Year: 1878

Far and near, Denis Danesbrook, OF
Shrop Hall. Long Shrop, Surrey, was
known as "Ugly Danesbrook. He
was tall and lean, with large head COW
cred with coarse, bristly red hair, while
his face WAS disfgured by an unsightly
scar.


His remarkable ugliness was in no
wise softened by his manners, which
were rough and awkward to degree.
He had not been a resident at Shrop
Hall more than year at the period at
which my tale commences.


He led a most retired life, and people
did not seem at all inclined to make his
acquaintance, in consequence of his un-
canny appearance.


myself freely confess that I was un-
able to drive from my own mind the feel
ing against him. Yet he was we'll -edu-
Gated, superior man wealthy. and liberal
in his dealings, as all who had any busi-
ness transactions with him were ever
ready to admit.


Now this ugly man had, strange to
relate, a most beautiful wife. She was
dark-haired, with soft gray eyes that
beamed with intelligence and good
nature. Her movements were full of
natural grace; her voice low-toned and
musical; and a sweet smile lent a most
bewitching charm to her lovely features.
Her husband, I could see, carried her
on his hands. His distress of mind
knew no bounds when she happened to
make any trifing complaint regarding
the state of her health.


Every wish OF hers was command;
and, while he seemed repelling and
heartless to all the world, he showed
her the utmost love, the most self-sacri-
6cing devotion.


AS far as I could judge, she was deep
ly grateful for his tenderness, and con-
tented with her lot in ife-as far as I
could judge, l repeat.


As the young wife was naturally deli
este, I was often summoned to her aid,
and it was thus our acquaintance began.


Her suffsrings were OF & nervous ma
>ure; therefore l recommended her to
take more frequent exercise III the open
air, and try and amuse her mind little
by society.


"What are you thinking OF, doctor %
she cried one day, when 1 was again
urging this point. "Society Ny bus
band hates it p


"He will waive his objections to it
when he learns thatyour medical attend
ant considers it necessary for your health
to mix more with people"


She shock her head, and I proceeded


"This solitude feeds your nervous
ness" added I. ssI will speak to Mr..
Danesbrook about it.


son, pray don't dc that - entreated
she. "You would only make him sad and
uncomfortable


P,,4 T 81 - e.,
considered it my duty to represent her
case truly to her good husband.


eff you advise her to mix more with
society,"" he returned, with more COM
posure than I gave him credit for, 60
shall be the last to object to it, though
I must confess L am no lover of it. I
shall, however, sacrifice my feelings for
q time, and try to amuse her


And he kept his promise in this re-
spect: and people were not little sur
prised when Danesbrook and his wife
made their appearance together in sew
ong-standing calls, and contracting new
friendships.


Every body was as charmed with Maud
Danesbrook's manners as they were dis
pleased with his; for they could not
tS'SA tiiOAASSAfSS " Oht1SOlAC 1ilo
slightly exterior


Nevertheless, there were two or three
families with whom Mr. Danesbrook ap-
peared to be on q more friendly footing.
One Of these was the widow of military
officer, and his nearest neighbor, who
entertained a real attachment for Mrs,
Dauesbrook, and who took her husband
into the bargain, notwithstanding that
he was not 10 her mind, either


But the force of habit soon made it
self felt here, for the good-natured old
lsdy quickly learned to regard the gen.
tleman is a friend, and to very much en-
Joy his conversation, for his mind was
highly cultivated.


Now, the widow had son cher only
child) in the army His regiment was
stationed in London, where the young
man led most disreputable life. But
his mother loved him with all g moth
er's tenderness, although he had caused
her many bitter pang by his dissoiute
conduct.


He was reckoned to be one of the
handsomest and most notorious meI
about town, and the discreditable tales
current respecting him were beyond
count, and of a complexion not to be
mentioned here. Eeard that he was
nearly being dismissed from the service
through his faulty behavior. Hi:
mother, however, had hurried to town