Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-05-01
CHAPTER VI.
OWEN DAVIES AT HOME.

accepted them as he accepted existence and
all its vanities, without remark or mental
comment He was by nature and education
of a strongly and simply religious mind, as
he was in body powerful, placid and healthy
to an exasperating degree. 1t may be said
that it is easy to be religious and F<acid on
ten thousand year, but Owen Davies had
not always owned ten thousand year and
one of the most romantic and beautiful seat:
| in Wales. From the time he was II, when
his mothers death left him an orphan, till be
reached the age Of 30, some six years from
the date Of the opening of this history, he led
about as hard a life as fate could find for any
man
Some people may have heard of sugar dro-
gers, or sailing briggs. which trade between
this country and the West Indies, carrying
coal outward and sugar home. On board of
one of these Owen Davies worked in various
capacities for thirteen long years. He did his
drudgery we'll; but he made no friends, and
always remained the same shy, silent and
pious man. Then suddenly relation died
without will. and he found himself heir at
law to Bryngelly castle and all its revenues.
He expressed no surprise, and to all appear
ance felt none. He had never seen his rela-
ton, and never dreamed of this romantic
devolution of great estates upon himself
But he accepted the good fortune as he had
accepted the i'll, and said nothing. The only
people who knew him were his shipmates,
and they could scarcely be held to know
him. They were acquainted with his appear
ance and the sound of his voice and his meth
cd of doing his duty. Also, they were aware
that, although he never spoke Of religion, he
read a chapter of the Bible every evening,
and went 10 church whenever they touched
at a port. But of his internal self they were
in total ignorance This did not, however,
prevent them from prophesying that Davies
was deep one,n who, now that he had got
the cash, would 'blue it, in a way which
would astonish them
But Davies did not blue it. The news Of
his good fortune reached him just as the brig
ON which he was going to sail as first mate
was taking in her cargo for the West Indies
He had signed his contract for the voyage,
and, to the utter establishment of the lawyer
who managed the estates, he announced that
he should carry it out In vain did the man
of affairs point out to his client that with the
help of a check of 9l00 he could arrange the
matter for him in ten minutes.
Mr.. Davies merely replied that the prop
erty could wait; he should go the voyage
and then retire. The lawyer held up his
hands, and then suddenly remembered that
there are women in the West Indies, as in
other parts of the world. Doubtless his
queer client had an object in his voyage. As
matter of fact he was totally wrong.
Owen Davies had never interchanged ten
der word with woman in his life; he was a
creature of routine, and it was part of his
routine to carry out his agreements to the
letter. That was ALL
As a last resource the lawyer suggested
that Mr.. Davies should make will
II do not think it necessary, y was the slow
and measured answer "The property has
come TO me by chance. If / die it may as
well go to somebody else in the same wayn
The lawyer stared every well,n he said,
't is against my advice, but you must please
yourself. DO you want any money!
Owen thought for a moment eyes, he
said, 81 think ! should like to have ten
pounds. They are building cathedral out
there, and want to subscribe to it,
The lawyer gave him the ten pounds with
out word; he was struck specifies, and in
this condition he remained for some minutes
after the door had closed behind his client.
Then he spraug up with single CALCULATIONS
Mad mad! like his great-uncle
But Owen Davies was not in the least mad,
at any rate not then; he was only creature
Of habit. In due course, his agreement full !
filled, he sailed his brig home from the West !
Indies, for the captain was drowned in gale. |
Then he took a second class ticket to Bryn- |
gelly. where he had never been in his life be |
fore, and asked his way to the castle He |
was told to 80 TO the seashore and he would /
see it, He did SO, leaving his sea chest be- I
hind him, and there, about two hundred |
PAGES from the land and built upon a solitary 1
Of rock, measuring half mile or
20 round the base, he perceived vast me- 4
ii@val pile of fortified buildings with tur-
rets, towering three hundred feet into the air
and edged with fire by the setting sun.
He gazed on it with perplexity. Could it
be that this enormous island fortress belonged
10 him, and il so, how ON earth did one get
% itl For some little time he walked up and
Town wondering, too shy to 90 to the village
'or Information. Meanwhile, though he did
lot notice her, well grown girl of about
Is, remarkable for her great gray eyes
md the promise of her beauty, was, not
Without amusement, watching his evident
,erplexity from a seat beneath rock. At
asst she rose, and with the confidence of
1old Is, walked straight up to him.
do YOU want TO get to the castle, STRIP she
lsked in a strong, sweet voice, the echoes of
which Owen Davies never forgot
"Yes-oh, beg your PARDON for now for
he first time he saw that he was talking to
7oung lady.
Then | am afraid that You are too late.
Mrs Thomas will not show people over after
O'Clock She is the housekeeper, you know"
''Ah, well the fact is did not come to see
'yer the place. came to live there. Pm
owen Davies, aud the place was left to me-"
Beatrice-for of course it was she-stared
It hum in amazement. So this was the mys-
erious sailor about whom there had been so
much talk in Bryngelly.
''Ohl' she said, with embarrassing frank
less. what an odd way to come homel
Veil, it is high tide, and you viii have to
axe a boat. viii show you where you can
ret one. Old Edward will row you across
or sixpence," and she led the way round a
orner of the beach to where old Edward sat,
rom early morn to dewy eve, upon the
hwarts of his biggest boat, seeking those
whom he might row.
Edward" said the young lady, there is