Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-02-25

~~NS~ II s24O l3os SofR kfUxU uUIG6,
some invitation OF friendship or let
ter Of counsel, furnished occasion OF
daily intercourse between the pa
troness and the maiden Of the Rose
Croft; and not unfrequently the veu-
cradle spinster herself attended by
q 'amiliar In the shape of little In
dian girl. Malta. the daughter of
Pamesack. arrsyed in the trinketry
OF her tribe-alighted from an am-
bling pony at the. Collectors door.
with o face full OF the importance of
business. Perchanee. there might
90 an occasisn of merry-making in
contemplation, and then the lady
Maria united IN consultaslou With
sister Alice concerning the details
OF the matter, and il was debated,
with the deliberation due to so in
teresting asubiect. whether Blanche
should wear her black or her Grim
son velvet bodice, her sarsnet or
her satin, and such other weighty
matters as have not yet lost their
claims to thoughtful consideration
on similar emergencies.
In the frequent Interchange of the
Offices Of good neighborhood between
the families Of the Proprietary and
OF the Collector, it could scarce fall
out that the Secretary should not be
large participator. The shyness
OF the student and the habitual self
restraint taught him in the seminary
OF Antwerp, in some degree screen.
ed from common observation the ar.
dent character of Albert verheyden.
The deferential relation which he
held to his patron threw into his
demeanor q reserve expressive of
humility rather than of diffidence;
but under this there breathed q TEN.
permanent deeply poetical, and a
longing for enterprise. that all the
discipline of his school and the con-
straint of his position could scarce
suppress. He was now at that time
Of life when the imagination is prone
to daily with illusions; when youth,
not yet yoked, to the harness
OF the worlds business, turns
its spirit forth to seek adven.
ture In the domain of fancy. He
was thus far dreamer. and dream.
ed OF gorgeous scenes and bold ex-
ploits and rare fortune. He had the
poets instinct to perceive the beau
tiful. and his fancy hung it with
richer garlands and charmed him
into a worshipper. A mute wor-
shipper he was. of the Rose of ST.
Mary's. from the first moment that
he gazed upon her. That outward
form of Blanche Warden, and the
motion and impulses OF that spirit.
might not often haunt the Sec retary 8
dream without leaving behind an
image that should live for ever in
his heart. To him the thought was
enchantment. that in this remote
wild. far away from the world s
knowledge, q flower OF such sur
passing loveliness should drink the
glorious light in solitude-for SO he,
schooled In populous cities. deemed
OF this sequestered province-and
with this thought came breathings
of poetry which wrought a trans
figuration of the young votary and
lifted him out Of the sphere OF this
working day world" Day after
day. week after week, and month
after month, the Secretary watched
the footsteps of the beautiful girl;
but still it was silent, unpresuming
alteration. 1t entered not into his
mind to call IL love; It was the very
humbleness of devotion.
Meantime the maiden, unconscious
OF her own rare perfections. and in
nocent Of all thought of this secret
homage, found Master Albert much
the most accomplished and gentle
youth she had ever seen. He had.
without her observing how it be.
came so, grown 10 be, in some rela-
tioD or other, part and parcel OF her
most familiar meditations. His oc-
casio1s OF business with the Collec-
tor brought him so often to the Rose
Croft. that II they happened not
every day. they were. at least. Incl
dents OF such common occurrence
as TO be noted by no ceremony-iu-
deed, rather 10 be counted on in the
domestic routine. The Collector
was apt to grow restless If. by any
chance, they were suspended, as il
was through the Secretary s mission
he received the tidings of the time
as well as the official commands of
the Proprietary; whilst Albert q un-
obtrusive manners. his soft step.
and pretensionless familiarity with
the household put no one out
Of the way TO give him welcome.
His early roaming in Summer
sometimes brought him. at sunrise,
beneath the bank Of Rose Croft.
Hhera he looked with fha adnnira