The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-15

N Wynford, the house
"A IA keeper to the fair,
glrlish bride of the
owner of Keithleigh
abbey, Dorsetshre, pausing before the
full-length portrait Of a young man OF
apparently some five or six and twenty
years of age. "Ah! how oft have ]
heard my mother tell the tale of his
courting Miss Thurlow of the Hall, and
how her father, a proud, naughty man,
looked down on him because here
the old woman stopped, but Muriel
Keith, who, in spite Of her elated po-
sition as wife of the most influential
man in the neighborhood, had not vet
outgrown her love of a story, said
quickly:
"Oh, tell it to me. good Mrs. Wyn-
ford, please!" and taking a seat where
she could have full view Of the Dia-
tured face, with Its wavy brown hair,
deep blue eyes and beautiful features,
she waited impatiently for the story.
"Well, ma'am," resumed the house
keeper, you see, Miss Thurlow was a
great belle and had so many rich and
noted men after her. and Master Wal
ter was only a third son, with two
healthy brothers, so it is scarce to be
wondered at that her father refused
with scorn when the poor young curate
of st. Anselm's made bold to ask him
for the hand of his only daughter in
marriage. In vain Miss Marion wept
and pleaded and said that she could
never love another: the old man was
inexorable, swore loudly, and sent Miss
Marion to her room, while as to Mas
ter Walter. he drove him from the
house, telling him never to dare enter
1t again. And then went back to his
pipe and Spectator in cool disregard
ow the two young hearts he had so
well nigh broken.
MY mother was young woman at
that time and she lived to reach her
more than three score years and ten.
but she often said that she could never
forget the face of the curate as he
walked into the library on the evening
after he had been at the Hall; all the
glad light seemed to have faded from
his usually bright blue eyes and he
moved and spoke as one in a dream.
About eight months after that there
was wedding in Hanover Square and
the bride was the beautiful daughter
of Sir Spencer Thurlow of the Hail.
But in spite of the grandeur Of the
nuptials-bright flowers, sweet music.
etc, to say nothing of the magnificent
rent roll Of the bridegroom-it was we'll
known that her heart was not in it. "A
match forced by her father to save her
from forming an alliance with some
poor country curate with no expecta-
uons was whispered by the great pee
ple that thrOnged to the MARRIAGE
feast What
And Master Walter. you ask now
he bore it?
All! as, few men would OF could; he
buried the great sorrow of his life
deep, deep down, and spent his DAYS in
going about doing good. Well, the
years 1lew by: from time to time
whispers were heard that Miss Thur
low had not done quite so well after
all, and that Mr.. Leonard, her hus-
band, treated his young wife shame
fully, ard there was a rumor that he
had lost largely in speculation, and
soon after a report that he had died,
leaving absolutely nothing SO much
for forced marriage!
Sir Spencer started to find his
daughter and fetch her home as soon
as he heard Of tine death Of his son-ln-
law. But travelling was slow in those
days, and when he reached the humble
little cottage Wher she had spent the
last months of her married life he
found the heavy wooden shutters fast
barred and a look of utter desolation
about the whole place. TO all his
queries the only answer was that after
the gentleman died the lady ana her
maid had gone off suddenly, but where
nobody semed TO know. The old man
employed detectives, spent money, etc,
but all to no avail; and at length
disheartened, he returned home. ana
before another year was over the
grass was growing upon his grave and
ThurlOW Hall went into the hands of
distant cousin.
About this time l think it was that
Master Guy. who was at that time the
squire, went for a cruise in his yacht
on the Mediterranean, accompanied by
his next brother Wilfred; that is more
than 30 years ago, but never to this
day has word been heard OF the crew
or vessel. So after months of anxious
waiting the curate of 81. Ansem's
took his place as squire Of Keithlcigh
Abbey.
"One winter evening. after he had
been squire for some time he was sit,
ung in his study, trying to fix his
mind on a sermon for the coming Sum
day, when Il mans voice, sharp and
discOrdant, broke in upon the still
ness.
There, you young cub take that!
A bird that can sing and won't must
be made to sing! Pipe up an give 'em
"Ye Banks and Braes:"' Walter
Keith, in spite Of all his sentlenes, was
no coward. When he heard a cry he