Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-04
already. Do You think you could tel me
,s,kat fka tcla.xra,,, aatJ ~

OF kHpNtllk tuHl tutl NfIo NoibS ~, Ntut
10 tho desk, filed mp telegram form with
the words, " Patience. IDIOT Letter sent.
Will meet six train" handed II 70 Mr..
Brown with the money for It, and departed.
His telegram was addressed to Miss Agnes
FairflN-Agues was therefore his sister.
Somehow or other Mr.. lockwood became
partakcr in tins telegram too, and the con-
sequence was that, being in the neighbor-
hood Of the station that evening with no.
thingparticular 10 do, hefound himself sum
GENTLY interested in Agnes 10 hang about
in the lane through which she must pass
when she left the station. OF necessity
she must be n foot passenger, for there
were no flies or omnibuses at Selswyke.
He did not 90 quite 50 far as he station,
but waited on the rough cinder path out
side, leaning against some untrimmed rail-
ing and gazing far down below on the bay,
where a spring tide seemed to be trying TO
overtake some fishing boats drawn up on
the sand bank TO be out Of its way. lie
counted seven of them. Half a crown
year was the sum which he, as lord OF the
manor, received for each boat TO which the
privilege Of escaping 10 this bank was ac-
corded. Selswyke Bay, and the village of
the Same name lying in ravine between
two great cliffs, were hemmedl IN by SEMI
circle of high hills. which, with every va
riety OF gently undulating line and lovely
curve, NlODFu UONn 10 Nut SNd0iOi's ~
fore the railway bad been made any one
living at Selswyke might easily have per-
suaded himself that It was a little world
intended 70 be sufficient 10 itself, and that
no one ought ever to wish 10 leave II.
Nothing could be seen OF the greater world
lying beyond the hills which closed 1t IN
on every side but one. 1t had it's own
seven or eight miles of sand ending Alb
ruptly in almost insurmOuntable barriers
Of rocks fallen from the high cllffs which
iutted out at each extremity OF the semi
circle. IL had it's own church and its
manor house, its own meadow and corn
fields, its woods, its pastures, and sweet
secluded rayines through which fresh
brown streams from the hills forced their
way downward TO the sea IL had, too, It's
own sky. and almost its own sea, for what
sea could be perceived by the inhabitants
of Selswyke was all but framed IN by the
high cliffs at each end OF the little bay.
Before the railway came the only visible
sign of a great world beyond its
own barriers was an occasional steam
boat or sailing vessel. Sometimes the
knowledge that this other and wider
world had links that bound IT closely to
SelsWyke was borne IN on the inhabitants
of that place by the harsh sounds OF the
speaking-trumpet from a vessel asst crossed
in front of the bay, and then some mother
or wife, whose thoughts had for long
time been travelling by water, hearing this,
would drop her work and cry: On;
there's my poor dear Peter" or John. ana
hurry away TO point where she would be
clearly visible, to wave a large white sheet
or tablecloth to show that Peter or John
was not forgotten. Even the railway for
some time did little 90 dispel the sense of
isolation. A train suddenly made It's way
out OF high hill on the southwark
side, it rolled 10 the lower level OF
the station by its own impetus, 1t
always stopped at Selswyke, but rarely
deposited "a passenger there. Some
times, but not very often. 1t took one or
two to the market at ScOrton, but most OF
the Sclswvke Bay folk were wholly unre-
conciled to the iron monsters approach,
viewed il with alarm, and refused TO IN
trust themselves TO its power. 1t only
stopped minute or two, therefore, and
then steamed away into deep cutting IN
the cliff on the north side. was lost TO view,
and the connection with the outside world
broken.
The Squire now began to watch the hull
to the southwark for the puff Of smoke
which would show that the train had bur
rowed It's way through the tunnel. Pres
emily he heard steps crunchIng along the
cinder-path, and saw the Young artist air
fax striding along 10 the station. what
good-lookinR, gentleman-like lad be was
WHY did he allow himself to send such tel
eprams to his sister. and how did be hap
pen TO have a sister who could permit her.
self to send such kilograms 20 him?
While Squire RokewOOd was asking him
self this Mr.. Fairfax came up, raised ms
CAP. and said: II believe am speaking to
Mr.. Rokewood. / wish TO ask YOU favor.
viii YOU allow me to sketch IN that little
wood by the mill beck, and may my sister
sit beside me when | am at work? We
shall have to 90 through the field. but we
will keep TO the fOOt-path and be careful
not to trample the grass down. ! see there
is a board up with notice that no one Is to
90 there, but ] shall be much obliged II
YOU will allow US"
"Oh. certainly" said the Squire. with
pleasure He very much liked tins young
mans manner: he knew that squires always
had conference.-the manners, but was un-
aware that artists sometimes partook IN
that advantage. Are you staying at Sels-
Yes. am at the Rokewood Arms but
| should be very glad to get TO some
quieter place-my sister Is coming to be
with me.n
- am afraid there are no lodgings
nj least, none that would be comfortable.
The New Inn is the best, but it Is full"
1--WE must be satisfied with the one We
u.
dare say we shall DO very well. had no
conception that anything so beautiful and
so absolutely unspoiled as Selswyke was
still to be found in this irOnclad country of
ours Oh here's the train coming. Thank
you for giving me leave. | hope have not
taken a liberty Ill asking"
"Oh, dear. no. am going to the station
too SAID the Squire, who began to think
that it would look odd he stayed where he
was any longer.
Ny sister and / are alone in the world.
We have the misiortune-or perhaps |
ought 10 say tortune-to have no rela-
tions."
My mother and are in exactly the
same plight. and we have sometimes the
same difficulty in knowing whether 1t is an
advantage or a disadvantage" observed
the Squire, aud never in his life had he
spoken so freely TO a stranger, and then he
abruptly called himself TO something
more like his usual reserve of manner.
See if there Is a small parcelforme IN this
train" he cried 10 the porter. TO supply a
motive for his appearance on the platform.
He STAYED by young Fairfax, though he
was quite sure he should not ike that SIS
ter. Seeing a girl in rather fast-loOhing
hat he felt certain that she was Agnes
but turning to see if Fairfax was gazing at
her with ewes of affection, he found that
he ndd dartcd on 10 lDIu-cldSs carriage,
whence issued q pretty. very pretty
young lady Of Internationally or SO,
looking very business-hke, and emf
nently able to take care Of herself.
She was prettiy dressed, but not
10y any means in the style Of the
three OF four young ladies who repre-
scented county society at Selswyke. Her
hair was light brown and curly, ike her
young brothers, and her brown eyes looked
out Of rather a pale face, full of spirit and
character She seemed lively enough to
have sent that telegram and great deal
more besides. and the Squire was charmed.
And he would have TO watch her walk away
with young Fairfax and see no more of her.
But would he? There was a difficulty
about her luggage. The solitary porter was
so busy trying TO find what WAS not there
for Squire Rokewood that he would think
of nothing else.
IL must have the rest Of my sisters lug
gage out" said Fairfax to the station-mas-
ter. Two trunks were already on the plat
form. "How many more has she
brought?" wondered the Squire, land
who is there here to see her pretty
dresses ?"
Robin, it's all out but the ok-box--I
brought u lot of books" said Agnes.
jackson, attend to that lady" cried