Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-01-06
THE TOWER BY THE SEA,

How much longer are You going 70 stand
there, .Ianet2'
Richard Timber lay on the turf some minutes
looking az the slender figure on the very verge
OF the elf.
.She won't answer" he muttered. and he got
up and went towards his cousin
lie was a line, handsome feilOw-a good speci-
men OF an English yeOman-with a broad chest
broad forehead, over which crisp brown hair
lay in bright rings as il the sunshine had got 80
burned into II that it fingered vet; blue eyes,
clear enough, but with a peculiar angular ex-
preston that took from their simplicity, and a
mouth and a nose that any one MI ht have been
prondoi. Richard was two and-twenty; manly,
active man. who could hold his own for field
sports against any one in the county and il
seemed wonderful that Janet Neale should paw
30 little heed 10 him.
He was close beside her now, and, afraid of
startling her on that dangerous verge, he took
firm hold OF her arm.
She turned round sharply. She id, not seem
startled, only annoyed.
81 came up here for a little peace-a little
freedom. Richard. Oh, don't follow me about
Ike dog, or shall hate yOu!" There was an
intensity OF earnestnesS in the last words but
either Richard Timber was dull of percapti0n
or he was accustomed to his cousins moods.
ITS not safe; Janet your standing on that
CrumbIng ledge; bcSlles, there's no object i'm
N; you can see just vel a few feet miami
and suppose its distance you're continually
spying after
There was sullenness. almost def ince. in his
last words, and the gITl noticed IT.
Hitherto she had spoken to him over her
SHOULDER without turning round; she faced him
Her well formed figure and graceful move
ment Lad led one TO expect "A prettier face
Janet Neale had the beauty OF delicate skin
and weil-cut mouth, but her face was tn IN and
worn, and her tar-Teaching blue ewes were
almost painful in their earnestness.
Richard, don't speak 10 me in that wav
can't You see that came here for little rest
from all my daily torment? ~ She pointed in
land where, far of, bat still within sight a
SnIg,lo0king farmStead nestled on the side of
hill half-hidden by trees. - 1 wonder why
don't go back to Uncle Elward's."
The young man was subdued By this appeal
beg YOUR pardon Janet. / was a fool, ami
worse, to speak a. did; oaly you know what it
Is gets the better of me. oh, Janet! don't be
angry with me, darling; but in YOU could give
"P all tins hope of seeing Stephen come back
Vi. nd be 81 much happier. Fverybody saws an
10 ISM from selhShness 1 saw its His cousin :
hard. unmo,sd looks made his tone less conf
. dent - IL is chen, tor yOu-yOu're grown 80
pale and altered You'll be ~, know Won will,
my dear girl, and then what ever will becom,
g How can You expect me to take YOUR advice.
81 YOU won't take mine - she said, and her face
sOftened to a smile.
- But viii. III do anything you say. if you,u
only put this out of your head WHY, haven't
YOU read II as plain As plain could be, in all the
papers, that the merchant ship Atlanta was Io.t
with all on board It's not in reason to 90 on and
persist forever, as you do, Janet You are only
killing yourself by inches"
n
lest the harsh tone of her first words
- shall not resist forever; that would he
wicked IL would be like the girl in the old bal
iad we used 70 read when We were Young Dick
How sweet her eyes grew now! Ricbari writbed
and Turned away his head a. she looked AT him
Don't you recollect the girl who complained to
neaven 10 Lew down punishment on her
sin? No; can't say what / will after that,
Dick" This was in answer TO the eager ques-
ton in his eyes. g Perhaps / maynt be here.
Who knows what may happen before Christ
mas? Then with sudden change from
plaintiye sOftness TO cheerful raillery "Come-
come, Dick, be man; don't listen To your step
mothers She always makes mischief between
Us, though she does not mean il. You go and
see Lucy Gray. She's worth fifty of me, and
she'd make you such a fond. faithful little wife,
I know she would"
Richards eyes blazed with anger
"Lucy, be hanged, What right have you to
suppose want a fond wife-a fond idiot "a girl
who doesn't know how to say a word for HERSELF
-a'gul who would say Yes tomorrow if
asked her, let me treat her ever so III? No,
thank you, Janet; when take a wife shs shall
be harder TO win than Lucy Gray"
Richard, never said Lucy loved you.
mean that she loves no one else; YOU are not
rObbing another if you try to win Lucy. III /
were a man, Richard, would have love of
nay own-she should not belong to some one
Before he could stop her the girl sprany pas.
him, and hurried along the road which wound
Ike white ribbon across the green downs TO the
farmstead under the hill.
About halfway along this road the farmstead
shows better than IL does from q nearer point.
From the edge OF the cliff the ground has A
downward slope, but from this middle point il
takes an upward direction, and the house seems
gradually TO sink behind the tall, stiff yew hedge
that surrounds its garden: broad highroal
crosses the path Janet has been following, and
between this road and the yew hedge lies tur-
nip field, bordered ON three sides by low stone
wall; on the right hand, a lane runs beside this
wall to a side entrance in the yew hedzn, a little
gate with An arched top cut in the Rreepery
and beyond this the lane leads to a LITTLE black
gate, and then goes ON to Blackwater.
No one, surely, but a farm laborer can sum
mon courage TO plunge into the mass Of sodden
straw behind the black gate; on this, scores OF
black pigs dtsport themselves, while various
grunts and squeaks announce the presence of
large and invisible chorus within the styes
themselves. Facing the gate Is q noble range of
cow and alf-houses; then come the pig-sfyes
and on the len, between the yard and the farm
house, - q range of open sheds and stables
The open sheds have q matched roof, MANY
COiOred, with an overgrowth Of mos; the sheds
themselves are fall Of color, and strong bits of
effect in the way of light and shade. Between
them and the stables q white hye-barred gate
TN ese, and the dairy Is on one side OF IL.
v,,,h c,insnnn on TIE farmhouse still looks CAV
t.ttiee vinaaS ma rosss in clusters against the
A woman stands the fsas .A
abe Kitchen door; she IL pretty 6Sstone outside
Keeping with her surroundines Thssis not In
trace OF country breeding in her dsrS not
face Bot trace Of country fashion In the ~
her siif n gown and its plain linen collar. VI
She shades her keen black eyes With one
band, while she gazes In the direction Of the