LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 599, 20 May 1876, Page 3

LITERATURE.

LOCHVIEW. A TALE IN THREE PARTS. Part I. Have you ever been in debt ? If you have, you will fully understand the nature of the bugbear that scared me, the wet blanket that hung like a cloud over my early life. From my very cradle, debts and liabilities, mortgages and bewilderments, loomed round our house, and it was not very long before I began to understand what made my father so anxious at times, my mother so pensive and—if I may use the word —fretful. And yet Lochview was as fair a place as one would wish to see. The house was large and handsome, the rooms were lofty and spacious. There were stately avenues •uid extensive grounds, vast stables ami coach-houses; all telling that the Aliens were among the great people of the county A keen observer would no doubt soon detect how straggling the trees of the shrubberies had grown ; that repairs were needed here, there, and everywhere over the place ; and that a general air of dilapidation clung with lichen-like tenacity to Avail, and roof, and parapet. " I have been told the cloud began to gather in my grandfather Sir Murdoc Allen's time, mcl ho must have been a desperately wild and reckless man, for he squandered his money, cut down trees, and I believe would have sold every stick on the place, had it been in hi 3 power to do so. How lis spent his income, or what sort of a life he led, is .not however any part of my story now. "The record of his deeds is well preserved through all the country side, and not an old • woman there but will shake her head with a reproachful sigh, whenever Sir Murdoc s

name is mentioned. After this worthy grandfather of mine came Sir Hans Allen, his eldest son, who died unmarried, and I fancy must have trod rather closely in his father's steps, for the people about Lochview playfully designate him ' Mad Hans' to this day. Then came my father, the youngest of all Sir Murcoc's sons. A whole race of brothers had at one time stood between him and the title, and he had gone into th« army, to win his spurs as best he might. But after a time these brothers one after another died off, and then my father was recalled to take possession of Lochview, with all its honors and - debts. He did not come there alone, for some years previously he had married the pretty but portionless daughter of an earl; and I, his only son, was already born when he entered into the family d gnities. My father looked upon the heritage of debt as an unavoidable mischance -it hung like an incubus on his lot; but it never seemed to strike him that an effort might be made to get rid of the crushing encumbrance. He led an easy sort of life, accepting his position as one that admitted of no remedy; keeping up our hereditary dignity by still maintaining a retinue of servants and hunters and hounds, and keeping up our far-famed hospitality by gathering many friends round the bountifully spread table, or at the spirited ' meet.' He was passionately fond of my mother, and would fain have sheltered her from every rough b ast of adversity, and everything that could vex or annoy. The old romantic experience of how the handsome officer won the daughter of an earl, still lived in his heart as a recollection that could never grow old or pass away.

