Dilemmas of Pride, (Vol 1 of 3)

our, for it was almost midnight, the numerous bonfires scattered in all directions, the innumerable tenantry gathered round them, the crowd of moving forms extending as far as the eye could penetrate

e hair, were strongly illuminated by an adjacent heap of blazing pine,-all gave to Arden Park a demesne of such unlimited magnificence, that it formed in itself a sort of sylvan empire, a powerful

residence of the ancestors of the family. Its round towers of different dimensions, some still perfect, its perpendicular site, the tr

ill customary for the heir to take formal possession of the roofless walls, ere he was considered tr

Friary, once the residence of monks, to whom at that time a portion of the lands appertained, while along the verge of th

proach to which was gradual in the midst of a park and woodlands comprising above th

g in the merry dance, others thronging to a

held to celebrate the coming of age of Sir Willoughby Arden, now (his father havin

ir. The elder twin had been born about nine in the evening, the younger not till after twelve at night. To unite, therefore, the two distinct birth-days in the one festival, and thus preserve unsev

ut: the spires already noticed, and which were highly ornamental to the landscape,

as occupied in counting the solemn chimes. The nearest and loudest bell took the lead, and was quite distinct from the rest, while the others followed, like answering echoes, in the distance. A second after the number twelve was completed, one universal sh

r Willoughby announced his brother with enthusiasm, and then drank to the health of Alfred Arden. A simultaneous movement among the group

ashed for an instant, were all that remained of the scattered bonfires. The merry crowd had sought their respective homes, and the inhabitants of the mansion had retired to rest, with

mily, in obedience to the wishes of her parents, she had

f a princely mansion, a splendid establishment, and a magnificent demesne; she had possessed every luxury that art and w

her welcome, but of course as a visitor; and whenever her son should marry (which she certainly wished him to do), a stranger would

but there was something pensive, at lea

rue: a short season of each year would be spent there, and the remainder in temporary and probably agreeable homes in the various watering-places. But she felt a painful consciousness, that, of the adventitious rank which the mere prejudices of society bestow, herself and daughters would now lose many steps; and tha

d up, at the moment, despite her solemn reflections, a faint smile on the countenance of Lady Arden; follo

ot, and the trees that surrounded its base. Thunder and violent rain followed, and the wind rose to a hurricane. There existed a superstitious belief among the country people that a tremendous tempest always preceded or accompanied any event fatal to a member of the Arden family. A remembrance of this crossed the mind of Lady Arden at the moment, but was of course rejected as silly to a degree. Besides, she added mentally, if an idea so absurd required refutation, the present occasion being one of rejoi

had given rise to the superstit

climbed, one day, during a fearful thunder storm to the topmost

the property went to a distant relative, who, it was vaguely hinted, had followed the youths unseen, and while they stood gazing at the storm, had treacherously drawn the coping-stone from ben