Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-06-06

few faces so provokingly fix themselves
in the memory as these. Next morning
at breakfast my thoughts recurred to her,
then the paper came finished my chop,
hustled off into the city on business, and
forgot her. The examination for the In
dian Civil Service was beginning in few
days, and work put everything else out of
my head. In due time was appointed
to one of the vacancies, and Git was before
the present system) received orders to be
ready to sail in three months.
One lovely afternoon that August, / had
rambled from Penzance, where | was bid
ding farewell to friends, down to the stern
granite cliffs which, hung with waving
fringe of gray ichen, hurl back defiance
on the surges that so frequently assault
the Lands End. 1t was a glorious scene
that l surveyed, looking over the broken
water that runs so swiftly among the black
reefs off the headland on to the Longships
Lighthouse, and then to the illimitable
Atlantic beyond, like the vast unknown
future which lay before my life voyage.
Suddenly laughter and voices struck on
my ear. Turning round | saw party of
ladies and gentlemen, followed by servants
with baskets and cloaks. Evidently it
was a picnic party, so went on with my
meditations while they passed round a
shoulder of rock, whence occasionally
bursts of merriment foated over to me.
At length lady, in light gauzy mus
lin dress, girt with broad pink sash la
fronde, and accompanied by man who
was earnestly chatting to her, passed be-
tween me and the sea, clambering over
the rocks. As he passed by he looked up;
it was Buchanan. He uttered cry of
surprise, whereat his partner, the fair
Frondeuse, raised her head. and once more
| beheld the face that had burnt itself in
to my memory the night afterthe theatre.
1t was fresh, gay, and lively, as the glitter
ing waves before US, while, as with them,
slumbered under its arch expression an
undercurrent not to be fathomed or un-
derstood all at once.
what Robinson! where have you
dropped from, old fellowf" said Bucha-
nan.
81 remember you well, Mr.. Robinson"
lLS " nav q Pist"S
to meet in !"
81 could not forget you, Miss Frere." l
observed, in all seriousness, for such was
the thought that at once passed through
my mind; then adopting lighter tone
for Buchanan's benefit, | said, " Haven't
you brought parasol to shade me from
the sun in my time of need at PRESENT."
"No; but we have plenty of champagne
and ice to cool you. Come along round
the rock!"
"Do come, Mr.. Robinson it will please
papa to be introduced to you-and fam
ily picnic" she added with archness, " is
generally so dull"
There is no need to describe the charm
of the picnic, to me at least, heightened
as it was by the pleasure of watching the
varied expressions that swept over Miss
Frere's face, to die out Gas Wordsworth
says in her eyes, and by the singular
rock. scenery amongst which we feasted.
Buchanan was very attentive to Miss Frere,
and | had no doubt that a few more
months would see them married. Declin-
ing a pressing invitation to dine with Mr..
Frere that evening, as | had to leave Pen
Zance for town, / once more lost sight of
the face that possessed such a strong at
traction for me. Shortly afterwards ]
started for India, and after five years. SER
vice, during which | had never forgotten
Miss Frere, though had heard nothing
either of her or of Buchanan, returned
home for a years rest.
Hitherto my story has dealt in sudden
ly changed kaleidoscope combinations
it will now become more steady. That
summer l spent with my brother and sis
ter at Guildford, and was returning there
by the last train on lovely July night,
from cricket match at Aldershott. Sud-
denly there was a violent lurch, then the
carriage seemed to spring into the air,
turned over on one side, end after plough
ing up the ground for a few yards, sub
sided along with all behind it into a gen.
eral wreck, covered with clouds of dust.
The engine had gone on, an2 the carriage
was in, having run off the line, had car
ried confusion and ruin into all behind it.
To my utter amazement, beyond a good
shaking l was not hurt; so having extri-
Gated myself from the smashed carriage,
| proceeded to help the other passengers.
There were very few of these, and none
were seriously hurt, though confusions
and broken heads abounded. Loud was
their wrath, and dire their threats of ac-
tions, and of the compensation they would
exact from the company. [ left them to
their grumblings, and passed to first
class which had not been overthrown. By
the aid of the guards lamp, we saw a
lady sitting with rlasped hands, apparent
ly paralysed with terror; while, to add
to the confusion, a thunderstorm now
broke forth in deluge of rain. 1t was
ont of the question to leave the lady where
she was. Madam, said the guard anx-
iously, 4" trust you are not hurt"
The lady did not stir or speak.
Madam" | said, coming TO the rescue
of the guard, "suffer me to help you out;
you must not stay here; pardon me!' and
| took her arm and tried to raise her.
She burst into torrent of tears, with
her hands before her face, but without ut
tering a word or rising. | saw that she
was utterly unbinged in her mind, though
it seemed fortunately not hurt in person.
What was to be done? Guard and
looked at each other in doubt; still she
could not be suffered to remain; so ! took
up her dressing bag and cloak which lay
on the opposite seat, and handed them to
the guard, On doing so, name caught
my eye, which was engraved on the lock
of the former article" Ellen Frere." 1t
touched an old keynote within me, but
that was all, and | applied myself again to
ranova tho lo1v