The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-02-01

CHAPTER /
Ny father, though not a free-holder,
was a avorite tenant upon the vast
landed estates Of Lord Bothwick, an
English gentleman of naughty de-
' meanor, but Of more than average phil
authropy for person in his position,
who accorded to our family a house
more pretentious than our neighbors',
where 1 had lived from infancy to the
time Of the opening of this story in an
uneventful sort of way, quite common
to the English peasantry.
Somehow, I think it detraets from
the highest nobility Of men or women
to have been always so wealthy, through
no effort Of their own, that they are un-
able TO comprehend the needs Of those
who, having no ancestral inheritance,
possess nothing but the labor of their
hands, a large per cent. of which must
go continually to enrich the Golfers OF
the fortunately born, who are no better
in Gods eye than the humble serfs who
are taxed to support them.
I remember having been troubled
with doubts and wonderings from my
earliest childhood as TO way these things
should be.
My father was a handsome man, of
the fine old Scottish type, with broad
shoulders, erect carriage, blue eyes, au-
burn hair, and marked features. Ny
Lord Bothwick was his opposite in all
things, being little and stopped, with
crooked legs, thin, iron grey locks, cut
close, bristly side whiskers, and Moor
ish complexion.
1 used often TO look at the two men
and wonder if God had placed each in
his particular sphere. Perhaps my Gu
riosity on this point was enhanced by
certain half-whispered stories from the
servants at the castle, relative to a
tragedy said TO have been enacted in
the sepulchral vaults Of the old ruin,
adjoining the modernized structure in
which my lord resided. But Of these
ruins it will be time TO speak by-and-by.
was busy one day, raking hay. I
had not heard Of Maud Muller, and was
dreaming Of little else than a new rib
bon Of Scottish plaid which my father
had promised me when my stint should
be accomplished, when Lord Both wick
came dashing by upon his palfry, as
we call q steed in the north of England
followed by a bevy Of horsemen, with
their dogs and guns, all bent, as knew,
upon the chase.
Although my father was, as I said, a
favorite tenant upon the estate, living
in the best house and keeping his family
better than many of his neighbOrs upon
our limited income, yet we rarely had
meats, fish, game, or poultry for the Ia
ble, though the grand old woods were
alive with deer and pheasants, and the
brooks well stocked with trout.
"How I wish some of those young
men would capture hare and make me
a present for my mother" thought I,
as, leaning upon my rake handle, ]
watched them wistfully.
I suppose / was a rustic beauty. In
agine a maiden Of fifteen summers, with
complexion, like her fathers, so pure
and fresh that wind nor sun could tar
nish it; oval face, profuse blonde hair,
long and curling, bare feet, plump fig
ure, and dimpled cheeks. And ] was
neither tall nor short, though we'll
grown for my age.
One Of the young men who accompa-
MED my lord wheeled his horse half
round, and with jerk that threw the
beast upon his launches, halted and
gazed at me, as though he had read my
prayer.
Ny face tingled with bushes, but I
resumed my work, pretending not to
see him.
He put spurs to his horse and gal
loped on, his arms and clothing glitter
ing in the sun, and his horses hoof:
striking fire on the fiinty road.
4 "By George she's pretty enough fol
princess, but naughty as her majesty
the Queen % I heard him saw, as n,
Joined my lord in the edge Of the wooC
and disappeared with him in its shad
ows. Victoria had been reigning but
few months then, and everybody men.
toned her name whether upon anrro
pirate or Inappropriate occasions.
All me that was long ago.
CHOW 1 wish it might be my lot Il
become the honored aud protected wifi
Of q noble, kingly man like that -
said, half audibly, as the stranger rod
away. Then, ashamed that had a
lowed myself to harbor such a though
busted myself with my task, toilin
faithfully till the sun went down.
HMary - cried voice from the hous
which l knew to be my mothers.
Ididn want to obey, though have
devOutly as vainly wished, a thousan
times since then that had not yielde
then, or afterwards, TO my own desir
Then l should not have this story to n
late.
I leaned idly upon my rake handl
It would soon be time for the return