A Daughter Of The Druids by Alice K. Hopkins

Author:Alice K. Hopkins [Unbekannt]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Publisher: Jazzybee Verlag
Published: 2014-06-23T00:00:00+00:00

X – Night in the Coombe

OCTOBER had come and nearly gone, lending all its glory of color to Kymber Woods. It was a yellow autumn, because a late one; for no heavy or sudden frosts had burned the forest to a crimson glow; instead, it was rejoicing in every tint from the palest gold to the richest umber.

The cool atmospheric currents from the north filled the air with that positive life-giving element which we call ozone, the property of that higher region which is equilibrium itself. Fittingly is October designated "Month of the Holy Angels," for Nature has then put on her spiritual garment, because her forces have attained the equipoise of the Balance. In other words, she has conserved them for her higher and more perfect expression.

Nothing had been heard from the Baron since the early spring, and the hope that he was still living was slowly dying out in his daughter's heart.

Though she said nothing of the burden of anxiety and sorrow which she was bearing, it was apparent, as the weeks went on, in an increasing delicacy of appearance. Her spirit, under the strain, was throwing off the fleshly bonds with a precipitancy which periled the physical.

Janet watched her young mistress, whose mood she could not understand. As if seeking in work distraction from her grief, Allice spent the greater portion of the day, and often the night as well, at her writing table. Whatever the employment was to which she had flown, it seemed to afford full occupation to her mind.

"Do not disturb me, Jan; I have a great deal to do and must not be idle," was, in effect, her response when the old nurse remonstrated with her for confining herself so closely.

When she did seek relaxation from her literary labors, it was to walk for hours alone in the wooded paths which had been her father's resort, until Janet, growing anxious, would make some pretext for seeking her there, and thus win her from her solitary ramble. This growing pensiveness on her mistress' part was a great grief to Janet, who would far rather have seen her give way to occasional outbursts of sorrow.

A high wind had been blowing all day, bearing showers of leaves to the ground, and whirling them about in eddies on the lawn. Allice had been housed since early morning, but, as evening drew on, she found a strange fit of restlessness coming over her, with a sense of loneliness which she could not shake off.

"I believe I will go to the coombe, Jan. I must be out of doors; the house stifles me. We shall not feel the wind in the ravine, and we can take plenty of wraps with us. You will go with me, will you not, Jan?"

Janet very well knew what this meant; and that was nothing less than a stay of a part of the night, at least, in the mountain cleft, where she had spent so many hours with her young charge both as child and maiden.

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