Chapter VI.

Otago Witness, Issue 1727, 27 December 1884, Page 13

Chapter VI.

The years sped lightly on. With the cessation of the family curse, the traditional two perpetuators of it seemed to have ceased also ; for a large family of girls and boys made the old Castle lively with their mirth and frolics. And with all the pare and teaching bestowed upon them, to train them to love one another, Ellen, Lady Raven, often declared that, whereever she went, she never met with children so 1 loTing and bo good as hers. And though Lord Raven laughed at this, as a mother's partial fancy, in his heart he concurred in it.

Au^t Hilda had long since married, and left the Castle ; but Eliza, Dowager Lady Raven, still lived there, a gentler and humbler women than of yore. They had heard once from Bernard. An acquamtence of theirs who had gone out to .New Zealand, and bought property there, had come back to wind up bis affair in England, before finally settling down there. He had come across Bernard, somewhere in New Zealand, and was the bearer of a small note, and two big nuggets, ' to buy my namesake a Mount St. Bernard dog, and wee Nellie a' doll.' That was all the note. Bernard had his dog, and wee Nellie her doll ; bnt the two big nuggets were properly and permanently enshrined, as befitted their value. And Me Lescelles, when he went out again, was the bearer of two magnificent photos of young Bernard and wee Nellie.

At the end of fifteen years from the time he went away, came another letter, and a longer, from Bernard. He was coming home to ace them, and was bringing a young bride with him. He had forgotten at last.

Between my younger Bon's portion, and my gold digging, I have not done badly,' the letter said ; ' I have twenty thousand acres of freehold, and as many more Government leasehold ; and how many sheep and cattle I have upon them I couldn't tell you. The lands of Castle Raven would look small beside that, wouldn't they? I have a handsome house, with a verandah all round it, whioh to my mind, looks prettier and brighter than any old castle. And now I have taken a handßome wife to keep me company in my handsome house. "Home" is the faohionable honeymoon trip, hera ; sp I am bringing my bride home" to see you all— though it is not ■ home " to her, as she is New Zealand born and bled. 'Frances, my girl wife, is about eighteen. She may not have the refined, courtley, dis-tinguished-looking beauty of Ellen or Hilda ; but she is considered the handsomest girl hero, and was the belle of Dunedin. And Ellen and Hilda were 'bye ordinaire,' even at home, at least we thought so, I remember, but Frances is really very handsome, wonderfully handsome to my eyes. And what's more— the sunny face, as fair af morning— the clear, bright eyes, ao franV and true — the rippling gold -brown hai — tne wiaehke, affectionate Vays, are like sunshine to me. She was educated at the Convent here, and regularly carried off tbe prize for politenesß and "deportment. So I suppose she iB not quite a savage. She is looking over my shoulder while I write, and tells me to add, with her. love, that she hopes the ladies of Castle Kaven will give her an extra polish when she comeß home.'

n 7 aYI ? n< ? ?A en B avo thanks to Almighty God that nißht for that letter. The onrae had passed away for ever. The End,