old next birthday,
sir" said Stephen.
And when is your birthday, my dear
boy? Eleventh of September, eh?
That's well-that's very we'll; nearly
year hence, isn't it? l like-ha. ha!
i like to get these things down in my
book. Sure it's twelve-certain?
Yes, quite sure, sir
wen. well; take him to Mrs.
Bunchs room. ParlIes, and let him
have his a-supper-whatever it is"
Yes sir" answered the ctaid Mr..
Parkes: and conducted Stephen to the
lower regions.
Mrs. Bunch was the most comfort
able and human person whom Stephen
had as yet met in Aswarby. She made
him completely at home, and they were
great friends after the first quarter of
an hour-as indeed they continued.
Mrs. Bunch had been born in the
nCighborhood some fifty-five years be
fore the date of Stephens arrival, and
her residence at the Hall was Of
twenty years standing. Consequent
ly. if any one knew the ins and outs
of the house and the district, Mrs.
Bunch knew them; and she was by no
means disinclined to communicate her
information Certainly there were
plenty Of things about the Hall and the
Hall gardens which Stephen, who was
of an adventurous and inquiring turn,
was anxious to have explained TO him.
"Who built the temple at the end of