The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-05
MRS. LANCASTER'S RIVAL.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "a FRENCH HEIREss
INNER OWN CHATEAU"
Continued

young lady nearer gnan NC, DenySj ana
none of them would be walking in PEN
sand Combe at this hour. Have l salts
fed you, and will you forgive me?'
"Yes," said Mabel, beginning to smile.
care you tired"
''No, am lame, but can walk very
WE'LL" said Mabel, with the strangest
feeling that she had known this man all
her life, and was quite sure from exper-
ience what he would say next.
"Do, then, trust yourself to me and
Prince along this field and into the lane
at the, other end. There are such roses
in the hedge-red, red-'newly sprung
in june l am not talking nonsense.
? They are red"
"Yes, believe it," said Mabel. 81
saw them yesterday as we came from the
station"
"Not these. They are the reddest in
the country. And there is an old mill,
a much older and prettier one than you
have seen. We won't go as far as that
now, though, for it is low tide as you
see, and the dear old wheels will be rest
ing themselves. Now you know who l
am, and you must really take my arm.
There is no harm in me; I am clergy
man."
Mabel laughed and took his arm,
though unwilIingly; but she found it a
very firm and pleasant support to her
weak little steps. Anthony was silent for
a minute or two, and then an idea flashed
across her mind.
"Is it you who are so fond of Pensand
Castle. and of antiquitiesT
81 spend my whole life in the past.
When did my fame reach you? am a
real antiquary-not one of your archao-
logical fellows, who write papers for fel-
lows that never read them. Inever wrote
line in my life. How did you hear Of
mew
General Hawke mentioned you last
night. He said you could tell me when
the Castle was built. and all about it."
'He gave me credit for a good DEAL"
said Mr.. Strange, thoughtfully. 'I have
nv theories, certainly. I'll explain them
10 you after breakfast. We must visit
the keep together"
"Was it the ancient BritonsT'
"Who put that idea into your headl
Nobody believes it but ME. I say that
Pensand was one of King Arthur's strong
holds"
But was King Arthur a real personT'
said Mabel, doubtfully, remembering her
lessons in English history.
''My dear yoling friend! Was Queen
Elizabeth real person? But how did
you happen to hit on Celtic builders Of
the CastleT ..,.u.a..
"It is long story"
'Then it will just last till we reach
the roses" ..
Swell, l travelled down yesterday with
Mr.. Northcote, whose aunt lives at St
Denys. We talked about the Castle
and he told me that" said Mabel, heI
long story melting into air.
"Good boy, to remember my early les
sons. Well, what has New Zealand done
for himw -,
II don't know"
"Of course you don't forgot tina
he was stranger to you. Poor Dick
if good influences will do anything, HI
ought to be fine fellow. A sweetel
woman than Kate Northcote neve
breathed Cornish air."
"Do you mean his aunt? He told M
she was an angel"
t.S'Sp she is--and something better thai
an angel"
Mabel wondered what that might be
out did not ask. Mr. Strange's kind, re
eretful manner of speaking of Die
seemed to her confirmation Of what tn
General had said. Itwas sad that an
one who was SO good-natured should b
80 odious.
By the time that, by roundabout war
dering, they got back to the Castle, Mabe
and Anthony were great friends. Afte
the first, he was like other people j.
treating her rather as a child, thoug
certainly in nothing else His kind, cd
face beamed down upon her, his han
" was always ready to help her over an
meyen ground. He told her sewers
stories about the Castle and its neighbol
hood, and encouraged her questions, an
talked away so agreeably that she wa
quite sorry to find herself at the doc
| fhe General and Miss Wrench wer
wailing, both with grave faces, for it wa
past ten. Anthony, however, was
q welcome guest, and his excuses mol
fed the General at once. He WI
pleased, too, to see Mabeps eyes SO brigh
and a fresh color in her cheeks.
IF she would walk over every morl
ing to Carweston, to see me-" said Al
thony, "she would be a giantess in 81
months. As to strength, | mean. Mi
Ashley, you. would be able to pitch
fellow from the top Of the keep, as Lad
Janet did the Puritan, when he told HI
the prospect before them was bett
worth studying than her mirror"
"The Puritan was right, for once" sa
Miss Wrench. "Was he killed, po
MANI l hope she was punished"
I II sincerely hope not, but history do
not say" answered Mr.. Strange. ~
dies in those days knew how to keep l
their dignity, / wish we had some Lac
Janets now. Do make her your model
H smiling at Mabel. II can tell you
great many more things about her"
IN 4