The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-07-12
CHAPTER XVIII.
Olive Life in Devonshire.

BY the middle of May John Castle
maine and his daughter had settled
at Vale Linden, an old family man
sion situated amidst beautiful and
romantic scenery. Even Devonshire,
the garden of England had no
more attractive pace to offer. From
the front of the house Olive could
see a wide panorama OF beautiful
country Immediately beyond the
lawns stretched the park, dotted
with giant trees, such as can be
seen only in southern and west
ern counties of England. Beyond
the park was fine undulating
country of wooded dells and rlIh
pasture land Here and there she
could see the farmsteads nesting
amongst the trees, while still beyond
was the vast stretch of the moors
fast becoming a great blaze of
golden and purple glory. Everywhere
the birds sang gaily, while the air
was filled with the perfume of the
flowers.
Spring comes early in Devonshire
biting in the more northern coun-
ties it is balmy and caressing there.
Mot 10 a., i,it 10
elements which are supposed to be-
lCng to the north There Is no
air in England more invigoratins
than that which sweeps across Dart
moor, and yet you feel that all ma
During the first few weeks of
Olives residence in her new home
it was a constant revelation of new
wonders. Day by day she wandered
along the lanes, and through the
fields, almost unconsciously revel-
ing in the unfolding life around her
Primroses simply bedecked the
hedges, while the whole countryside
was ablaze with wild flowers. She
heard the ploughboys singing in the
fields, and watched the lambs sport
ing in the meadows; she listened to
the River Linden singing it's way
into the sea, and breathed the air
of healthful restfulness which per-
vaded the whole country side.
John Castlemaine had acted wise
ly in buying Vale Linden. Knowing
his daughters beauty-loving nature,
he had been right in believing that
if anything could divert Olives
mind from her sorrow, it would be to
place her in surroundings like these.
1t seemed almost providential that
the past which brought news of Lei
cester's death also brought him the
letter telling him Vale Linden was
for sale, and as he watched the good
effect that the place was having up-
on her, he rejoiced that he was a
rich man, and thus able to obtain
what would have been impossible
to one who was poor. Not that John
| Castlemaine was blind to the sense
of his responsibilities as a rich man
he used his money wisely and
well, and while he did not appear
before the public gaze as a philan-
thropist, few men worked harder
to use his money in order to min
lister to the needs of humanity than
he. He never advertised himself
in the newspapers, nevertheless he
regarded himself as a steward of
the Almighty and used his money
| accordingly. In buying Vale Linden.
therefore, while he was anxious 10
please and help his daughter. he
was not forgetful of his duties TO.
wards those who lived on the es.
tate. Indeed, he felt sure that it
would not only be in the new scenes
but in the new duties which would
appear to Olive. that she would find
that healing which she needed.
Nevertheless for the first few
| weeks he rejoicevd to see her rev.
]