Middletown transcript., 1903-07-25
CIT seems a pity. Think they
might have let him rest in
peace after 50 many years!
81 The, speaker-a tall

or nineteen-was lying on the
short green turf covering the
summito of the great chalk downs
which stretched below him II
gentle undulations until they
reached broad belt Of yellow
sandy seashore, on which the
ebbing tide was breaking in lazy
ripples.
Close to where the boy wa:
lying was a large barrow or hill
lock, in shape and size resem
bling nothing so much as a 81
gantic grave. 1t appeared tt
have been recently opened, fol
at one end the turf had been cut
away and then replaced, and the
grass looked brown and withered
It was on this that the lads eyes
were fixed, as he lay with his
elbows firmly planted in the tur1
and his head resting onhis hands
So there's another illusion
gone, he continued, in a half,
amused, half-aggrieved voice
L
and my grand old giant whom l
used to fancy lying here and
guarding the downs, with his
beautiful wives by his side, was
never a giant at all, but only a
SQUAT little dwarf! I wish that
old archeologist had been buried
himself before he came here to
disturb the faith of my childhood!
How many thousand years ago
did he say? Three? Three
thousand years! 1t seems i'm
possible!
When you have quite finished
talking to yourself, perhaps you
will answer my question! came
in an imperious childish voice
close at the lads side, and he
started and looked up dreamily.
He had been so engrossed with
his thoughts that for an instant
he was unable to do anything
but stare at the speaker. She
was a pretty child, with soft
brown eyes, and ruddy brown
hair hanging loosely over her
shoulders. She wore a riding
habit, torn in more places than
one, and in her hand she carried
a broken riding-whip. She was
evidently an impatient young
person, for, as the young fellow
hesitated and looked at her, she
frowned and stamped her foot on
the ground.
Why do you stare at me SO,
boy? Is-the impatient express
sion vanished and was replaced
by one of anxiety-is my face
scratched and bruised?
No-as far as I can see. You
have had a spill, | suppose?
is your pony?
At home, I dare say, by this
time, the girl answered, with a
little shrug of her shoulders.
She could not have been more
han nine or ten; but her man.
1er was so calm, self-possessed,
Ind womanly that she seemed
much older. They will be fright
aned out of their wits when Mol
y arrives without me, and think
am killed or badly hurt. Well,
t will serve father right! He
lad no business to send Jim into
own this afternoon when he
rnew that I wanted him!
You are alone then? the lad
.sked, looking curiously at the
pretty petulant face.
Yes. Jim is my groom, and
his afternoon father sent him on
N errand and said that I could |
i've up my ride for once, as the
'ther grooms were busy. 1 told
i'm that I should do nothing of
he kind, and so went round to
he stables and saddled Molly
myself and rode off without any
ne seeing me. But Isuppose-
nd the girls brows contracted
hat I must have had the girths
BOSE, for, as I was riding over
he downs, the saddle slipped
ound, and I was on the grass
efore 1 knew anything was
7rong.
Her companion looked at her
'ravely, but with an amused
in his eyes.
1t was judgment on you for
our disobedience, he said. Are
ou far from home?
I live at Durnford Hall, and my
anne is Hilda Sullivan.
The information was given
nth a comical important air and
7as evidently expected to i'm
ress the lad. Indeed he looked
little startled, and the interest
4 his face deepened.
Durnford Hall? That is fully
our miles from here as the crow