Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-03-31

NJ. L,aksley, kindly, it's kind y faint
you've been in
NO" said Mary Owenson, shudderinp, 'I
can walk well enough-only let me get out Of
the shadow Of this house"
And no entreates on the part of the kind
hearted servants could dirsuade her from
her purpose. She passed slowly down
through the strawberries, carrying her i'm.
fs III her arms, with her chin dropping Oh
ht. breast, and not a yestige of color in h,r
face.
Sir Roy Farfax watched her from his libra
ry widow, with a curious smile upon hIs
perfectly sculplu ed lips.
'One or two such lessons as this will have
better effect upon these troublesome
posvhers." ne Thought, ethan all the empty
threats in the world. 1t was time. They
needed it,"
He rose and entered his wifc's apartment.
Lady Fairfax was sitting with book III hel
hand. She glanced up as he closed the door
behind him.
II thought heard some one scream,
Row. she said anx ously. WHAT was the
maitei?'
ut was only Owenson's wife; naturally she
is a little annoyed at the idea Of her lord and
master being lmmured in the Varrick jail foi
six months" answered Sir Roy, lightly.
But you are not in earnest, Roy" exclaim-
I'd Lady Fairfax, with her brown eyes wide
open.
Sir Roys brow slightly contracted. "Why
should | not be in earnesP The man has in
Cured the penalty OF the law; there is no
reason that he should be allowed to escape
it,"
'But 1t is Owen Owenson!"
Very well; | don't see what difference
that makes"
Roy" pleaded Lady Fairfax. "you will in
II in h., r,o,,t. b.bon ,rult
never allow HIM to be imprisoned Tor 30 long
time"
"Maran," raid her husband, "you are lit
tie enthusiast, but you mustn't let old Els
peth's smooth tongue convince You that black
Is white aud white is black. NIB dv can in
fringe the Jaw Of the land without suffering
forit.
Bat his wife, Roy, and the poor little
child"
They'll do vel enough" said Sir Roy, in
differen ly. 'Genera laws must bear hard or
particular cases, OF coursel Why, Marian,
nv darling. you are cryln2!'
Lady Fairfax rose, with her fair cheek
flushed, and her soft eyes glistening ah,l
luminous with tears.
Roy she cried, ''lay aside for an ipstan t
thy u'-rciess executioner, the rigorous mag
lstr e, and be man, feeling for his fellow
meul For my sake, Roy, let this poor fellow
go unharmed."
"My lit lie wife is unreasonable now" said
Sir Roy, in voice whose velvet smoothness
| concealed his iron purpose, AS leaning slr
face OF water hides the cruel point OF rock
beneath. "You are no Judge OF the exigenciee
of cas- like this. would do much for your
sake. Marian, but cannot step aside from
the rlain rath Of duty"
"But it is not duty Roy, 1t cannot be !
Duty is not vindicative-it is not unteel ng J.
What can a little petted bird like Won know
about these mooted points laughed Sir Roy,
batting his wte's cheek. "Here is your pony
carriage now-and YOU are not ready. No"
M he caught the wietful look in Lady Fair
fax's eye, "the question is laid on the table
once for all; 1t is useless to discuss it fur
Their ~
"You will not spare him ?"
{" arM not spare him !"
And when Sir Roy spoke in that tone, his
wife knew that he was paat all melting or
moving
twas few weeks after This that Mrs. Whar-
ton came in to brush out her ady'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
mo-" SAID Lady Fairfax, langu.dly, as she
turned the pages OF her book. is 1t any
thing PARTICULAR
"Well, my lady" answered Wharton, de-
| lighted to be able to impart piece of fresh y
cleaned news, "Margery, the scullery maid,
| has lust come up from 0wenson's cottage.
and she says they're in dreadful way therel''
"What is the natter asked Lady Fairfax,
moving her head SO suddenly that tbs half
plated braid was jerked out OF Wharton's
hands.
"Oh nv LADY," cried the maid, II beg your
pardon hope didn't hurt you"
"No, 40 1T was nsthing; tell me what you
were going to say"
eyes. my iady-well, you see they've been
havn' the typhoid fever in Varrick, and some
way it got into the jail-and Owen Owenson,
the poacher, my lady, you knew-he WAS one
of the first as took it, and he's dead"
Dead is he2 Poor Mary !" cried Lady
Fairfax with genuine commiseration.
"Yes, my lady, 1t was awful sudden like, and
they say she's well-ngh crszed. But old Els-
18th, she don't say word -sne Just sits and
looks straight afore her, our Mary says iPr
iearsome to see her, AMI che, az YOU may
say, nigh upon hundred years old'
Lady Fairfax started no.
IL must go and see them, Wharton"
The maid elevated both her hands in the
air.
"Oh, my lady, not to'nlght-and the frost
in the air, and the park rs dark as Egypt, Sill
Roy would be very much vexed, my lady"
Lady Fairfax passed out OF the dressing
room into the drawing-rooms, where the air
was filed with summer warmth--and the per
tume of newy-cut roses and helitrope, which
filed the vases on mantel and bracket, while
the waxed lights shone softly along the walls.
A low clear fire burned in the CRATE, and
Lady Fairfax stood an instant, gazing into its
red embers.
81 wish Roy would come" she murmured,
"Griffiths, !" to the cd butler, who at that mo-
ment made his appearance to light the cor
rider, sis he drawing room clock right"
my lady, it is eight O'Clock will it please
your iadyship to have dinner served2 think
nay master must have been Unexpectedly de-
tanned.
81 will wait for Sir Roy
| Lady Fairfax's tone was 80 decisive, thai
Grlfli his left the remonstrance he was pre-
pared TO hazard entirely unspoken, and re-
tired with an obsequlous-
"Asyou please, my ladyW
Left to herself, Lady Fairfax took mp {
book and began to read, but her thought,
wandered away from the printed pages, anC
- Il, -. 4.