The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-04
MRS. LANCASTER'S RIVAL.
~ THE AUTHOR OF "a FRENCH HEIREss
INNER OWN CHATEAU"
Continued

LOnuOH dlT makes people tnln, He
said. "Now you must grow fat, and
treat me as you grandfather, those are
my two wishes. Another thing | had to
suggest. Can we do without Miss
Wrench, or counterpart of her? You
don't want to learn any lessons at nine
teen. And however one may respect
person of that kind, she becomes gene
"a bore, in fact. But you may be
lonelyw
Mabel shook her head emphatically.
"I have been at school SO long," said
she, II shall only be too glad to be Free"
The General glanced at her rather odd
ly; be was wondering, perhaps, what this
helpless creature meant by freedom, and
what she would do with it if she had it.
"Hush, there she ISL he whispered, as
Miss Wrench came with stiff rustic into
the other room.
When dinner was over, and the ladies
had come back into the drawing-room,
Mabel left her ccmpanion resting in an
armchair, and walked off across the lawn
to enjoy the view by herself.
High above the rocky banks and cliffs
clothed with wood, she looked down on
them over the tops of the Castle trees,
which quite cut off the Combe at her
feet. St. Denys was hidden by the high
ground, but following the Penyr as it
spread its way to her left, she saw the
meeting Of the two great streams, and
then their course together down to the
sea. The water cleaned silver in the
twilight, and the woods were dark and
solemn; the distance was full of flashing
lights OF the ships and Of Morobay. Over
head the sky was blue and deep, with
stars shining, and faint yellow glow in
the west. 1t would be no darker than
this all night long.
Mabel stood quite still, small black
figure in the foreground of the view.
She was listening. but there was nothing
to be heard, except the barking Of dog
now and then in the Combe, and the
FLASHING of oars, as some late boatman
Towed home down the Penvr. The
flowers had it all their own way now,
and the air was filled with the sweet
scenSs that it pleased them to send out
in the night. A magnolia, climbing up
outside the wall, pushed its strong leaves
and great white flowers within two yards
Of where the girl stood, and breathed its
sweetness into her face. No doubt they
all had good deal to say to Mabel, il
sha had understood them, but at present
she was hardly aware that she wanted
any sympathy. 1t was nothing new to
her to be alone. She did not remember
her mother. Her father had spent his
life in India. and died there two years
ago; she had not seen him since she was
child.
Her shy, odd nature, too proud to ask
for affection, easily prejudiced, con
temptuous of the small ways she Saw
about her in the London school where
she had spant nearly all her life, yet only
too sensitive and grateful for kindness
was not that Of very happy person
Her schoolfellows laughed at her; hel
mistresses were old-fashioned people
who.e chief idea was discipline, which
Mabel did not like. None of them eve
encouraged her confidence, or tried tc
draw he out, SO it happened that thu
wears went on, and she made no friends
Yet she never thought herself unhappy
and underneath he melancholy appear
ance there was spring Of enthusiasm
of girlish fun, even of adventurousness
which, till now, had hardly found it
way out, except in dreams.
q. Dick Northcote, in the railway car
riake, had soon discovered it. believe
though it may seem almost incredible
he was the first young man Mabel hae
ever talked to. The variety was so grea
that it quite took her out of herself, thu
more that he was thoroughly good-na
tured and natural, and had real feeling
of Kindness and pity for the forlorr
schoolgirl. Mabel was sorry to find tina
she was not to Ike him or think of him
after all. She never thought for mo
ment Of doubling what the General hat
said. .....
While she stood there on the lawn
her guardian came into the drawing
room, and finding Miss Wrench Their
alone, began to talk to her about her pu
pif and to tell her his plans for the fu
ture. Miss Wrench was just, thougl
severe. She admitted that Mabe
had many good qualities, and she
was truthful, honorable, and thoroughly
lady-like in mind. But she thought he
a troublesome girl, and said so. She wa
careless Of rules, proud. obstinate, and a
times passionate. She required stric
hand over her, Miss Wrench said, ant
she was afraid that General Hawke
would not find it answer to free her from
all supervision. :.
The General smiled quietly to himself
"Three is one difference between you
view of Mabel, and mine" he said. ''Yol
look upon her as child; |, as woman
Sta ia woman-though I can't wOnde