Marble Hill press., 1901-12-18
cHAPTER-vII.

Mary had replied that girls had no
choice in the matter until they were
asked.
Dick Parker had heard this latter
remark a. be catered the little bar
psrlor, for within - hours he vas on
fhmiliar terms with the household.
Presently. when she was alone. Dick
aid; -wlll you meet ne In the abbey
this aflernooni I want 10 say some
thing to you"
Cant you say Il here she replied
NO: besides. you know al about
the abbey. and ! would like to see Il
With you"
I win ask my uncle said Mary.
Ia that neeessAry.~
YEA said Mary. well knowing II
was not: but she wished to have an
authorization for the pleasure ho felt
Il would be TO walk alone with the
stranger. who spoke 20 softly. looked
80 handsome. and paid her such pretty
and evidently such sincere eompli-
mentk
Then ask him. viii youi 7 am go
Ing 10 nah In the river on the other
side Of the abbey: We might meet on
the banks and then could talk Of the
monks Of old. Of glee maidens. and the
days Of romance"
Uncle" said Mary. a. old Morley
came into the little room. "ean ! show
Mr.. Parker the abbeyf'
4 should think 50. indeed; l would
like to see the lass or lad. or parson IN
black for that matter, who knows
more about H."
And yet. in his way. he had really
fallen In love with Mary lockwood
He felt that he could sacrifice any
thing for her.
Al one moment he had half mind
70 tell who be really was and conn-
sci her TO accept the honest man
whom he had seen riding with her:
half a mind 10 advise her thus and
ride away back TO town. and leave
Yorkshire and BellIngham. and the
rest TO Foster: half 4 mind TO seek
other employment. to go to the Low
Countries and fight the Spanlards;
but his good emotions were as evan
eseent as was his character; and just
as he felt most penitent Mary looked
up at him with her blue eyes, and
seemed TO invite his further speech,
and with not a shadow OF reproaeh
in them for his quick. II not abrupt
declaration.
Il have heard Of love at first sight
and laughed at IT," she said. leaving
her hand In his. as he sat down By
her side, but I did not know what II
was"
And do you love met" whispered
Dick, ''as love your
Il think So" said the infatuated
girl
II Is always the case with your
strong-mlnded young women who Il
never going to marry; heart and fan
ey conquered. she Is utterly gone. hope
lessly a slave: her love is worship. he
devotion idolatry.
Mary. though she had only knowr
Dick Parker for a moment as II were
gave him her confidence as II they
had been brought up together from
childhood, as she and Jack Meadow
had.
DO you only think so?" he asked.
Il am sure So" she answered; ant
the bold wooer stole his arm rounC
her waist and kissed her.
She sat there as IL in a dream--thII
practical, clever. athletic horsewoman
this free, honest, open, fearless, mas
culine woman. as she loved to thlnl
herself-sat there with her hand In his
listening to his honeyed words, AM
answering them now and then ii
whispers, and feeling too happy TO
words.
There was a public footpath through
the abbey in those days. and whel
Jack Meadows years before had trie,
to make love to her, Mary had beel
very quick with excuses for not lolter
Ing. lest people passing to and fr,
should think II odd.
But with Dick Parker she though
Of nothing or Of nobody"
N They got Hp from her favorite seal
and walked along the chancel and In
to the chapter house. and away int,
the meadows, Mary telling Dick nos
and then some pieces Of interestinl
history connected with the ruins; b
responding with accounts Of the gaye
ties of London.
The sun was setting when they stoot
by the river at the spot where DIcI
had beeen lashing the quiet waters. Hi
picked up HIS creel out Of the grass
There was brace Of fine trout in Il
tribute rather to the river than e
the skill Of the angler. Dick packes
up his tackle, slung the creel over BIZ
shoulder. and fisherman and malder
wandered homewards through Iii.
fields.
1 The shadows fell soft and still ahoul
them as they crossed iLe bridge ane
entered the roadway opposite the INN
Already the bIinds were drawn. ana
the warm light from the autumn firel
made beacon OF the, house for tray.
elers In the coming darkness. Mr.
Taylor and his friend. Wilson. werG
in the bar, and so was Squire BellIns.
ham.
| "Ahl" said old Morley. when DIcE
with a laugh exhibited the results 81
his days sport, you should get Jacl
Meadows TO show you the way: ou
even our man Tom. I've known Ton
to whip out the brace OF three ana
four FOUNDERS many = time before
breakfast"
Eta not much Of fisherman. said
Dick. ''and I've been fishing part y
the day in the abbey, talking az the
days Of monks and Nuns, and aneienl
almoners. and the like, with cur III.
bostess.~
7 reckon Mary knows every stone
and eoFbel. ana shaft, and hFofer
arch, and ivy stem In the place snia
J Morley.