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

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 notunfrequently the ven
cradle spinster herself attended by
a familiar In the shape Of q little In
dian girl, Malta. the daughter Of
Pamesack. arrayed In she trinketry
Of her tribe-alIGhted from an ann
bling pony at the Cellector's door.
with face full OF the Importance Of
business. Perchance, there might
be an occasion OF merry. making Id
contemplation, and then the lady
Maria united in consultation with
sister Alice concerning the details
of the matter, and IL was debated,
with the elaboration 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 wei9hty
matters as have not yet lost their
claims to thoughtful consideration
on similar emergencies.
In the frequent interchange Of the
Offices ofgood neighborhood between
the families of.the Proprietary and
Of the Collector, " could scarce fall
out that the Secretary should not be
a 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 be
held TO his patron threw into his
demeanor reserve expressive Of
humility rather than OF diffidence;
but under this there breathed tenn
permanent deeply poetical, and q
longing for enterprise, that oil the
discipline OF bis 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 advep.
ture In the domain OF fancy, He
was thus far a dreamer, and dream.
cd Of gorgeous scenes and bold ex-
Faaiis and rare fortune. He had the
poets instinct to pereelve we peau.
tiful, and his fancy hung 1t with
richer garlauds and charmed him
.ato q worshipper.. A mute wor-
shipper he was, Of the Rose Of 81.
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 Secretary's
dream without leaving behind ar
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 Z
knowledge, flower Of such sur
passing loneliness should drink thu
GLORIOUS light In solitude-for SO he
schooled In populous cities. deemet
OF this sequestered province ant
with this thought came breathing
OF poetry which wrought trans
| figuration Of the young votary ant
lifted him out OF the sphere Of thil
"working.day world" Day aitel
day. week after week, and month
after month, the Secretary watchet
the footsteps Of the beautiful girl
but still IL was silent, unpresuminl
alteration. II entered not into BIZ
| mind to call II love; 1t was the very
humbleness Of devotion.
Meantime the maiden, unconscious
| OF her own rare PROJECTIONS. and In
nocent Of all thought OF this secre
homage, found Master Albert much
the most accomplished and gentle
youth she had ever seen. he had
without her observing how 1t be
came so, grown TO be. In some rela
ton or other, part and parcel Of hel
most familiar meditations. His oc
casioas OF business with the Collec
tor brought aim SO often 10 the Ros'
Croft. that II they happened no
every day, they were. at least. Incl
dents OF such common occurrencl
as TO be noted by no ceremony--in
deed, rather TO be counted on In thl
domestic routine. The Collecto
was apt to grow restless II. by an!
chance, they were suspended, as
was through the Secretary 3 mission
be received the tidings Of the tim
as well as the official commands O
the Proprietary; whilst Albert's un
obtrusive manners. his soft step
and pretensionless familiarity viii
the household put no one GU
Of the way to give him welcome
His early roaming 10 Summer
sometimes brought bin. at sunrise