Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-12-22
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THE DIARY OF MARGARET READE;
AFTERWARDS MRS. LAKE, OF NEW LONDON, IN
HIS MAJ'TY'S COLONY OF CONNECTICUT
EDITED BY MARTHA RUSSELL.
1COntinued.-

next moment, the doOr was pushed open, and
in stalked old Lawaine l was as much
-amazed as if it had been his ghost, for he hath
not left Netherfeld for years but the look of
his friendly eyes, as he laid his nose on my
knee, treasured me and, somehow, this proof
of the poor dumb beasts love did touch my
heart deeply, and flung myself down beside
him, and burst out weeping l had not shed
tear since that night, but it did seem as if
they would never stop now. had no shame
before my shaggy old friend tor there was no
scorn or contempt in his eyes, But finally, 1
heard some one draw long sigh behind me,
und felt sure that my Husband was there,
even if he had not said, in that low, sweet
voice which did once hold such a spell over
me-the memory of which now did but en-
nance my misery-"Is the Dogs love, then,
of SO much more worth than the Masters (?
Why not spurn him. too ?'
Because, the poor beast is honest and kind
He lacks the grace of glozing tongue to COW
er selfish heart p l said bitterly.
lifted my head and faced him as spoke,
and feeling OF gladness touched me, for
could see that my words moved him, cold and
hard as he is. His pale face grew flushed for
an instant; and then, the red flash went away
and lett it so white and sharp, and oh so thin
Even his voice seemed changed, and it shook
like woman's, as he said
Margaret why will you Judge me thus
What have l DONE than you cannot trust me ;
that you will not believe me when | tell you,
that l have disappointed you in this matter,
not because | ,oould, but because l must ?"
It -
strange as it may seem, did calm and cool my
heart. All the stories of mems msdoings
that l had heard came to my mind in the guise
Of Messengers of Hope, instead of their own
proper backness, and | said eagerly
"Tell me truly, Philip only ask after
what was my own Were you in debt when
we married Had you been foolish or un
lucky or guilty or did you risk money in
any scheme for the good of the Settlements,
which has failed? Tell me, pray your
His face quivered and cleaned for second,
and then the light died out into that cold, grey,
hopeless look, and he said firmly: "No, Mar
garet, no. should scorn to take what was
yours without your consent but if sin be more
worthy of forgiveness, forbearance even, than
misfortune. then, i could almost wish myself
guilty"
l could not help plying him; my own mis-
cradle Heart plead Tor him and went toward
him crying: "rhen you will not try me far
ther, Philip! You will let me have White
thornes or you will, at least, tell me the true
reason of your denial"
What fool was! My words might as
well have been flung out against the great
black moors He only covered his face, say.
ing 81 have no other word, Margaret; again,
it may not can not bel If you would not
drive me mad, pray you urge it no more"
He would have drawn me to him, but l
turned away in disgust. He does not misiudge.
do think could forgive anything, even sin
against me, better than the cowardice that
bushes for its own baseness while it has not
the spirit to own it. A servant came to fetch
old Lawaine, before night, and then was
again alone.
Nor 2Oh-I felt deathly sick this morning
but did my best to conceal it from my hus-
bands eyes, and succeeded but ill, | suppose,
for, not long after he left the House, Mistress
Joan made her appearance, from Nethertield,
with divers condiments and herbs, and took
occasion to heal the wound inflicted on her
Dignity by her old Mistress in thus sending
her forth, by veXing me with her questions
and orders. / was miserable enough, without
her; so | fatty refused to take one of her
doses, or to receive anything from her hand
save a little note from Esther, which | had not
life enough to read and the Dame left in high
dudgeon. l have nothing but my time left,
and will not be drenched into stupidity
December l0M-The troublesome times have
proved of kind aspect to me, i'll SO far, as they
do restrain the Gentry from much visiting !;
but some few of the old friends of my Illus
bands family. have called, quiet bodies
enough yet TO-DAY, when my little maid,
Bessie came to tell me there was Company
below, / did go slowly enough for did never
care for Strangers, and the task is doubly hard
now. But, oh, how my heart did jump when
/ found Mr.. Westcott and his wife, Amy Lat
timer that was, sitting in my Parlor. never
thought to feel such joy again, and they were
so glad to see me, too. Ann, that did use to
think SO bold and stiff in her ways, now, was
SO soft and tender and loving, that l could but
wonder over her and she had been wife al
most as long as l Surely all marriage does
not end the same way; or, mayhap, her time
is vet to come. The Master of Cottiswoode,
had put off some of his dignity, which was
wont to keep Guy and me in such awe, and
seemed happy as Boy. | tried hard to call back
the old lost image of the Peggy Reade they
once knew ; but think they were not quite
ready to take it for the true one, for did note
them glancing quickly and questionngly at
one another, several times, and when Wescott
went out to give some order about his horses,
Ann spoke Of my falling offin flesh and health,
and would have queried me closely about it,
had not put her off with a careless answer
and left her no time to speak of aught but the
people and the doings at Ryal-side How it
pIaddened me to hear that uncle was about as
Strong as ever, and Guy growing so handsome,
the pride of the country side. All, why did
ever come away from them! They, the West
cots, were on their way to that property OF
his. in the North, which had been in the Law
when Philip saw him some weeks since, at
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