San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-04
CHAPTER ",

L uluSt SulilndTlZe rs Dflelly as pOSSlDl6
the events that took place the week fol-
lowing Lolas flight, not because l find
them lacking in interest-for indeed these
were the happiest days l had ever spent
but because the lengthy description
would unduly retard the progress of the
history | have set myself to narrate.
On the morning of the 18th, search
was made for Lola. She was not in the
house. A little after midday, one of the
keepers, sent out to explore the abbey
woods and park, reported that he had
seen the fugitive in the fir plantation,
about half a mile from the abbey. At
sight of him she had 'scuttled" away
like young deer, but he, obedient to
orders, had not pursued her.
Its the smell of the pines as drawed
her there" said the Judge; ''she was
born amongst EN-, she has lived amongst
'em, and she loves EN- more than laces
and satins, and picters, and SIGH like; and
and it's more nat'ral for the little cuSs to
sleep on the brown needles than in feath-
ers. There's no tamin' her. It's inStinc,
end, like foul weeds in fair pasture,
durn her, there's no gettin' it out of her.
Leave her alone. sir, and she'll come in
when she's hungry, and then will larn
her the inA1uity of Ongratitude"
In the afternoon We went in break to
Southampton, driving slowly through
the woods, with the possibility of being
seen by Lola, who would certainly then
have followed us, but we saw nothing of
her. At Southampton we bought decent
clothes, and spent some time in the hair
dresser's. had my beard shaved off;
and we returned to the abbey, very much
altered for the better in appearance.
Miss Lascelles was much distressed
about Lola, who was still absent. Braces
explanation of her leaving the abbey
seemed a reasonable one, but her antipa-
thy to Miss Lascelles, which led her to
destroy the things she had given her,
was to me a mystery, to Miss Lascelles
also, believe, and very painful one.
She seemed to feel herself in some in
scrutable way responsible for the girls
action.
Sir Edmund returned in the evening
from London.
"Now, indeed, you look yourself-a
gentleman" he said shaking my hand
cordially. He had made inquiries re-
specting a lapidary, and learned that the
most expert known to the trade was a
man named Carvalho, then occupied at
Madrid. With our sanction he wrote at
once, offering this man his own terms, to
come to the abbey, and cut the Great
Hesper.
At night, the door by which Lola w0s
supposed to have escaped from the abbey
was left open, and a night-light was
placed in her bedroom.
The next morning the dairy-maid said
that someone had been at her milk-pans
in the night; there was no other evidence
of Lola having entered the house. After
breakfast, determined to go through
the woods myself in search Of her. Miss
Lascelles wished to accompany me. /
ought to have pointed out to her that her
company lessened the chances of Lola
suffering me to approach her, but could
not deprive myself the pleasure of hav-
ing such sweet companion. We saw
Lola at the edge OF clearing on the
hillside. She watched us as we drew
near. l called to her, but she shook her
head, and, turning her back upon us,
quickly disappeared among the pines.
The forlorn condition of the girl; her
gesture, which seemed full of sadness;
the silent fall of leaves; the tristness Of
the autumn woods, overcame Miss Las
celles; and as she walked silently beside
me, with her head bent, saw that she
"oO " yihSs lhio SPioOtO q ocSP
impression upon me; yet while my heart
ached with sympathy for the poor little
savage wandering alone in those silent,
still woods, an indescribable happiness
stole over my senses. 1t was the awak-
ening of love.
Sir Edmund had basket of food
placed in the dairy, and the doors again
left open.
On the nth we learned that some
bread and fruit had been taken from the
dairy in the night. Sir Edmund and I
walked through the woods; we saw
nothing of Lola. Our conversation turn
ed upon his daughter, and he told me
how she had consoled him for the loss
of his wife. bespoke with natural pride
of her sweet and loyal disposition. Later
on, falling upon the subject of the great
diamond, he asked me how came to be
miner. told him of my loss by the
failure of the Imperial, of the impossi-
bility of my getting my living as clerk,
etc. Incidentally / referred omy moth
er's family, and the name leading him to
make further inquiries, he discovered
the curious fact that my mother must
have been his wife's cousin. How often