Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-04-14

CHAPTER ".
! must summarize as briefly rs possible
the event that took place the week fol-
lowing LOla's flight, not because | find
them lacking in intersection indeed these
were the happiest days / had ever spent
but because the lengthy description
would unduly retard the'progrcss 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 Il 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 a young deer. but he, obcdient 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
en-. and she loves EN- more than laces
and s%atins, and picters, and SIGH like; and
and its more nat'ral for the little cuss to
Sleep or the brown needles than in feath-
ers. There's no tanlin' her. It's i~nstinc',
end, like foul weeds in Il fair pasture,
Gurn her, there's nc gettin' it out of her.
Leave her alone. sir, and she'll come in
when she's hungry, and then l VIII lun
her the inlquity of Ongratitude!'
In the afternoon we went IN a 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
drcSser's. | had my beard shaved Oft;
ana we returned to the abbey. very much
altered for the better in appearance.
Miss Lascellcs was much distressed
about Lola, who was still absent. Braces
explanation Of her leaving tho abbey
seemed n reasonable one, bat her antipa-
thy 10 Miss Lascelles, which led her to
destroy the things she had given her,
was to me a mystery, TO Miss Lascelles
also, ! believe, and a very painful one.
She seemed to feel herself in some in
acrutable 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 n
rlan named Carvalho. then occupied AZ
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 was
supposed to have escaped from ~theabbey
was left open. and "A night-light was
placed in her bedroom.
The next morning the dairy-maid said
that someone had been ut her milk-p,ns
in the night; there was no other evidence
of Lola having entered the house. After
breakfast. | determined to 90 through
the woods myself in search Of her. Miss
Lascelles wished to accompany me. |
ought to have pointed ont 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 Il sweet companion. We saw
Lola at the edge of a clearing on the
hillside. She watched us as we drew
near. | 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 "a she walked silently beside
me, with her head bent. | saw that she
was crying. This episode made a deep
impression upon me: yet while my heart
acied with sympathy for the poor little
savage wandering alone in those silent,
still woods, an Undesirable happiness
stole over my senses. II was the awak-
cning Of love.
Sir Edmund had a basket Of food
placed in the dairy, and the doors again
left open.
On the 18th we learned that some
bread and fruit had been taken from the
dairy in the night. Sir Edmund and !
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, ie asked NE how | came to be
a miner. | told him of my loss by the
failure of the Imperial, of the impossi-
bility of my getting my living as a clerk.