The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-03
MRS. LANGASTER'S RIVAL.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "A FRENCH HEIREss
INNER OWN CHATEAU"
CHAPTER III.
PENSAND CASTLE.

1t says something for the beauty of st.
Denys that Mabel Ashley forgot all her
troubles, her shyness, and her dislike Of
General Hawke, and exclaimed enthu-
iastically several times as they drove
from the station.
from the top Of the hill there was the
view of the broad Mora, with its varied
banks, and the background of blue and
purple hills. Then there were the lanes
going down and down, twisting round in
strange curves, ferns dropping from their
high rocky banks, among a tender en-
broidery Of red wild geranium leaves,
and plue and purple and yellow flowers
bending forward on their slight stems,
while the hedges above were bright
with wild roses and hoEeysuckle, roses of
% deep a pink that they looked to Ma
beps uneducated eyes like some rarity
Of the garden.
The General smiled at her exclama-
tions; Inc was not otherwise than pleased
to see his wards gray eyes light up, and
faint flush of color come into her sal
low cheeks. The drive was too short;
hardly two miles from the station, and
they were at the foot of the last hill, in
Pensand Combe. Here the small cot.
tages, some whitewashed, others rough
gray stone, nestled each in its corner un-
der the hill, surrounded and overgrown
with flowers from the gay stonecrop on
the walls and roof to the great red fueh-
ala overhanging the gate. By an old
stone bridge over several arches, the car
riage crossed the head Of a small salt
water creek, from which the tide was
now going down, leaving bed Of mud
and stones and bfackened logs, among
which some amphibious-looking children
were playing. .-..t
The turned up the lane, past gray
old mill, whose wheel was now silent,
and began at once to mount up under
the deep shade Of trees, till they came to
= lodge and gate, ard entered an avenue
which seemed to skirt the hill.
Nearly all through the drive, looking
out Of the window, Mabel had seen this
hill in front of them, covered with trees
to- the summit, where row Of gray bat
Elements looked out above their heads.
Now, as the clrriage wound slowly up the
hill, in the deep mysterious shade Of the
oak and chestnut woods, with great ferns
growing about their feet, and hanging
over the edges Of the dusty road,
with here and there, as they went up, a
glimpse Of glade full Of roses, and then
the crumbling old wall of garden on
the slope, where there were peeps Of cur
rant and raspberry bushes, and scent
of strawberries in the air, Mabel began
to think that this was all rather pleas.
ant, that it MIGHT not be SO bad, after
all, to live in such romantic old place
and such smiling country.
She had been silent for some time, but
row she looked up at the General with q
little more confidence, and asked:
"Is that Pensand% sse-
"That is Ponsand," said the General
gracious,y. "A lonely spot, you see"
"It is beautiful" said Mabek "Tht
gentleman in the carriage with us tolt
me it was built by ancient Britons"
"Impossible! The aborigines lived ii
caves" said MabePs school-mistress, who
had been keeping UP conversation witt
the General while her charge lookee
about, and trying to hide her terror al
the steepness Of the hills.
"The early Cornish castles were un
doubtedly Of British origin" said the
General, stroking his mustache. "Bu
:. l myself know nothing about it, ant
should like the place just n we'll with
out its ruins. If you. are fond of anti
quities," he went on, looking at Mabel
IL must introduce you to neighbor O.
mine, who is really learned on those sub
jects. Pensand is tire idol he worships
10 you can study it together. But as tt
nv friend, Dick Northcote, would ad
wise you not to put much confidence ir
him." .-.
M know nothing at all about antiqui
ties" said Mabel. coloring slightly.
"Dfck had the honor OF escorting yo1
all the way, thenw General Hawke wen
ON.
From Paddington," said the eide
j. lady, with some irritation In her tone
&'It was a great vexation to me, but wha
could I do? must say that he ant
Miss Ashley made little more acquaint
ance than was nesessary, under the cir
cumstances thought him rathe
forward young man."
"Well, we must not be hard on youn,
people," said the General, looking a
Mabel with smile, which made he
blush good deal more. "Not Oh youn,
ladies, at least. They never mean to d.
wrong themselves, and SO, of course, sus
pect no one else. But young men arr
generally raseals, and we can't be to-
severe ON them. Dick is forward fel
low, have no doubt. He has beel
roughing it in New Zealand, too, ant
knows nothing Of the ways Of society
His aunt is a charming person, and
hoped you would see good deal Of her
But don't know, now that Dick ha
made his appearance. l have not mucl
confidence in him."
The General smiled 80 kindly as In
said this, looking at Mabel all the time
that her fear Of him melted away fast
and she began to feel quite happy ant
natural. He evidently understood he
90 much better than did Miss Wrench
wbo sat there frovbino M If her r,r,pi