Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-03-31
CHAPTER III.

cit is true. Sir Royi oh, Sir Roy. tell me
il they've deceived me, or II it ia rSsl, solemn
truth! 1t seems like l can't believe it, be-
cause"
why am disturbed in nay OWE study?'
Sir Roy Fairfax's voice raised In anger, and
Sir Roy Fairfax's incensed brow would have
been appalling to most people, but Mary
| 0wenson did not finch, standing there with
her little babe pressed close to her breast
She was a pretty, slender young woman.
rather wan and pale, but possessing certain
grace, like the uncultured birch tree OF the
woods, and her dress, of some coarse wooden
material, half hidden by red shawl drawn
over her head, was singularly picturesque.
81 knew it couldn't be so, Sir Roy" c0ur-
tesying TREMENDOUSLY as she spoke. ''What's
hare, or partridge to you, sir, as has woods
and covers full of 'em, compared to my mans
life-for he'll die, sir, him as was always livin'
| in the fresh air, If you shut him mp in a Jail.
Ii wasn't that he meant to do any harm, sir,
but them Radical ale-hcuse meetin's, cir, why
they'd lead anybody astrayl He'll be safe
not to do it again, sir-I1l pawn my word for
| that"
HE ,cll be safe, if there be safety in bolts
and bars" said Sir Roy ''The sentence of
/ lhe law has been passed upon him-he must
abide the consequences Of his own act"
''But you'll interfere, Sir Row" cried Mary
Owenson, with white, startled face. '.Oh,
Sir Roy, for the sake OF your own bright
| lady, and the bonnie babe that's coming to
glad the old Hall, don't let them take the
bread out Of my mouth and this little one'sl
We haven't done no Ill TO the lawi And the
old grandmother that nursed my lsdy's own
mother when she was child You wouldn't
send old Eispeth's Kin to jail-and AL for tho
rabbit or so, cE maybe bird. as would never
be Iaissedl"
MARY" said Sir Roy, quietly, "what is the
use OF making scene like this, and giving
me unnecessary annoyance2 Your husband
knew what he was doing, and he is no child
to be left off from the consequences. or
course I shall not interfere"
Mary Owenson rushed forward with low,
gaspy cry, and fell literally at Sir Roy's feet
| threw her arms around his knees, while the
| little babe, cast recklessly from her arms,
crept over the carpet, catching at its CAV
roses and cooling rs it wentl
''You can't mean il, walled poor Mary; sit
| isn't him you're punishin' alone-it's me and
the little one You wouldn't see us starve,
Sir Roy I'll not let 60 your feet, Sir Roy, till
| you promise. I'll not rise till have it from
| your own lipsi"
Her voice gradually raised; it bad reached
an ssonized shrek. Sir Roy pulled the bell
| rore :-.'n an angry Jerk.
"Bulworth," he said to the man who an-
swered the peal, ''let the servants come and
carry this screaming idiot away"
But Mary Owenson was not screaming now.
Apparently the force OF her entreaties had
exhausted her, and she lay Qulet-Qulet ana
motionless on the floor, as the servants gent
ly lifted he and carried her away. Bulworth
himself came back after the little child, who
sat cOoing on the carpet as il the whole scene
had been farce gotten up for its especial
benefit.
poor little mite,r said Bulworth, as he
deposited his tiny bundle in the housekeep-
ers room, cit do seem hard But, Sir BOY,
he's like a block ofiron-you can't move him,
when once he's set his foot down. There,
there. Mary Owenson, drink drop % wine as
Mrs. Locksley's holdin' to your ips-it'll do
you goodl"
But Mary pushed the glass away with
hand that the housekeeper could feel was as
cold as stone.
''Not in this house, she said, in strangely
altered voice, cit would choke me. Give me
the child, and let me gol'
you'd better rest a while, first" pleaded
NJ. Lccksley, kindly. it's kind o. faint
you've been in
''No. !" said Mary Owenson, shuddering, ''I
can walk well enough-oply let me get out of
the shadow Of this house !"
And no entreaties on the part OF the kind
hearted servants could dissusde her from
her purpose. She passed slowly down
through the strawberries, carrying her in
FAINT in her arms, with her chin dropping on
her breast, and not q vestige of color in her
face.
Sir Roy Fairfax watched her from his libra
~ window, with curious smile upon his
perfectly sculptured lips.
zone or two such lessons as this will have
better effect upon these troublesome
poschers," he thought, ethan all the empty
threats in the world. 1t was time. They
He rose and entered his wife's apartment.
Lady Fairfax was sitting with book in her
hand She glanced up as he closed the door
behind HIN.
81 tnought I heard some one scream,
Ffr.r- .t.o
matteri'
''It was only Owenson's wife; naturally she
is a little annoyed at the idea of her lord and
master being immured in the Yarrick Jail for
six months, answered Sir Roy, lightly.
''But you are not in earnest, Roy" exclain- |
ed Lady Fairfax, with her brown eyes wide |
open.
Sir Roy's brow slightly contracted. "Why |
should not be in earnest? The man has in !
Cured The penalty OF the law; there is no
reason that he should be allowed to escape !
it,"
''But it is Owen Owensonl"
Every well; don't see what difference |
that makes"
Roy" pleaded Lady Fairfax, "you will in !
terest yourself in the mans behalf-you will |
never allow him to be imprisoned for 30 long |
time"
MARIAN" said her husband, "you are lit |
tie enthusiast, but you mustn't let old Els
is white and white is black. Nobody can in !
fringe the law OF the land without suffering |
foris
.'But his wife, Roy, and the poor little
childi'
''They'l do well enough" said Sir Roy, in
differently. "General laws must bear hard on |
particular cases, Of counsel Why, Marian,
nv darling, you are cryingl"
Lady Fairfax rose, with her fair check
flushed, and her soft eyes glistening and
luminous with tears.
"Roy," she cried, clay aside for an instant
istrate, and be man, feeling for his fellow
menl For my sake, Roy, let this poor fellow
60 unframed"
my little wife is unreasonable now" said
Sir Roy, in 3 voice whose velvet smoothness
concealed his iron purpose, as cleaning sur
face of water hides the cruel point OF rock
of case like this. I would do much for your
sake. Marian, but / cannot step aside from
the plain path Of duty"
"Bnt it is not duty. Roy, it cannot be
Duty is not vindicative-it is not unfeelingl"
"What can q little petted bird like you know
about these mooted points, laughed Sir Roy,
patting his wife's cheek. "Hsre is your pony
carriage now-and you are not ready. No."
as he caught the wistful look in Lady Fair
fax's eye, "the question is laid ca he table
once for all; it is useless to IL uss it fur
t1cT
''You win not spare him7"
trM not spare him !"
And when Sir Roy spoke in that tone, his
wife knew that he was past all melting or
movingi
1t was few weeks after this that Mrs. whar-
ton came in to brush out her lsdy's abundant
brown hair, and dress it for the late dinner at !
the Hall.
"Have you heard what has happened, my
LADY," she asked, with the privileged familiar
ity of an old servant.
NO" said Lady Fairfax, languidIy, as she
turned the pages OF her book. SIS it any
thing particular" |.
s'Well, my lady," answered Wharton, de-
lighted to be able to impart piece of freshly
cleaned news, "Margery, the scullery maid.
has just come up from Owenson's cottage, |
and she says they're in . dreadful way therel" |
what is the natter" asked Lady Fairfax, |
moving aer head so suddenly that the half |
plated braid was jerked out OF Wharton's
hands.
"Oh. my ladyl" cried the maid, 81 beg your |
pardon hope didn't hurt you"