Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-26
CHAPTER I'LL

With a face rigid and immobile as the crags
on Noel Carrig after a storm has passed over
them, Bronwen resumed her household duties,
and even lent hand to the preparations Mr.
Beldon was making for his departure ON the
morrow. She packed his clothes and his dried
plants also. All this without the slightest trace
OF any emotion visible about her.
And George Beldon, relieved and guessing
nothing OF the tempest raging within, felt that
he had been unnecessarily alarming himself as
to the consequences of his foolish love making
1t was quite evident that the girl cared nothing
ABOUT MIN one way or another, or she could not
have taken his departure so easily Not even
conventional expression of regret did she ut
ter, or hope that at some future time he
might return. So much the better, of course.
Still it was little calling to his vanity to be
treated In such manner. Restless and dissat-
lsfied he was, therefore, even while considera-
bly, relieved
Glad? OF course he was glad that she did
not care too much about him, but then, again,
he would have liked her to show Just some trace
of feeling. Altogether his weak mind was as
usual. in a state of ferment. When morning
dawned it appeared as though the very ele-
ments did fight against him and hinder his
flight from temptation. Every now and again
Noel Carrlg hid his frowning brow in a cloud
OF rain and the day was as wild and tempestu-
GUS one as there had been that season.
Now, the nearest way to the railway station
lay over the shoulder of the mountain and unless
George made up his mind to wait for later
| train and to drive twelve miles round with his
luggage (Which he had already arranged to
have sent after him, he must needs climb the
heights Of Noel Carrig, with the probability Of
breaking his neck or of sticking fast in
| morass 1t was not pleasing prospect and
the young fellow might be pardoned for hesi-
tating before venturing upon it. Besides, no
one could be produced willing to act as guide
he o<far
| and 1t was decidedly unsafe for him to go
alone. Old Llsnaber Was stuck fast in the
chimney corner with an attack of acute rheu-
matism and Thomas could not spare the time,
much as he wished, to speed the parting guest
But Bronwen, when they were left alone,
lifted her heavy eyes to his.
II will take you over the mountain" she
said in cold and mOnotonous voice. "You
need not loose your train"
"fou! exclaimed the gentleman, surprised.
But Is it safe for you on such day?"
The girl gave a short, hard laugh.
Safe enough" she replied. in the same In
different way. ~ am the best guide in the
neighborhood. Do not I know every inch of
the way between this and Gwynan Pass? You
forget 1t is my world. 1 have had the whole Of
my life to learn it in"
There was something in her tone that caused
Mr. Beldon to glance quickly at her. But her
face was entirely expressonless.
You must be uncommonly eager to DO rid
reproach, ''or you would not make such an
offer" II this was a feeble attempt on his part
to extract some expression of regret from her
1t entirely failed in its purpose.
II thought you were particular about the
hrst train, she remarked quietly
Taking spiked stick from behind the door.
and wrapping warm shawl about her, she
announced her readiness for O start Mr.
Beldon had no longer any excuse for delay,
Bidding old Gwylim adieu, and finding that he
had no objection to his daughter acting as
guide, the young man followed Bronwen ont
Across the low-lying fields and the lower
slopes OF Noel Carrig, fragrant with the scent
OF the damp bog myrtle, and skirting the bogs
with which this part of the mountain
abounded, George found it rather slippery
work ascending the grassy slopes, but since
Bronwen, with light and rapid steps, kept
silently on ahead, he was ashamed to make any
fuss about slight discomfort. Through the
mist he could see the forms Of the sheep sour
rylng of at their approach.
Very different appeared the mountain since
they had fingered and dallied there two DAYS
before. Dark, forbidding, threatening through
its foggy mantle doomed the monster Every
now and again the wind swept with a hollow.
angry sound adOwn the ravines soaring ito
mighty bosom. The little mountain stream
that flashed back no longer ago than yesterday
an answering smile to tho suns caress was now
swollen to a torrent, and foamed and seethed
and tore about its boulders in an access of what
looked like furious rage. Scarce did it appear
able to endure its limitations, and kept fretting
to be at some work of devastation Very like
to this mountain torrent was the soul of the
silent Bronwen, while digging the point of the
stick into the soil she kept steadily upon her
upward path.
Gentle, peaceful and sunshiny only the dav
before now all angry and stormy and perturbe6
Hate, wounded pride and thwarted love were
all seething and boiling within her. and work.
ing ruin and disaster to the nature once 40
serene and beautiful The only letters of con-
ventionality recognized by this serene nature
were about as futile to bride its violent pas
sions as were the soft DOGGY banks Of the stream
to confine its boisterous waters.
1t Is true, however, that what was denied to
conventionality was as yet yielded to an in
stinctlve delicacy Angry as the girl undoubt-
eddy was with the man for having deceived her,
she was almost as angry with herself for hay-
ing given her love on so slight an asking and
to so shallow a wooer.
She called her native modesty to aid her in
concealing her feelings and the contempt
which blended with them helped her to this.
So far, therefore, all was WELL and all might
still have been SO had it not been for that un-
easy vanity Of Mr.. Beldon, which would not
suffer him to lot we'll alone.
The silence kept BY Bronwen, or the short.
monosyllabic replies that were all she vouch-
him. Still more heavily pressed sense OF her
contempt and anger. When they attained the
summit of some crags he stopped for breath.
for the climbing had been very difficult of late,
and called upon Bronwen to halt likewise.
This she did with considerable reluctance, for
her spirit kept her from feeling fatigue, and
she would fam have seen the last of him She
appeared to press forward as though pursued
by something. or truth strange and fripht-
full thing did pursue her, and that was the evil
that she had vainly endeavored 70 cast ont of
her mind and leave behind her.
Once, at turn of the path, she started and
drew back shuddering, but recovered her pres
ence OF mind immediately. Il was no new
phenomenon that confronted her thsre-mereIy
the shadow of herself projected upon and mag.
nined to gigantic proportions by the fog, .
thing which every mountaineer 10 familiar
with, and ct which she had never before felt
fear.
But then never before had there been aught
IN her own moral image 10 alright or shook
her.
George looked At her in vague wonder. Was
It merely the effect Of the mist, or did her
features really wear an unfamiliar and dreadful
appearance?
Pale a. q spseter, her dark eyes glowsd with
q sotnbsr IRE 40 they met hia
"Bronwen," he said, In . tremulous tone,
why do you not speak 70 nsa Are you angry