Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-01-22
CHAPTER XXI.
By Bertha III. Clay.

Win Lnclf VlSll0IB, were Ut Dcue
Abbey, within sight and sound Of the
evermurmuring sea. Miss Hatton
had tn ewhoe day to herself; she had
no great household to manage as at
Brentwood, she had no care about
the entertainment Of visitors; the
long, bright hours were hers, to spend
as she would.
Lady Maude Trevar had gladly ac-
cepted the duchess invitation; but
pretty May Luson had promised to pay
visit elsewhere, and could not break
her engagement The military ele-
ment had dispersed. Sir Basil Carl
ton had been delighted with her
grace's proposal to join the party at
the Abbey. He liked the duchess; her
kindly gracious manner pleased him;
he was touched by her great kindness
TO himself, although he did not know
the cause. He did not go with the
party from Brentwood, but he fol-
lowed them in few days. 1t was "A
wonderful change from the green,
sweet woodlands Of Warwickshire, to
the country bordering on a sunny
southern sea.
Dcno Abbey was n very old house,
one that hundreds Of years before had
belonged to an ancient order Of friars.
Bluff King Harry took possession of
IT, and gave II to one Of his favOrite
Courticrs. In course OF time IT came
into the hands Of the ROBcdene family,
who valued highly the grand old man
sion and magnificent estate, The
duchess always insisted upon spending
n few months there every year.
Modern rooms and modern Injuries
had been added to the old mansion,
but ii Rtill retained enough Of It's an
tquty to be one Of the show places Of
England,
From the windows, from the ter
races, from the grassy knobs in the
parS-from every part the sea was
Visible
Demo lay IN Sussex, near the little
town Of Southwood, which was favo-
rite watcringplac When calm,
the water of the Channel lay like fair
mirror In the distance, when IT was
rough the foam and the dashlng spray
seemed almost to cnvolop the Abbey.
There had been nothing wanting In
the poetry Of LEANS lovestory; but If
anything could deepen the romance Of
It, 1t was certainly the presence Of the
BEAUTIFUL, restless hcaying sea
The duchess had but ono notion of
I.tt q Il
was to give them perfect liberty. Some
liked the woods, some the yellow
sands, some the ovor.ChanEing sea
They went where they liked and did
as they liked which was the great
charm Of the place.
So Sir Basil who liked the sea, and
Leah, whose passionate soul delighted
in 1t were often on the beach to-
gether, They enjoyed the firm vel
low sands, the dancing, crested
waves the tall white cliffs covered
with luXuriant vegetation, the briny
odor Of the sea-brccze, the pretty
shells and pebbles on the beach. the
seawecd which drifted with the
waters They spent long hours to-
gether listening To the music OF the
waves ana talking OF the beauty that
lay around. Ana during THIS time,
while the s"a'gnIls whlred In the air
while the southern wind kissed the
waves NE heart OF the girl who loved
SIR baslI became so entirely his, her
NE so wholly wrapped in his that
death would have been caster than to
see MIN pass out OF IT.
The duchess remarked It, aud
mouruod over It, but did not inter.
ferc- II was too late But she said to
herself over aud over again that II
was ten thousand pitios Leah had so
much romance In her nature; she
would have been so much happier
had she boon moro like ordinary girls
Tho evenings NJ Dono wore dr,ipbt.
tut Ihe draWngroom was an i'm
mehSe apartments containing 1--WE
large windows FROM them one step.
ped ON to Il smooth, green lawn; and
from ia" lawn short pain led through
,,r,..... T., q.