Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-08-15
CHAPTER w.


slble the events that took place the
week following Lola's fight, not be-
cause find them lacking in interest,
for, indeed, these We're the happiest
days I have ever spent, but because
the lengthy description would unduly
retard the progress of the history |
have set myself to narrate.
On the morning of the 18th, search
was made for Lola. She was not in
the house. A little after midday. one
of the keepers, sent out to explore the
Abbey woods and park, reported that
he had seen the fugitive in the fir plan!
tation, about half a mile from the
Abbey. At sight of him she had
"scuttled" away like young deer,
but he, obedient to orders, had not
pursued her.
"Its the smell of the pines as drawed
her there" said the Judge; "she was
born amongst 'em, she has lived
amongst 'em, and she loves 'em more
than laces and satins, and picters, and
sich like; and it's more nat'ral for the
little cuss to sleep on the brown
needles than in feathers. There's no
tamin' her. It's instinc', ell, like foul
weeds in a fair pasture, there's no
gettin' it out of her. Leave her alone.
sir, and she'll come in when she's
hungry, and then l will larn her the
iniquity of ongratitudc.'
xvnnt In hrQ xn
TO Southampton, driving very slowly
through the woods, with the possibility
of being seen by Lola, who would GER
tainly then have followed us, but we
saw nothing of her. At Southampton
we bought decent clothes, and spent
some time in the hairdresser's. had
my beard shaved Off, and we returned
to the Abbey very much altered for
the better in appearance.
Miss Lascelles was much distressed
about Lola, who was still absent.
Bruce's explanation Of her leaving the
Abbey seemed a reasonable one, but
her antipathy to Miss Lascelles which
led her to destroy the things she had
given her. was to me a mystery, to
Miss Lascelles, also. believe. and a
very painful one. She seemed to feel
herself in some inscrutable way re-
sponsible for the girls action.
Sir Edmund returned In the evening
from London.
"Now, indeed, you look yourself-a
gentleman" he said, shaking my hand
cordially. He had made inquiries re'
specting lapidary, and learned that
the most expert known to the trade
was man named Carvalho, then occuA
pied at Madrid. With our sanction hd
wrote at once Offering this man hls
own terms TO come to the Abbey and
cut the Great Hesper.
At night the door by which Lola was
supposed to have escaped from tie
Abbey was left open, and night light
was placed in her bedroom.
The next morning the dairymaid said
that some one had been at her milk
pans in the night; there was no othef
evidence of Lola having entered thu
house. After breakfast | determined
to 60 through the woods myself in
search of her. Miss Lascellcs wished
to accompany me. I ought to have
pointed out to her that her company
lessened the chances Of Lola suffering
me to approach her. but l could not de-
prive myself the pleasure of having
such a sweet companion. We saw
Lola at the edge of Il clearing on the
hill side. She watched us as we drew
near. l called to her, but she shook
her head, and turning her back upon
us quickly disappeared among the
pines. The forlorn condition Of the
girl, her gesture, which seemed full of
sadness; the silent fall of leaves; the
tristness of the autumn woods, over
came Miss Lascelles, and as she
walked silently beside me. with her
head bent. | saw that she was crying.
This episode made a deep impression
upon me; yet while my heart ached
with sympathy for the poor little saw
age wandering alone in those silent,
still woods, an indescribable happiness
stole over my senses. 1t was the
awakening of love-
Sir Edmund had basket of food
placed in the dairy, and the doors again
left open.
On the 18th we learned that some
bread and fruit had been taken from
the dairy in the night. Sir Edmund
md l walked through the woods; we
saw nothing of Lola. Our conversa-
ton turned upon his daughter, and he
told ME how she had consolcd him for
the loss Of his wife.
He spoke with natural pride of her
sweet and loyal disposition. Later on.
falling upon the subject of the great
diamond, he asked me how | came to
be a miner. l told him of my loss by
the failure of the Imperial, of the i'm
possibility of my getting my living us
IL clerk. etc. INCIDENTALLY | referred
TO my mothers Family, and the name
leading him to make further inquiries,
he discovered the curious fact that my
mother must have been his wifes cou.
sin. How often do we find large cir
cles of friends linked together in this
way! | thought that Miss Lasceles
was greatly pleased with the discov-
cry of the distant relationship exist
ing between us; we seemed less remote
from each other.
During our absence Miss Lascellcs
had devoted herself entirely to Van
lIoeck: her sympathy had a remark.
able effect upon this strange man.