Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-04-21
THE GREAT AESPER.
TALE OF A BIG DIAMOND.
How an Immense Gem Was Lost,
Recovered, and Lost Again.
CHAPTER w.

AllSo oulllillitfiZe aS UrleIlV as
possible the events that took place
the week following Lola's flight, not
because | find them lacking in inter-
est,-for indeed these were the hap.
piest days had ever spent-but be-
cause the lengthy description would
unduly retard the progress of the
history | have Set myself to mar
rate.
On the morning OF the 18th, search
was made for Lola. She was not in
the house. A little after id-day, one
OF the keepers sent out to explore the
Abbey woods and park, reported that
he had seen the fugitive in the fir plan
tation, about o mile from the Abbey.
At sight of him she had "scuttled''
away like a young deer, but he, obedi-
ent to orders had not pursued her.
cts the smell OF the pines as draw
ed her there said the Judge; "she
was born amongst 'em, end she
loves 'em more than laces and
satins and picters, and sich like; and
it's more nat'ral for the little cuss to
sleep on the brown needles than in
feathers. Theirs no tamin' her. It's
instinc', end like foul weeds in q fair
pasture, durn her, there's no gettin'
it out OF her. Leave her alone, sir
and she'll come in when she's hungry,
and then / will larn her the inquiry OF
ongratituden'
In the afternoon we went in q brake
to Southampton, driving slowly
through the woods, with She posi-
~bllity OF being seen by Lola, who
would certainly then have followed
us; but we saw nothing OF her. At
Southampton we bought decent
clothes, and spent some time in the
hairdresser's. L hadmy beard shaved
Off; andwe, returned to the Abbey, very
much altered for the better in appear
ance.
Miss Lascelles was much distressed
about Lola, who was still absent.
Braces explanation OF her leaving the
Abbey seemed q reasonable one; but
her antipathy to Miss Lascelles, which
led her to destroy the things she had
given her, was to me % mystery,-to
Miss Lascelles also, l believe, and u
very painful one. She seemed to feel
herself in some inscrutable way re-
sponsible for the girls action.
Sir Edmund returned in the evening
from London.
"Now, indeed; you look yourself
a gentleman" he said, shaking my
hand cordially. He had made in
quiries respecting a lapidary, and
learned that the most expert known
to the trade, was q man
named Carvalho, then occupied at
Madrid. With our sanction he wrote
,at once Offering this man his own
terms to come to the Abbey and cut
the Great Hesper
AT night, the door by which Lola
was supposed to nave escaped from the
Abbey was left open, and q night light
was placed i'll her bedroom.
The next morning the dairymaid
said that some one had been at her
milk pans in the night; there WAS no
other evidence OF Lola having entered
the house. After breakfast, / deter
mined to go through the woods my
self in search of her. Miss Lascelles
wished to accompany me. l ought to
have pointed out to her that her COM
pany lessened the chances of Lola
suffering me to approach her, but ]
could not deprive myself the pleasure
of having such o sweet companion.
We saw Lola at the edge OF clearing
on the hillside. She watched us as we
drew near. l called to her; but size
shook her head, and, turning her back
the pines. The forlorn condition OF
the girl; hergesture, which seemed full
OF sadness; the silent fall OF leaves;
the tristness OF tile autumn woods
overcame Miss LascelIes; and, as she
walked silently beside me, with her
head bent, saw that she was crying.
This episode made deep impression
upon me; yet, while my heart ached
with sympathy for the poor little saw
age wandering alone in those silent,
still woods, an indescribable happi-
ness stole over my senses. 1t was the
awakening Of love.
Sir Edmund had a basket OF food
placed in the dairy, and the doors
again lett open.
On the 18th we learned that some
bread and fruit had been taken from
the dairy in the night. Sir Edmund
and l walked through the woods: we
saw nothing OF Lola. Our CONVERSE
tion turned upon his daughter, and he
told me how she had consoled him for
the loss OF his wife. He spoke with
natural pride OF her sweet and loyal
disposition Later on, falling upon
the subject OF the great diamond, he
asked how came to be q miner. [
told him OF my loss by the failure OF
the Imperial, of the impossibility OF
my getting my living as a clerk, etc.
incidentally referred to my mo theirs
family, and. the name leading him
to make further inquiries, hediscover-
ed the curions fact that my mother
must have been his wife scousin. How
often do we find wide circles of friends
linked together in this way! I
thought that Miss Lascelles was
greatly pleased with the discovery of
the distant relationship existing be-.
tween us; we seemed less remote from
each other.
During our absence Miss Lascelles
had devoted herself entirely to Van
Hoeck; her sympathy had a remark
able effect upon this strange man.
4 yNl,a,, T took him I'm TO his room to