The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1884-05-17
CHAPTER XXI
CONFEDERATION.

Saturday. the day Of Hermann's ar.
rival, had come and gone, and brought
him at the appointed time. and Sunday
morning found him exceedingly hap
ply. and Grace no less 50 in pretend
Ing to make little Of him. white in
reality she made very much OF him.
Thus Mabelle found herself with
n ~portentous amount Of solitary
time on her hands, to dispose Of as
best she could. Fortunately, at Foul.
haven. she was never nj n loss for means
20 do that; the sensation Of being in a
place she liked, and amongst persons
she loved. went n long way toward con
siituting the happiness Of Mabelle Fair
far.
Accordingly she left Grace and Her
mann 10 their own devices. while sbs
amused hcrself after her own manner.
sitting with Mrs. Massey In the painted
chamber up stairs. and listening TO the
discourse Of that lady: sallying forth.
hailess and bonnetless. into the garden
10 gather n bunch OF flowers. or walking
about with Dr. johnson following or
preceding her at n scdato or decent
pace: wandering out 10 the cliff. which
last was her favoritc resort. She ex-
periencod n profound pleasure in tho
mere fact Of walking over the breezy,
%undnlAting downs. aud letting her cot
ton gown trail v e the clcsn. short,
crisp grass. Each time as she mounted
the highest Of the ridges, and the great.
shining. CLASSY sen flashed like a beam
Of light upon her eyes. there came the
same thrill Of Joy and wonder, the slime
sensation Of longing satisfied in broad
and ample measure by something 20
vast and boundlcss that no effort Of hcis
could ever compass It's mystery and
hidden meaning; while the hoarse under
current Of tho ground-swcll. and the
rhythmic break Of the waves on the
shore, never lost lis stately music for
her ear.
As she sat. or stood. or lay upon the
edge Of tho clin. she might have passed
for Wordsworth's Louisa everything
in nature was n 10y to her. and. n she
watched and listened, the poets words
were fulfilled;
And beauty. horn OF murmnrinR sound.
Shall pass Into her face"
Mabcllc was not n homely maiden 10
look upon. but beautiful with n rare.
delicate beauty Of her own; and this
beauty, which passed into her face dur
Ing these hours Of converge with nature.
only added another loneliness TO that
which was already there.
Thus she had passed the Saturday.
aud Sunday came, and Mabelle, having
been TO church In tho morning with
Mrs, Massey. and passed the afternoon
In her iayorite haunt. came to the house
In time for tea. and found Grace look.
Ing out for her.
'.we have planned an expedition"
said the latter. Are you tiredP or do
you feel equal 10 a good WALK"
IL feel equal 10 a good long walk"
replied Mabelle, promptly.
SO do Hermann and I. and we ara
going 10 walk down 10 the town. and
up the steps 10 the Abbey Church, 70
10 service there. and then walk home 10
The cleaning. II you are equal TO L.
that Is"
''oh, delightful-most delightful
But would not You and Hermann prefer
To 90 by yourselves
"iIermann aud | have hal quite
enough Of each other. aud want some
other society"
Hermann obllgingly said he would
rather die than contradict her. aud Ma
belle. treasured. announced that moth
Ing could give her greater satisfaction
than the proposed expedition.
II vas some distance from Rcd Lees
TO the old Abbey Church at Foulhavcn,
aal every step Of the way was beauti
ful. They formed a very merry trio n.
they iraycrsed tho up-and-down road
which led them gradually intotli town
and took their way along The banks o
the river which flowed Into the sea, nnt
which here. inland. was crowded will
black hulls Of ships scnt In for repairs
and rolling ' 10 n side. STRANDED
high and dry by tho o~utwarl-set tide
Into the narrow, winding street, will
the odd little lanes and alleys lcadin,
10 the river side. I'LL they arrived al hi
foot Of the church steps. q long. inter
minsble flight Of well-worn flags lead
Ing up TO the top Of tho East Clin. OF
the highest point Of which stood tina
ruined fame already spoken Of. and jus
below II. almost oserhanging the sea
The stumpy-lcoking. ancient Able
Church Of st. Mays.
They climbed the stcpe, and strollc'
through the chnrehysrd. passed IN
~nnmberless headstoncs erected TO IN
memory Of such and such . ono. 'rmax
ter mariner"