Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-09-19
CHAPTER Xxy.-THE PICNIC.

at breakfast. "Then it's the very last
chance we will have while Col Haynes is
with us. Arc you really going day after
tomorrow" she asked Of him.
Eyes, Lady Waverland, must go then.
will stay and see Lord Waverland elected,
which will take place tomorrow, then
must tear myself away. But l am in for
picnic to-day" he said, with animation.
"A picnicp cried Myrtle, Intensely ex-
cited, for, to her, picnic represented
fairy world.
"Who shall we ask to join our party9"
asked Stella.
"We'll stop for the ST. Glars They arc
always ready for pleasure. You remember
them; the girls were those good archers
that were here the night of our return" l
explained to tho Colonel. Then there's
Johnny O'Rork. We must ask him for
Annie's sake. He thinks she is the only
girl worth looking at in all the world"
But wait" said Stella. II must see if
there is any thing in the house fit for
lunch" and away she tripped rs happy as
lark.
"Waverland, you are the most fortunate
man alive in having won such a glorious
wife! If l could only find such dear little
woman to brighten my life, should be as
happy as king"
"You may well say that i have the one
woman of all the world that could make
me happy. But there are others, from
whom you may choose one just as dear to
you"
Soon the arrangements were completed.
The old family carriage came to the door.
Myrtle was inside eager TO start. The
lunch basket, fishing tackle, some bows
and arrows, a croquet set and any and
everything that could possibly add pleas
ure to the party, was placed in n light
wagon with q number of servants to &C.
company US. With happy hearts we start
ed for Sir Wren's.
AS we passed through the little tenant
village we saw many n pleasant face,
eager for smile from the ''swate Teddy"
"Are you doing anything to help my
cause in the coming electiony" L asked of
Stella.
only remembering old acquaintance
and making few new ones" she said.
II can see a great change in the condi-
ton Of the people on your estate since last
year"
81 know they are more comfortable and
think more contented. But who could
blame them for being disconnected? Hun
ger and cold would affect even my placid
temperament" l said, laughing.
eyes, the old adage that If you give an
Englishman good dinner, then nothing
can harm him. holds good the world
over" said Col. Haynes.
Here we are at st. Glars; you are the
proper one to invite them, think" said
Stella to me.
Away l went, like school boy on holt
day, nearly falling over the shaggy little
pug, that came barking at my feet / rang
the door bell and Miss Sarah came herself
to answer the call. made known my err
rand and found thai four would join us.
At O'Rork's we found three. So we were
TO have quite party. When we reached
Sir Wren's, Annie came running down the
steps to meet us, exclaiming In gay voice:
What mischief is on foot nowy You all
look so happy"
"A picnicP' cried Myrtle, eager to tell
the news.
THE St Glars and O'Rork's will join
u.s." said Stella, as we entered the hall.
Sir Wren entered into the pleasure with
the young people and declared he was go
ing too. When the company had gathered,
we all started for the lake. The St. Clair
girls were fine looking, sensible and full Of
life. George, their brother, was just bud
ding into manhood, and was preparing for
admission TO the bar Nellie O'Rork was
lively brunette, saucy and -eady for mis-
chief. Johnny was the viii of the party
making us laugh Mt his origin al witticisms
in spite of ourselves. The yo-tng lady who
was visiting the O'Rork's was fashiona-
BILE belle and languid beauty.
When we arrived Mt the lake we left our
carriages in the care of the drivers, giving
orders for our provisions and implements
of pleasure TO be brought to the Turks
cottage In about an hour. We entered the
yacht, cruised about while to enjoy She
scenery. then landed mt the cottage. There
we separated into groups rs best suited us,
and began 10 raInble over the beautiful
grounds.
was very much amused TO see the way
the Colonel and johnny O'Rork maneu-
vered to gain Annie for companion in
, their walks. But Annie was ready for
mischief, and putting her arms about Stel-
las waist she led the way 10 the old abbey
that had been ruin so long ti-rt the ivy
had mantled its broken walls and made
them an object of beauty, and the tall yew
tree in front shaded it from the sun.
what delightful place this must have
boenl Such quiet retreat from every
tnlng rnat could vex or annoy" said An
ME, with half serious and half comic ex-
preston.
! Just think" said Nellie O'Rork, "here
once stood a grand old cathedral with holy
! men and women reverently kneeling be-
fore their sacred shrines; bat now the
solemn eyed owl and web-wlnged bat hold
/ their nightly revelries here and conduct
J the service"
"Just sec," said Stella, chow nature has
covered these brown and broken walls and
windows with twining vines whose tiny
rootlets creep and cling among the crew.
ces from nave TO transcept"
Mature always loves the beautiful and
hastens with her offerings To cover all
things repulsive or dIsagrecabie." said the
/ Colonel as we stood looking at the Old
ruins.
From the abby we walked through the
cloister, whose broken pavement seemed
still to echo tho tread of ancient friars,
telling Ger their beads and mingling with
their prayers the loves of their early days.
Some Of us climbed the broken stairway
TO gain a more general view of THO wreck
time was making OF this grand creation Of
the middle ages.