Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-09-17

before the galleys OF Ph9nicia came
coasting round Albion in search Of tin,
and touched finally at the mouth Of the
Sid.
One Of them dropped Bactrian coin
on the shingle, just to prove to this day
that q Greek paid us morning call,
and then for 500 years the valley slept,
and the next corners carried the insignia
Of the eagles Of imperial Rome. They
left behind q bronze centaur that had
adorned Roman standard, and aome-
thing better still-a wonderful piece Of
Roman road. that, having defled time,
may defy eternity. But they found the
Devonshire lanes dull, rudely christened
the place Dammonia and sailed away,
leaving things very quiet for 1000
years or so, when, loi Sidmouth's love-
" valley is dotted over with Saxon wig
vans, and actually where the church
now stands was rude Saxon prototype
Of 1t, though the clergy seem to have
had an uncommonly rough time Of 1t In
those days, if all accounts are to be be.
lieved.
The little party had seen all that was
noteworthy in the neighborhood, not
forgetting Branscombe, that tangle Of
little valleys, the horizon shut of on
three sides by escarpments Of embracing
hills, with an exquisite vista Of salt
blue sea shining between two swelling
headlands They had visited Beer, that
long fishing street running out Of nat
ural harbor scooped in the chalk cliff,
beloved Of artists, who have built quaint
houses on the wooded combs above,
and who never weary Of making sketches
Of those bold vikings who loudly regret
the days Of smuggling. when cargoes
would be run on dark nights and coast
guards pushed over the cliffs, for the
brown sailed boats nowadays bring but
scanty grist to the mill.
And that's why the Teignmouth
cliffs are red," Mamie was saying one
day as from the brow Of the Mutter moor
they looked upon the wonderful pano-
rama spread out before them Because
the vikings wouldn't let our poor Sax
ons alone, and in their biggest invasion
the cliffs ran blood, and blood oolored
they are to this day"
Will Cassilis laughed. He had been
offered the fourth seat in the carriage
by Lord Straubenzee and had accepted
it on the principle Of half loaf being
better than no bread, though indeed the
number of half loaves he had lately re-
ceived alternately puzzled and alarmed
him.
"You don't believe that. Mamie, do
your" he said, knowing he would not
have her less Of a little goose for the
world. Perhaps he did not know that
his very voice changed when he spoke to
or Of her, but Hagar knew 1t, and 10
did Nannie's 8 father.
"Of course do. Father, you won't
mind coming down TO the Knowle hotel
and having some tear" she added, ool-
oring at the indecent JOY which over
spread Wills face at her suggestion,
for in those 40 acres OF pleasure grounds
might one not lose 30 fathers, and could
paradise itself have made more de-
licious lovers trysting placel
taking ono last look at the Otter wind
ing in and out Of the valley like streak
Of silver, the Aylesbeare hills beyond,
the Exc valley and Haldon hills, while
melting into the blue distance rose the
Dartmoor ranges that have always an
element Of savagery in their beauty. It
was all dear and familiar to him; he
never wearied Of it, never ceased to
compare favorably this English Riviera
to which the English doctors send their
wives and daughters, while to the one
abroad they send their patients.
Ibid you know" said Mamie to
Will as their carriage wheels out the
sweet springy turf and the coachman
began the long detour to get to the town
below, that Ottery st. Mary over there
is the Clavering st. Mary Of Pendennis,
Larkbeare is the original Of Fairdale,
and Esoot of Clavering park? The Otter
is the river Brawl. and if you look
about you may find the very tree that
Pendennis and Blanche Amory used as
q postoffioe
She blushed, and Will smiled. So did
Lord Straubenzee She looked today
like a happy child out for treat, con.
stantly making blunders, yet no whit
dismayed, and might have been ten in
stead Of four years younger than the wo.
man who sat beside her.
"You didn't know Devon was 80 in
teresting, did your" said Will kindly to
Hagar, for he was growing used to her
now, and having duly inspected those
credentials that proved her to be, as he
would have put it, all right, he would
have been ohurl and an migrate to be
unkind to what after all was perpet.
ual ever varying delight to the eye.
"No," she said simply, but every
thing seems interesting and beautiful to
me now"
It was this directness, or what he
termed her admirable simplicity, that
was Hagar's greatest charm to Lord
straubenzee. She pretended to moth
ing, she fattered no one, her silences
were more admirable than most wom-
ems flashes of wit, and her completeness
Of beauty soothed him like q charm.
"And this day week." said Will with
. groan, 1--WE shall all be scattered
right and left.
lyon will be among the partridges,
cried Mamie, "and perfectly happy. as
q man can only be one day Of the year.
So will father. Oh, can see you and
your neat get ups and all the rest Of it,
while l shall be sitting in GLASS and
thinking Of you, Willie, she added lam