Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-05-30
DEL, THURSDAY, MAY 80, 1867.
into his bones. He ragged now and then IN

into his bones. He ragged now and then in
deed furiously. What a capacity for happi-
ness lie had-what keen sense Of apprecia-
ton for the feast of earthly good things, at
which he might never sit down for who
sits and eats in peace with Damocles' sword
hanging by q hair above his head, and with
his conui0es cycling him askance, as if his
presence were poison in the dishp He look
ed on, thinking no more 10 taste the sweet
and the sayoury, mingled for most mortals
so ingeniously with the bitter of life. He
looked on, .sarcastically, sadly, yearningly,
hungrily, for nearly seven years. He had a
taste and palate still undulled, and an ap-
petite that, instead Of turning away sick,
grew only more and more craving, until he
declared at last he must eat or die.
r So 1t came to pass one morning shortly
before Christmas, being then at Avignon, he
announced to Pierce his determination to re-
tuin to England. The servant excrted his
utmost efforts at dssuasion in vain. His
master would go. He had been long enough
stranger and pilgrim, and he would return
to the house of his fathers. Who could tell
whether the Eskdalc families might not
have repented their harsh behaviour, and be
willing now to give him again the hand of
fellowship? He had reached home. Rood
Abbey received him without welcome A
week--a fortnight--a month elapsed. Not
a man sought him out. He mounted his
horse and rode to the meet at Berrythorpe
he followed the field all day; he was in at
the death, but nobody appeared torecognize
him as one Of their company. He had gone
away, rustic young fellow, under an awful
cloud; he had returned, man with the air
of travel, experience, cultivation and world
weariness. Spring and summer, autumn
and winter, the times and the seasons had
gone their round, but the bovine fixity of
Eskdale opinion had stirred not whit.
Here was the Cain who had killed his broth
er; the mark had been plainly set; let him
be outcast still.
A feeling akin to despair had descended
on him when he saw there was no repent
ance and no change. He went about gloom
ing, and tryingto fightit of. II was during
one of his dark days that he met Penelope
Croft riding in Mayfield with her mother. 1t
was during another that he fell before their
hospitable door, was taken in, was taken care
Of, and had his wounds bound up with ten
der Christian charity. Whether he would
have seen love In Pennies eyes had they met
where all was gay and all serene, is doubt
ful question. Perhaps he would not have
taken patience to consider the face that was
more pathetic than pretty, that had no reg
ularity of feature Or beautiful bloom of CO.
lour. But shut mp with it SO often alone,
he had learnt to sec that the countenance
was womanly and thoughtful, that the eyes
were not sparkling with mischief, now soft
with an inexpressible tenderness, that the
mouth was delicately firm, the skin clear
and smooth as satin, and susceptible of q
rosy finish under provocation. Pennie was
fastidiously dainty and neat in all her be-
| longings, She satisfied the most critical
taste by her exquisite personal cultivation,
and Mr.. Tindal had not much to do beyond
criticizing and observing her for ever SO
long. She gained by this close scrutiny
person, temper, mind--all stood the test
and when the time came for him to leave
this little lady, he discovered that he loved
her with all his heart.