The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-07-10
CHAPTER II.
AN INTERVIEW CECIL TREADs ON
DELICATE GROUND.


That evening" Geoffrey Chetwynd learned
from his loquaclous landlady, as she waited
upon him at dinner, all that there was to
learn of the pretty young widow. She was
a Mrs Elton, and had been at Sandbeach
for nearly two years living quiet secluded
life with her child. One or two of the
neighboring families, attracted by her sweet
face, had called upon her but she declined
all invitations, and seemed to have no wish
to make friends.
Strange call it, sir" said the good wo-
man, "for-she amt scarcely more than a
girl, as you may say, and cughter want to
see little life. 'Taint as if her husband
was Just dead for she was out o black, 50
to speak when she coined here She al
ways dresses very quiet like, but quite the
lady-real good silks and a velvet mantle
and fur jacket l have seen her in at times
80 she amt poor, for certain. It's but
small place she've talien-quite cottage, so
TO speak-but furnished quite beautiful;
and she have two servants. One coined
with her-Mrs. Hughes that is, an elderly
sort Of body cross grained and grumpy AS
can be-and Jessie Evans a girl from the
village. / says to Mrs. Hughes one day,
when went up there with fresh eggs, as it
must be dull life for young thing like
that, and it were pity she didn't make no
friends, but she snapped me up quite short,
and says: Shes best as she is, she says.
She'll get more harm than good from
friends, as you call 'em. She's got her boy,
and don't want nobody more. But, for all
that, I maintains that it amt good nor
natural life for purity young lady like her
to lead, aud dull work for that blessed child
OF hers, bless his art"
"Perhaps she'll get over it in time" re-
marked Geoffrey pushing his chair back
from the table. at must have been great
shock to lose her husband so young. You
can clear away, Mr.. Williams"
Lighting his pipe, he left the tiny room
for his usual evening walk, but on this
night he did not turn his steps toward the sea.
He strolled slowly up the village, the low
white houses of which ran straight BACK
from the beach up gentle incline, till ne
came to road which branched on TO the
right and ran along the top of the cliff.
Down this he turned, feeling pretty sure
now whose WAS the cottage be had so many
times admired. 1t stood back from the
road, in its pretty garden, nearly hidden by
the high plantation that ran along inside
the rustic wooden pallnGs thatcheo ro"i
and matched veranda, over which rosee
and honeysuckle crept, giving picturesque
look which pleased the artistic eye OF Geof,
frey Chetwynd
lit would make pretty sketch, thought
he, as he looked over the little gate. :"
wonder if there is any place near where
could good view of it?-in this field per
haps, and, opening fve-barred gate, b
entered an adjoining meadow. He wa
standing first in one spot and then another
absorbed in his anxiety to get favorabL
position, and so to take ia group of Scotel
frs that stood behind the cottage, when
sweet young voice fell upon his ear, singin
l the old ballad ''Ths Banks Of Allan Water.
t 1t was favorite air of his-one that hi
mother had sung to him many and many
@ time in the old days and his heart swslle
With mingled pain sad pleasure as the sad
sweet memories OF childhood came throngln
. back, The voice that sang it now was ful
: of pathos and expression, telling Of deef
) strong feeling in its owner; and Gsotrey
; interest in Tire pratty ysana widsg was Sal