Still owned by the Hogarth's but no longer maintained, the Estate had seen better days. In its heyday it was the pride of the Channel Islands and the comfortable home of the renowned and prolific artist Sir Edward Hogarth. The German invasion of 1940 had put an end to it all. Local legend has it that Sir Edward hastily buried all the family valuables he could gather, within the estate, before the sound of Jackboots could be heard pounding up the driveway. He couldn't stop the looting of everything else of value by the Nazi's however; his own paintings as well as many old masters had been 'requisitioned' and shipped off to Berlin never to be seen again. So utterly destroyed and desolate was he that he could only bring himself to complete one more painting "Shellfire Smiting Us" - a convoy of trucks being shelled in Saint Peter Port - before dying of a broken heart in 1943. He left no clue as to where the valuables were hidden.
Clutching a scrap of paper his thirty-something great granddaughter Sarah smiled up from the recliner at the only heirloom to have reached her after seventy years.
'Shellfire Smiting Us'
Strangely he had signed this one Ed - rather than his more often used Sir Edward - Now she knew why - and her heart wanted to leap from her chest. Trying hard to compose herself she held the scrap of paper close to her eyes and reread her own scribbled words...
'Shellfire Smiting Us - Ed'
The Missing
The Missing Fleur De Lis
"The Missing Fleur De Lis" She said aloud.
Standing up she remembered the old fence running around the perimeter of the estate, she remembered the gate, unable to control herself she let out a scream of joy.
The page for this weeks entries can be found by clicking here - SatSnap
Ahhhh, I just wanted to scream out loud too. I literally just got chills. You outdid yourself this week. I love it.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I took this picture two years ago when we stayed at a friend's place in the Irish midlands. I went in and out of that gate no less than 25 times over that week. I've looked at this photo many, many times...and I've NEVER noticed the missing fleur de lis!
Thanks for playing. I loved it!
Great story! I actually did notice the missing flur de lis right away, however, try as I might, I just couldn't come up with a story! I really envy you and The Thumber's imagination!
ReplyDeleteInteresting twist. :) Love it!
ReplyDeleteLOL It is sooo hard to write anything in 300 words! I wrote about how poor she was and needed the money from her inheritance - how she was getting married soon - I hadn't even got around to the painting yet and I was at 500 words! I had to butcher it just to make it fit lol...
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Rory
Thumber - I really thought this could have come from Scotland - so I'm not surprised you say it was in Ireland - the landscapes, architecture and colours are very similar!
ReplyDeleteRory
AH! Outstanding!! What a rich, engrossing history you've crafted, with that signature whisper of hope you always seem slip in somewhere in your work.
ReplyDeleteThis was great!