The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-08-31


A TALL. SLIGHT GIRL STOOD BEFORE THEM.
A sultry noon in August. The hot at
mosphere seemed to culver against the
distant, low, dark hills; the small brook
ran languidly through the dry, parched
meadow-reduced to mere thread. Not
soul was to be seen in the one narrow
street, which is the whole of the sleepy
little Cornish village Of Trevarrock. Yes
---one old woman was hanging out a
fishernan's red shirt to dry on the gray
stone wall before her cottage; tabby
cat sat at the gate, purring luxnriously
in the sun.
The stranger, who had Just crossed the
rough bridge, looked round him curious
". He was tall, stalwart man; lean,
loose imbed, with q powerful rather
than handsome face, clean shaven, show
ing firm, somewhat stern mouth, and
having pair of deep set, blue gray eyes,
which seemed to take in everything at a
glance. He might have been almost any
age between thirty and forty, and his
crisply curling black hair was strealzed
with silver st the temples.
'.Is this city of the dead?' he said
addressing the old woman, who looked
at him with curiosity-strangers were
very rarely seen in Trevarrock. tsYou
seem to be all asleep down here, he con
tinued, with laugh, 'or to be taking
things very easily"
you're not from hereabouts, reck
on" said the woman, smiling in return,
cor you'd know that all the men are al
the pilchard fishing, and the women and
children be mostly all down to the bay,
to see the boats come in Look ZEE yon
der.
She lifted her brown hand and pointed
towards the sea, and Harold Darlington,
following its direction, saw on the broad.
blue waters that lay under the horizons
rim cluster of boats drifting land
ward.
ssThis is only fishing village, them
There is no inn where Icould get a lodg-
ingw He looked somewhat dismayed
down the tiny lane of houses.
.sNo, that there bain't Old Ben Ire
bilco down yontH designating cottage,
more dirty and dilapidated than ita
neighbors -sssells drap Of beer and soul
cider, but he don't take in no dodgers,
answered the old woman, in her soft.
slow Cornish drawl.
stIs there no general shop, or postoffice
here? Great heavensl what placel' the
stranger muttered, with i'll concealed ina.
patience.
"Oh, ISL be the postmistress, and |
keeps a morsel o. tea and sugar, and the
like inside"
A glass bottle Of red and white striped
sugar sticks, and two moldy oranges in
the cottage window bore out old judith
Females words.
Well, then, must trudge back ia
Penzance tonight there's no help for it.
And yet should have been well content
to stay here; it is just the sort of place
that would have suited me. One could
be perfectly hidden from the eyes Of the
world IN such an out of the way spot"
A light step behind him made him
suddenly look round. Judith, who was
standing on the threshold of her door,
dropped courtesy, and her withered face
lighted up.
A tall, slight girl stood before them, a
rush basket ON her arm. The color came
into Mr.. CarTington's face. He had seen
many beautiful women In the course OF
his strange, eventful life, but none SO
beautiful as this one, who wore her
shabby blue serge gown, with its patched
elbows, and sun burned straw sailor hal
as an empress might have worn her royal
robes and crown.
She was no village Dulcinea or rustic
red checked Queen of the May. Nc
bloom graced the rounded outline of hen
face; but rich, creamy pallor, pure a.
the heart of white rose, contrasted Wv.
idly with pair Of glorious brown eyes,
and the thick, dark hair lying in great
lusterless waves above brow low al
that of Clytie. The mouth was perhaps
trife sad and cynical in expression fol
one so young, the lips somewhat thin
and compressed. But Harold Caring.
ton saw no flaw In her almost perfect
loneliness.
mvoluntarily he raised his soft, gray
wideawake, opening the gate for this
apparition of beauty to pass through
But Judith Female stopped the girl,
saying, as though struck by brilliant
idea:
'sWhy, dearie, maybe your'n the very
one can help u.s."
She poured out Harold Carrington's
difficulties, in spite of his gestures of dis
approval, while the strange young lady
graveIy listened.
s'It is quite true, what Judith says,
that no lodging is to be had in the vii
lage. But Il you like to wait here for a
short time, win go and speak to my
amt, Mrs. Trevyiian. Perhaps she may
be able to think of some plan"
The girl raised her large, dark eyes
and looked Harold fall in the face as she
spoke. They were strange eyes; deep.
liquid and Questionable, but there was
no trace OK shyness in their steady gaze.
Her manner was calm and self possessed,
almost too much so for one so young, he
thought.
Il am infinitely obliged to you; but /
am more than ashamed to give such
trouble" he said, bowling courteously.
Can I not come with you, and so save
ron the return hitherg' he added, apol-
oseticalIy