Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-28
and Mabel's uncle remained to write
poetry.

4
sufficient description Of Mrs. Corydon.
| Arriving at 0akspple Hall, Major
Evergreen and his niece encountered
surprise held in reserve for them by
their amiable hostess. They were re-
ceiyed at the house door by Mrs. Gerry
don,s son. On the last two occasions
when they had enjoyed the widows
hospitality Mr.. Cyril Corydon had been
absent pursuing his studies at Oxford.
Mabel had not seen him since he had
left school.
Cyril had greatly improved in the
interval. Still modest and little re-
| served, he was no longer awkward he
kept his hands out Of his pockets, and
bis nails exhibited no black rims his
| fair complexion was without pimples
his vacant smile Of former days had
meaning in it now, and, to complete
the Transformation, Mabel saw a slim
young man who fed delicately, in place
Of deyouriDg fat boy who approached
his dinner as a pig approaches trough.
She also noticed his pretty little Aaxen
moustache and shy tenderness in the
expression of his gentle blue eyes.
Upon the whole, he reminded her Of
description of troubadour in one Of
her uncle's poems.
Oakapple Hall in one respect reSem-
bled the famous abbey described by
Rabelais-the inhabitants did as they
pleased. When luncheon was over
Major Evergreen retired to his room
and his pen and ink. Mrs. CorydOn
resumed work on an immense en-
broidered counterpart, which had al
ready occupied her patient fingers for
the greater part of her life. The two
young people took walk in the park
Cyril offered his arm, and Mabel
started the conversation.
"Have you really left Oxford for
good?" she began. And are you
sorry for it?"
81 was sorry for it until to-day"
Cyril laid a strong emphasis on the
last three words, and ventured a look
which sent his artful compliment
straight to its right address. Mabel
acknowledged the look by an innocent
little question: "Do you think | am
improved since you saw me last? "
Cyril burst into an exclamation. Ex-
pressed in letters it was only, "Oh !"
The manner and the tone made it elo-
quent, and ought to be described. But
description requires appropriate words.
Where in this case are the words? Ma
bells innocence, requiring no descrip-
ton, pursued its artless way: "Mr.
Corydon, you mustn't flatter me-" Mr..
COrydon Immediately proceeded to fiat
ter her.
Don't call me Mr., You used to
call me Cyril, in the days when was
insensible to that honor and happiness.
Ny one ambition is to hear you call me
Cyril now"
" You were boy then, Mr.. Corydon;
You are young man now. am afraid
it wouldn't be quite right"
Cyril hit on poetical allusion which
might have fallen from the lips Of the
Major himself. "Juliet didn't hest
tate" he remarked, "to call Romeo by
his christian name"
This-for a shy man-was, as Mabel
thought, getting on at rather too rapid
a rate. She turned the talk back into
the prosaic channels Of modern life.
Il thought your mother and you were
serious people," she said. Have you
really been to the play"
"Only to Shakespeare" Cyril re-
minded her. - was taken to the
theatre in the last vacation by man
of high position and large experience,
whom / am proud to call my friend.
His younger brother read with me under
the same tutor-and l first came to
know him in that way"
Who is this remarkable gentle
man."
"Sir John Bosworth.
Mabel stood stock-still and looked at
the unsuspecting heir of Oakapple Hall.
That good fellow was honestly pleased.
"Sir Johns fame has reached you "
he said. And perhaps you may have
met him in society,""
Mabel acknowledged that she had
met him. and SAID no more. Cyril sang
his praises.
"What man? He builds places Of
public amusement, he wins money on
racecourses, he sits on the throne Of
the press and dictates the policy Of
Europe--and, only think, he is my
friend :"
But Mabel's thoughts were otherwise
employed.
A young person, hitherto free from
any weak leanings toward superstition,
she now dimly perceived the hand Of
fate my steriously pointing to Sir John,
at the very time when she had deter
mined to dismiss him from her mind
and from her list of visitors. What
would be the next event? Would he
discover 0akapple Hall? Preceded by
his celebrity, would he obtain an intro
ductiOn to Mrs. Corydon, and renew his
offer of marriage: With the ready in
consistency of her Sex and age Mabel
began to feel certain reluctant inter.
est in Sir John. lie assumed romantic
proportions in his absence. She had
left him shadowy figure, disappearing,
as it were. in the background /; and
here he was in the front of the picture
again, presenting himself through tho
innocent medium Of this nice boy-so
proud Of him, so grateful to him! Her
curiosity was excited by the very man
whom she had despised not three days
since. She encouraged poor Cyril to
talk Of Sir John. One of Ewes daugh-
ters-there is nothing else to be said OF
her---one Of Ewes daughters.
The course Of their walk had
brought them back by this time to the
house. Cyril suddenly made an spOl-
ogy:
Excuse me for one moment have
something to show you" He ran into
the house and ran out again with the
local newspaper in his hand.
Nothing that | can say Of our gift
ed friend will be as interesting to you
as this" he announced, and pointed to
the column Of the newspapers filled by
| tba I nu1on cor,aoDnn1art Nth ,ou,,