The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-12

ten days; he is SO fond of fishing. We made a
party to Penmsenbach one day. 1t was very
droll. had been there with two young cousins
OF mine few days before. and one had taken il
into her head to write her name on the rock; her
brother held her on his shoulder to do it. Her
name was Maude. When Mr.. Benson came ND
and saw the name there, never saw anything
like his face so / set it down in nv mind that be-
loved some young lady of that name"
Maude Lillifant made no reply, bat her face
was scarlet.
Now they were in the billy moorlands, where
the solitary csttle-bell, the cry of the pover the
twitter OF the moorland lark and the thuck-thuck
OF the sone- hatch were only heard, and where
the ortolan fitted silently away to the
right and the left, showing its white back and
ash-cOlored wings. On they went, by
narrow track, through bracken and heather,
winding round huge stones, now following
and now crossing mountain stream, and again
ascending, arrived at a small stone house sur
rounded by few cultivated fields, far-seeu spot
Of verdure in the barren moorlands. There they
lett their horses sending their man for ward with
the panners which Miss Llewellyn had so care
FULLY brought. 1t was now nearly five o'clock,
and, having purposely left the old gray church
for their return, they fastened on to the cottage
where they were to have tea, and be joinei by
Mr.. Bell and his friends.
But the gentlemen were not come Timetables
we're not at hand to consult; not even Mr. Lii
hfants capacious pockets contained one. But no
matter, they might arrive any minute; in the
meantime they would have tea. IL was a regu-
lar feast they sat down to, and every minute
almost some one vas running out to little rock
at twenty yards distance, TO look downwards To-
wards Ro, beyond which they could hardly bring
carriage, to see II there were any sign of them
coming. But no! II was rather a damp TO the
spirits of the party. and Mr.. Lillifsnt, who had
sent up some capital claret, was in despair TO
think there was nobody to drink it. They lin.
gered over their entertainment till it was quite
DUSK in doors, and then they fingered outside till
II was quite dusk there. They would not lch
lone before midnight. said Mrs. Lillifant, in
alarm, and MIS-. Bell began now to be ANXIOUS
lest any accident had happened to the train.
Everybody's spirits bad wonderfully abated
even the childTen's, who were no " stationed on
the rock, with orders to shout if they saw the
gentlemen approaching.
At length the plate and the crockery, aud the un-
opened bottles of wine, and sundry oaks aud deli
cate pies not cut, being packed up, and the peo-
pie OF the cottage rejoicing the immense
pile OF fragments that remained, it was decided
that they must set out on their homeward way
calling, however. at the church, which Miss Lie.
wellyn said they could see by .lanternlght, a
man accompanying them with lantern for that
purpose and perhaps even then the gentlemen
might oVertake them, for there might be delay
about the carriage at Llanrwst aud perhaps they
bad been obliged to walk all the way.
Mr.. Liliant did not like it at all Mrs. Lfant
was frightened, and asked How ia the world
they were to find their way over the moors 10
that pitch-darkness?
But Miss Llewelyn had no fears; she was born
a mountsineer, and night or day were alike to
her Oh the hills.
Whilst the no. SEES at the cottage were being
brought out, Miss Lewellyn persuaded them TO go
to the church, only such very little way, the
man with the lantern preceding them.
" II is the maddest scheme ever took part in.
said Mr.. Lillifant, getting out of humor a1d yet
wonderfully polite all the time to Miss Llewellyn
Through the churchyard, all amongst the old
graves, they went, into the old church, which
looked inside like desOate barn, the man hold.
ing up his horn lantern, and this fortunately
having hole on one side, he was able to throw
4 little light on the old Wondering mural taD-
lets, and the old Wondering pulpit Miss Llewellyn
brimful Of antiquarian and traditional lore which
she had the Kindness to cut short in considera-
ton of the impotence of her audience. At length
the old church was done with, and again
amongst the gravestones, they were
back with the horses, and such mounted as were
20 ride, and the rest on foot, set out in dark.
ness to make the best of their way back to Pen.
lantern, and followed by Miss Llewelyn's tall
white horse, on the back of which three of the
children were now mounted.
." III never make such FOOLS journey as this
again" said Mr.. Lillifsnt in an angry undertone
to his wife. The neXtmoment the children on the
white horse exclaimed that Miss Llewellyn's beau.
ilful tartan shawl was gone. II had been round
heir knees, and had slipped off, How could it
have happened? How careless they had been?r
angrily spoke Mr.. Lillifant. "It did not matter
the least in the world" protested Miss Lewellyn;
' it would be found again; nothing ever was lost
on the hills everyb body knew her shawl, and she
should have it back the next day."
There was no Disgusting it one thing and an.
other had put Mr.. Lilllfant out of humOr. They
we're happily past the moorland, and were new on
the steep, stony road leading downward towards
Penmaenmawr. 1t was very dark, though the
stars shone brightly in the sky, and there was
midnight feeling IN the air, though as yet it was
only ten O'clock. All at once, however, Mr.. Lli.
FAINT struck himself against large stone on the
and fell A halt at once took place of
hose immediately beside and behind him, whilst
hose in front and the man with the lantern
went on.
Mr.. Lillifant was a stout, heavy man, and the
all might be dangerous. Those who knew of il
we're frightened, still more 50 when, in an angry
one, on endeavoring to rise, he declared he could
lot stand. Mrs. Lilllfsnt shrieked. Miss Lie weyn
an onward, shoutingin Welsh, Brysiwch yn OIL"
or the man to come back with the lantern.
But BOW there seemed to be in front a strange
lubbub and hustle, mems voices, laughter, aud a
yreat commotiol. At Miss Llewelyn's voice the
antern stopped, the man shouted back in Welsh,
Gwnaf." Nobody could understand him, but
With an instructive that something was wrong,
III hurried back after the lantern. And now Mrs.
Bell saw that her husband was there, and his
IeDds.
" Thank God that you are come ~ she exclaimed.
Mr.. LLfant is dreadfully hurt-whai can we
o?,
But Mr.. Lillifant, who, if he had been seen.
you'd have frightened everybody by his CHASTITY |
COX, for he was very near fainting, no sooner |
vas aware that bis brotherin Law was there. and
hat be was not now left alone to the care of help
ess and frightened women, and a man who could |
ot speak word of any rational language, then |
e took heart and courage, and said, speaking like
man, that he must be got home some way, for |
e feared he had broken his leg.
No sooner had he said this than he was aware, |
D the darkness, OF very pleasant young mans |
DICE, asking permission to ascertain the extent |
f the injury, at the same moment laying firm, but |
lost delicate, hold of his leg.
What lucky thing it is, Lilfant. that nv
riend is surgeon" said Bell, with the lantern 10
is hand, which he had taken from the Welshman, |
\ GU could not be in better hands. He is one of /
he surgeons Of st. Timotbys Hospital, ;" added he
} low voice to Miss Llewellyn, who was at his
de.
Mr.. Lillifsnt had the comfortable assurance that
is leg was uniDjured further than a severe sprain
the ankle. Walking, however, was impossible;
hey must set him on one of the easiest of the |
orses, and gethim home as quickly as they could. |
=" What blessing tits you are come !" said Mrs |
Tell to her husband, when the caValcada was in