Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-02-21
CHAPTER Iv-(Continued.)

Sea? l never heard Of one"
Easthill-on-Sea was about two miles
from Easthill proper, In the opposite
direction from Dynevor Manor and the
Uplands. Within the last few years
some spectators had got possession
Of land there, and were trying hard TO
convert what had been fishing ham
let into a watering-place. They had
not succeeded well, and the present
result was kind Of struggling. I'M
finished settlement, which was neither
town nor village. The old inhabitants
of Easthill rather made game OF the
new watering place. which will account
for Kitty's laugh.
II really don't know, Harold; 1
hardly ever go to Easthill-on-sea'
There may be half dozen schools;
but l hope not, for their proprietors
sakes, for can't imagine that any one
would send children there"
II think you're hard on the place,
said Harold. There's a very good
beach and a splendid air. l suppose
people are to be found who can DO
without niggers at the seaside
"Ah, but they'd want decent roads
and tolerable comfort" objected KITTY
land you know when It rains Eastnill-
on-Sea is almost a swamp. because no
one has made up the roads. Then they
only bake every other day, and the
butchers shop opens twice week. II
would take a good deal to make up ior
such drawbacks"
"It Is all SO unfinished" said Mrs.
Dynevor. "The roads are staked out
and imposing names painted on sign
boards, like Elm avenue" ana sea
View gardens but neither avenue nor
gardens boast a single house ana tne
roads are not even divided from each
other, except by few posts"
why are you SO suddenly interested
I'm EasthiIl-on-Sea?" demanded Kitty.
You can't possibly have been asked
To recommend any one a school there!'
"Oh, dear, no: but came home from
Marion by train. and girl got out
NJ our station who wanted to go 10
Easthill-on-Sea. She asked the porter
the way to Mrs. Tanners school. he
questioned the ticket collector, and
even the station master himself. but
neither of them had ever heard OF It.
I couldn't help feeling sorry for her
abe looked SO tired and sad. 1t must
be hard lines to come on long journey
and not find any one who can direct
you to your destination"
"Poor thingw said Kitty, and then
the subject dropped. None OF the three
guessed the influence the lonely little
traveller was to have on their lives. 1t
never dawned on Kitty that the I'M
known girl who was bound for school
no one had ever heard Of was to De
her dearest friend.
CHAPTER v.
Nothing will describe the desolation
which filled Beryl Lindon's heart
when she stepped on to the platform
et Easthill. She had left London filed
with the one desire Of escaping from
her father and stepmother. Ever since
abe heard Of the formers marriage her
one end and object had been to get
safely away from Elchester square. 1t
was only when she had actually start
ed. when Mrs. Markham's kindly face
was lost to sight. that she realized she
was going among strangers that a
new, untried life lay before her, with
not one friendly voice to brighten 1t.
It was a long, tedious Journey, and
involved two changes. Easthill was on
a branch line, at which only the slow
est of trains condescended to stop.
She was very plainly dressed In
black: but all her things had come
from a West End shop, and there was
an air Of distinction about her not
often seen in a lonely little third-class
traveller.
She was eighteen, though she looked
older-a very small, fairy-like crea-
ture, with soft, wavy brown hair, and
big, lustrous blue-grey eyes. Her COM
plexion was very fair, and had the
daintiest carmine tint.
She knew absolutely nothing OF the
country. Brighton, Brussels. where
she had been at school. and the tall
house in Elchester square had made
up her world. To find herself at a
little rustic station, with only few
cottages In sight. was almost alarming.
And no one at the station had heard
Of Mrs. Tanners school. That OF IT.
self was enough to discourage her.
Don't you be afraid. missile" the
station master said kindly. IF you
wrote to the lady, and she had your
letter, she must live here somewhere,
ana the postofice are the best people
TO help you ind her. You go straight
along this lane till you come to a sign
post, take the road marked 'Easthill-
on-Sea,' and presently you'll see four
or ave shops. The postofice 10 the
FIRST Of the lot. and they'll put you
right"
Beryl left her luggage to the porter's
mercy and started. The lane seemed
interminable. Perhaps in summer time
It was pretty; but It was late season.
and the trees were hardly In bud. Their
bare branches almost met in the mid
die Of the lane. looking very like black.
threatening hands uplifted against her
or Beryl thought SO. She reached
the sign post without meeting a single
creature; but another half-mile
brought her to the shops, and her heart
gave thrill of relief as she recognised
the postofice.
It was quite unlike any postofhce
Beryl had ever seen, being a cottage
with all business transacted in the
front parlor; while the room on the
opposite side appeared to be bakers,
one stale loaf and half dozen stodgy-
looking buns being arranged in the
window