Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-01-15
MERIEWOOD CHASE.
An Epistle OF the Monmouth Re-
bellion.
CPAPTER I.

bellfon.
CPAPTER I.
BABY GLYN. =
Maurice Wardour, the young
squire of Layington, rode, one sum-
mer evening, to see his neighbors,
the Glyns of Merlewood Chase.
He was one of the many admir- ers
of Althea Glyn, his neighbours only
child, strange, fantastic little crea.
ture, as famous for her cruelty as
Barbara Allen. She did not know
of his love, nor did he intend she
should; for he was too proud to risk
sharing the fate of her other lovers,
and too humble to wish for better.
He was going to Merlewood Chase
this evening, not for any special pur-
pose--not simply for the dangerous
pleasure of seeing her-but rather
because it was time when neigh.
borly visits were peculiarly accepta.
BILE in that part of England.
1t was in the summer Immediately
following the Monmouth rebellion,
and Judge Jeffreys was on his ia.
nous western circuit, and the Court
house at Dorchester was hung with
scarlet. The fate of Lady Alice
Lisle-beheaded for simply shelter
ing fugitive-had sent gloom and
fear through all the country; and as
young Wardour rode along he saw
no merry children or lettering lovers;
but he saw, in more places than one
where the roads crossed, a sight
which sent his teeth into his lip, men
hanging in chains.
1t was death, instead Of love, that
presided that evening in the pleasant
lanes, among the bird-notes, and
flowers, and sweet odors.
The young mans ride was gloomy
enough, but as the woods of Merle
wood Chase appeared before him in
their soft twilight beauty, the world
beyond and all its troubles seemed
very far off-yague and unreal as
dream.
As he was crossing the high road
to Dorchester there dashed past him
horseman, at the sight of whose
face Maurice Wardour's brow dar-
kened. 1t was young man, whose
tiaxen hair and blue eyes gave his
face certain Saxon eomeliness that
did not at all belong to It's features,
which were irregular. coarse, and
mean. The youth was Althea's SER
want, and concerning him and his
young mistress there had gone
abroad certain whispers Wardour
found it as hard to forget as to be.
lieve, implying some inexplic able
dread of him on her part.
The dogs in the stable-yard came
jumping round him and barking JOY
fully; and as Wardour entered the
house he was met by his gray barred
master, whom the noise Of the dogs
had brought forth from supper.
What, Maurice = cried Sir Thomas
Glyn. | am right glad to see thee,
lad. There's nothing sweetens these
bitter times like the sight of friend
ly face
Maurice returned his greeting with
earnest, respectful warmth. In truth,
he was sincerely attached to the old
man, who, though an ardent sports-
man himself, was about the only man
In the country who understood and
respected the studious and peculiar
character of his young neighbor.
The dining hall of Merlew wood
Chase, into which Wardour now fol,
lowed his host, was decorated lavish.
ly with trophies of the hunt, and was
hung at one end with arras, on which
some fair ancestress of the Glyns had
embroidered pictures of her husbands
exploits in battle.
The supper party consisted only of
the master and mistress, and Father
Paul, the priest; but Wardour's eve
fell instantly on Baby Glyn, las her
father delighted to call her), sitting
at window in purple riding habit.
Her hat, with its dropping scarlet
feather, lay at her feet and noble
headed old pointer was stretched
asleep on the edge of her skirt. An
unwonted fit OF thoughtfulness pos
sessed her. The allowed Maurice to
stand unnoticed near her minute or
more, looking at her with a cold
smile, and heart full Of alteration.
The wild rose on Baby Glyn's
cheek was none the less bright for
appearing on a skin of tender olive
brown instead Of snow ana her
teeth, perhaps shone with a more
pearly wilderness for that very reas.
on. The expression of her small
red mouth was perfectly artless and
childlike, and her glances were also
simple and sudden, and free from
any sort of guile, though coming from
eyes of the true gazelle type-dark,
soft, and full of light that seemed
half dew, half fire. Her dark hair
was pushed from her small but high
brow, and hung in a wild mass be-
low her waist She rested her dim
pied chin on one hand as she looked
from the window, and held her beads
in the other.
TELL this for me, Althea,' said
Wardour, STOPPING and touching the
bead on her finger gently.
She look up and returned his smile
with heightened color and one of her
wild, sweet glanees. He thought a
tear was In her eye as she shook her
head and answered,
'Ah! Maurice, I need them all N.Y.
self
1t is an old problem said War
dour, half sarcasticaIly, that ques.
ton as to how sinners dare to hope
at all, since the condition of saints is
SO hopeless
Baby Glyn had suddenly fallen in
to a listening attitude, with her I'm
ger to her lip, and her head leaned
sideways towards the window.
Wardour heard no sound, and
wondered why she listened.
A look of disappointment came
over her face, and she turned away.
Il thought it was his horse she
said.
May l ask for whom i. is you
watch SO anxiously 2 inquired War.
| dour.
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