As time rolled on, and I became fully aware of all the heavy shadows that brooded over our fair inheritance, I vexed and worried myself beyond endurance, it became the one wish of my life to pay off all the debts, clear away all the mortgages, and to see our beautiful Lochview in deed snd truth our own. Oh, how I longed to enjoy its loveliness without those hideous encumbrances that were ever increasing, and growing broader and deeper! I panted to go out into the world and make a fortune, heap up money in untold quantities, and then devote it to the family good. It was clearly not to be done in the quiet shades of Lochview; there I might conjure up wonderful scheme*, and plan out deeds of untiring energy in my imagination, but it must be away in some more active sphere that my skill and talents could be turned to account. When I dreamed of all this in the solitudes of our leafy woods, or pondered it over when stretched at full length on the sward of our park, the idea seemed feasible enough,- but I was hardly prepared for the surprise and amusement my projected plans created, when I ventured to unfold them to others. The first time I made my views on the subject known was on the day I reached my majority, and my first confidante was my cousin, Jessie Duncan. I recollect the scene well, for the event was celebrated with all the honours. Friinds and neighbors for miles round were assembled at the hall, and there were tents erected, and a feast spread for the tenantry on the lawn. What a wretched mood I was in. The very congratulations, and feasting and hilarity, seemed but a mockery—a series of mockeries in fact —and I rushed away down a laurel walk to crush out some of the bitterness from my heart, and smooth down some of the wiinkles from my brow. Turning sharp round a corner, with hands carefully thrust in my pockets, and my eyes bent on the ground, I came suddenly upon Jessie, and was brought to my senses by her ringing laugh. 1 Found at last. Here have J been hunting for you all over the place this last halfhour.' 1 Why, do you want me ?' asked I, not in the least returning her merriment. ' Oh, I don't want you in the least, Sir Knight of the rueful countenance, but it's just possible otherfpeople may. The tenants are waiting to drink your health—and here I find you, the heir, howling all by yourself in the wilderness.' ' Do be rational, Jessie, and just tell me what I'm heir to 1 The family debts, the family dishonour ? It drives me almost wild when I think of it all.' «Hush, hush, Alec; don't begin that theme to-day. It isn't worse for you than it has been for others; don't make yourself miserable now. ' But it is worse for me, because I haven't the placid temperament of the others _ to whom you allude; and I've made up my mind to find a remedy. I shall go away from Lochview, and never return till I've made money enough to free the place from debt and disgrace.' Jessie made a funny little mouth, and then tried to look very grave. She knew as well as I did the scheme my mother had planned for us both, and she knew my opinion as well as I did hers on the subject. Jessie would one day be mistress of Ormsley, the broad acres of which estate touched the very boundaries of Lochview. If we were married the encumbrance on our estate would vanish like dew in sunshine, but I had no wish to better our fortunes by marrying a rich wife; and I am sure Jessie in her heart honoured me for my independence of spirit. Our very knowledge of this pet project of my mother's had put us on our guard perhaps, and though we had been companions and playfellows from childhood, we were still ' only friends,' not lovers. Tease and torment each other we certainly did, but I verily beliove either of us would have made any sacrifice to help or please the other. Jessie iried to look grave when she heard of my intended flight from Lochview. ' Going away, Alec ! Oh, whatever shall [ do ? I wanted you so much to go to < rabtroe on some nuttins; picnics this autumn ; I'd quite set my heart on it, I assure you, and I really think it's most fortunate Harry "Western has promised to come and stay with us all September.' _ « Is Harry Western coming here again ? asked I, somewhat sMffly. • 0 yes ; and I'm glad of it, for he's better at pulling down the hazel bushes than you are. He's so much taller, you know.' ' That's all you girls think about; if you can only get a man six or seven feet high to help you to pick nuts, and fetch and carry for you, you don't care for anything else. Real life sorrows and anxieties are nothing to you.' «Ain't they, though ? That's all you know about it, Sir Knight of the doleful visage But now come back to the lawn, or the " brave peasantry, the country's pride," will be growing impatient. And Alec, l ut on a brighter look, or people will think you've seen a ghost.' I tried to obey my bine-eyed merry cousin; but more than once that evening I moralised

<■' on the fickleness of the world in general, and of women in particular. No sooner should I have withdrawn myself from Lochview, than Harry Western would be at hand to take my place—to ramble about with Jessie, and do her bidding. She would hardly miss me, perhaps. But is not this ever the case! Seldom after a little while are we really missed from our scene of action : some one or other is always ready to step into our shoes, to take up the reins, and to handle them better no doubt than we have done ! Thus 1 moralised. The next da\ I unfolded my plans to my father. I recollect we were riding round the brow of a hill, and a turn of the road gave us a full view of Lochview Hall and the broad lands round it. My father drew up his horse and paused, looking down for a minute or so on the fair scene; then he turned away with a half sigh, and I exclaimed, ' It's a pretty place, father; and I will never rest till every inch of it is our own—no more mortgages for me.' He looked round at me inquiringly; perhaps he thought I was going to carry out my mother's idea, and marry Jessie. • This life of idleness doesn't suit me, father ; I want to get away into some sphere of action where work and energy will win success. I want to get into some business where money can be made. Will you help me ?' • A fine enough idea in theory Alec, but could never carry it out. If however you could make all things fit in according to your views and plan just as you propose, the achievement would indeed be a noble one.' ' But I hope to make the attempt. You would wish Lochview to be out of debt, wouldn't you, father ? He turned round with a quick flash in his eye. ' Would a man, lost in a dark jungle, wish for the open country and the bright sunlight ? Ay, my boy, next to the health and happiness of your mother and yourself, that is my dearest earthly wish,' exclaimed he eagerly. ' Then I'll do my best to rid our name of the dishonour that rests on it. You won't thwart me; will you, father!' ' No, Alec ; but remember I did not bring this dishonour on our heads.' My father spoke as if deeply pained, and I was sorry I had used the word ' dishonour,' though I did consider it dishonour of a deep tint. After this we rode home in silence, and for some days no further word was spoken on the subject. But I knew my father had mentioned it to my mother, and that they held long consultations about it. I could see it by her wan and wearied look, by the long earnest glances she cast at me, and by the deep sigh with which she turned away when I caught her eyes. (Tooe continued)