The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-01-12
CHAPTER XVIII.
REQUIESCAT IN PACE.


1t was brilliantly clear afternoon to-
had at last changed. Spring was in
the air, and her breath was redolent Of
the promise of coming days of bright
ness. Birds were singing. The first
early primroses were peeping palely
through their leaves on the grassy
banks. There was Il gay show of many
hued crocuses and snowdrops in the
ribbon border which edged the drive,
and these flowers seemed to smile up
ward as the Squire and Margaret Bar
rington rode slowly from the house to-
ward the high road. He had long prom
ised to ride with her into the country
on the first really fine afternoon, and
there could be no doubt as to the fine
ness of this afternoon.
Mrs. Lascelles and her daughter were
going for a drive in another direction.
Rupert, when asked what he intended
to do, said that he should most likely
stay in, or, if disposed, summon John.
and take q turn in the garden. They
therefore left him, thinking it likely
that Louis Baldwin would call.
That was pleasant ride through the
!
seriousness of the awakening spring
everywhere in the air; the twittering
birds, the gay blue sky, the sea in the
distance shining dazzlingly. Yet it is
often on such days as these that the sad
dest fancies arise in our minds-the
most sorrowful thoughts steal into our
hearts, just as
Our sweetest songs are those which tell of
saddest thought"
1t was thus with Margaret Barring
ton, as she rode by Mr.. Lascelles' side,
and looking over the brown hedgerows
on which the first exquisite yellow
green network was appearing, beheld,
beyond the rolling downs of grass, the
sea; and, despite the radical brightness
of it all, some strange and melancholy
lines would steal into her head, and re-
peat themselves in kind of tune, the
rhythm of which was kept up by her
horses hoofs-those lines which tell
how
"The swallow has set her six young on the
And looks seaward;
The waters in stripes like snake, olive
TO the leeward.
On the weather,,side black. spotted, white
with the wind. -aeti1
GOOD fortune departs and disasters behind.
Hark the wind with its wants and It's infinite
! wall" f@- ""t
She remembered the drowsy summer
afternoon on which, months ago, in
happy times, Louis had read the poem
to her and Rupert, and she sighed
while still her horses hoofs marked the
rhythm of the words:
Il, hob
The ride was such long one that il
was almost dusk, and after six o'clock
when at last they turned in at the
Grange gates. Slowly they mounted
the slope, and as they arrived at the
door one of the grooms, who seemed
to have been sitting in the porch, came
forward to take their horses. Even in
the twilight Margaret noticed that the
lads face was grave, even to detection
AS Mr.. Lascelles lifted her from hei
horse the groom said to his master:
IF you please. sir, l was to say tina
Mr.. Baldwin is within and wants to SCI
YOU. Mr.. Rupert has had an accident
"Whatp' cried Mr.. Lascelles, his
hale cheek paling, while Margaret, witt
a sudden terrible dread at her heart
looked speechlessly at the lad, and saw
! something in his face which made hel
glad Mr.. Lascelles had hurried forward
, into the house She followed him. Al
they went into the hall, the school
room door was opened. and Louis Bald
, win came out, shutting it after him, an6
motioned them into the drawing-room
Even then-even in that moment o
great dread and terror-Margaret per
; ceived with a sudden, quick pang, thu
change which had passed over Louis
r face 1t could not be that all that hag
{ gardness, that worn and pallid look
. and those sad eyes, could hav'
been called there by the "aCcident' q
) this afternoon only.