Monanataiari Gold' LUCY BENTLEY'S LOVER.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4218, 8 July 1882, Page 1

Monanataiari Gold' LUCY BENTLEY'S LOVER.

By Jenhy Wbek.

CHAPTER 11.

THE ABHCROFTS OF DINGLY HOtIOW. That was a Christmas! A real oldfashioned English Christmas! The wind shrieked and howled among the old wide chimneys, like a weird phantom suddenly disturbed by the sounds of mirth and laughter which prevailed in the wellwarmed, luxuriantly furnished apartments of the Hall, which was> full \-ef guests at this festive sea^oH.'.-p'he snow lay deep on lawn and terrace,- while pond presented an animated appearance. •£ the merry skaters glided.gfaceftlty^aimd the mazes of its icy paths, laughing gleefully at the mishaps which some of ihe com* pany experienced, who were not skilful in this winter pastime. But there were many io the Tillage to whom this wintry weather, and longcontinued frost brought no such pleasant experiences

Sir Boger and Lady Lincoln were most benevolently disposed towards thtthfoot people resident on their estate,' tb&inj appeals to the (steward or housekeeper at - the Hall were promptly attended to, and a deserting candidateibr relief was nerer known to be disregarded. Yet, there were many who did Dot apply for the "pieces which fell from the matter's table," but who, nevertheless, felt the cold clutch of poverty norm the lest keenlyrfor the senFc of the "British independence" which prevented them from soliciting the so-called charity of the "big folk at the Hall.'' Among these were a family with whom my mother and I had been on terms of intimacy during, our brief occupation of the Lodge. Mr Ashcroft bad long been a tenant 'of Sir Roger's, indeed the little farm he rented had passed from father to son for several generations, and it would indeed be a source of bitter grief if the A shcrofts, of Dingly Hollow, should be unable to meet the annual rent day with their usual punctual payment. But there, seemed every probability of such a misfortune befalling this worthy family, for there had been serious losses* both in wheat add hay, besides the direful visitation of the cattle plague, which had ruthlessly .striken down the very best of good Dame Ashcroft's dairy, cows.

Sir Roger must hunt—therefore, the game must be preserved, and useless were the complaints of. his small tenant farmers regarding the depredations com* mitted by the foxes, hares, or rabbits among their well cultivated home pad* docks; Sir Roger must shoot, what matter that the birds paid too-frequent visits to Farmer Ashcroft's grain ?— 'twould be (reason to suggest the destruo tipu of his game: high treason to com* plain of the havoc made by the huntsmen and their horses in the fields of the poor tenant farmer. Altogether this was far from proving a "Merry Christmas" to the Ashcroft family.. The farmer himself went about his work with a hearier heart than he had carried for many; a-yW, while the good dame strove bj every means in her power to economise; their reduced income/and still procure a' few Christmas luxuries for the young folk. "■ ;

Tbere was Philip, the pride of his mother'g heart- as sturdy a young farmer as you would meet in the whole country side.

Then there weje ..Maggie and'^ Floss (short for Florence) — pretty maidens, with golden hair and clear blue eyes, which were always ready to sparkle with fun and merriment. After these came Harry and Will, twin brothers—romping young schoolboys, unable as yet to com* prehend the meaning of the cloud on thejjr father's brow, or the sabdned light of their mother's smile. I had often fancied that Philip Ashcroft,

(ConttAuediu Supphtimt.)