The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-03-04
VI.
AN UNpREMEDITATED DEPARTURE.

/
AN UNPRECEDENTED DEPARTURE.
Those who ought to know most about
such matters point out the mutability OF
things terrestrial by showing that the
change in position of single grain of
sand may determine the course of
mighty river, or that chance raindrop
trickling down the face of a cliff may
mark the line of erosion which shall
eventually cut the mountain in twain.
If these illustrations prove the subjec-
ton of the elements to the universal
rule of change, examples are not want
ing to show that the same law governs
with equal authority in the domain of
human affairs.
Ringbrand went downstairs the next
morning fully determined to carry out
his programme of the previous evening,
and he told Ludlow at the breakfast
table that he would spend the forenoon
at the furnace with him. AS they were
leaving the house together the colonel
overtook them IN his buggy and invited
Ringbrand to go with him on drive
across the valley to look at horse
which was for sale, promising to get
him back to the company's office before
noon. There was no good reason for re-
| fusing, and the colonel was Hospitality
insistent; Ludlow added his word, and
the upshot of the matter was that the
superintendent went to his Office alone,
while his guest departed upon an ex-
cursion which was to demonstrate anew
the futility of human plans and pur-
poses.
Making due allowance for the fact
that Ringbrand was upon the eve of
taking step which involved the renun-
citation of the woman he loved, he was
less uncompanionable than he might
have been. Their route took them over
the wooded knollsin the main valley and
each rise in the road brought out new
beauties of the landscape. At the top
of the highest of the hills the colonel
stopped and pointed out the winding
course of the Harmony river, it's bends
and reaches etched among the fields in
( & sinuous pathway of silver mist, ruffled
by the sun into fieecy waves of translu-
cent pearl. In the middle distance, and
about halfway from Tregathen to the
river, a group of Lombardy.s poplars
crowned one of the knolls overlooking
the valley to the southwark, and the
colonel indicated the small hill with
comprehensive gesture which included
the cultivated fields surrounding it.
"That's the Manor farm" he said, land
the old square house stood in thah
among the poplah's. My father raised
it in the second yeah after he moved
down from Virginia, and it was a
mighty comfortable old mansion
mighty comfortable, sch. If you've
been in any of the old Virginia planta-
tion homes, you'll know about what
sort O. place it was"
~ have passed through Virginia."
replied Ringbrand, land think know
the type. They certainly look comfort
able from the outside, and they give
one an idea of stability which is de-
cidedly refreshing in this age of archi-
tectural shams."
'Yes, sch, they do that; strong and
solid, like man was buildin' for his
child'en and grandchildren. The old
Manor house was built hathaway;
beams and timbers of solid oak, dressed
down with the broadax. 1t was long
time a-burnin'."
II don't wonder your father didn't
rebuild it," said Ringbrand, refectively.
1.-THE associations would always have
been painful"
The colonel looked surprised: 81
hope you don't allow that he went up
on the mountain for that reason! No,
sch; he hada better one. Old Doc Rains
fo'd talked right encouragin' about the
mountain air for my mother-she was
always mighty poly in the valley. I
reckon the change did help her some"
.. he added, thoughtfully, "but she never
did pick up after that mo'nin' when
they cyar'd father home"
Col. Latimer pulled the horses into
., the road again, and they drove on in
! silence. The reference to the feud
brought Ringbrand back to things
|, present, and the thought that he should
not see Hester again had a sharper sting
as the time of his departure came
nearer. He recalled the little incidents
of their acquaintance, and tried to get
some comfort out of the belief that her
5 heart was still in her own keeping, and
: that the pain of remuneration was going
to be his not hers. The glance back
ward at the pleasant hours spent at the
, home of the Latimers reminded him
, that it would be ungracious to go away
without making some acknowledge
ment of the colonel's kindness, and he
wondered how he could manage it
. without betraying his plans for inn
: mediate retreat. Fortunately, the
0 colonel himself opened the way by ask
2 ing him to become q guest at "The
5 Laurels." 81 told Tom Ludlow. day
3 befo' yesterday, that he was actin
3 mighty mean about it, and he said he
8 reclloned they-all could send you to us
= for SPELL"
1 I'm sure that's very good of you,
: colonel, and thank you both for the
8 invitation and for your many kind
. nesses to me since ! came to Tregar-
y then; you certainly haven't let me feel
= that was stranger among you. /
" assure you, would gladly accept the
hospitality Of The Laurels' if-if my.