Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-07-15

said not a word, but stood liks . son1A
When looked could not So hsf. Thsa I
ran in the dusk to the foot Of tbs Lana. an
espisi the Aut.er Of her gown behind ths
bash-s Breathless overlook her.
That WAS rude speech Of thins, Mistress
Josephine. I would like thee to explain itI'
lad my fathsr's eyes, and they wore brave
ones; mind that she quailed little.
1T is no right Of thine to ask me ques
tions."
So l biased: Nor is it thine to make such
speeches. Mistress Josephine. I know well
that do not covet'
With all my quick wit and temper, l was
at times Of dull comprehension What my
lady meant by her uncivl sayings was
moro than / could make out in my mind
Curiously, too, as walked homeward, and
the fire in me- burned down somewhat be-
gan wondering at the strange prettiness Of
her face, that hal struck me suddenly. More
than ought else did it make me think Of
briar rose, which is delicate flower,
yet soft wildness, as though the wind loved
it Her hair and her eyes were brown, her
skin Of the same color She came by them
as she had come by her name-from her
French mother. l doubt not it was this
mother also who had left her the gift OF
DIRE sing cleverly, and tastes for scarlet and
yellow ribbons, and, moreover, high but
dainty way of carrying her head. Ever and
anon, too, striking into my thoughts, would
coms those words she had said, and they
smote me like q cold hand in the dark Yet,
by the time ! reached our own yard gate,
and saw the gables Of our house deep black
against the tawny west, was my happiness
come 10 me again. l fingered little with
out doors TO take a last look about me; for
dearly did love the sights and sounds Of ma
ture; and the small, sweet noises in the
grass, and the solemn yellow Of the sky, and
the smell OF the upturnei earth i'll my
fathers fields were precious to me. Priscilla
sat within, her knitting in her lap, but her
hands idle, singing one Of the beloved hymns
of good Richard Baxter Priscilla's voice
was sweet and low, and she sang very ten.
DERBY. Though it be long, long ago, yet do
well remember some Of the words she was
singing:
lChrist leads me through no darker rooms
Than He went through before;
And he that i'll Gods kingdom comes,
Must enter by this door,
The res. have forgotten.
About this time my mother fell sick, and
Priscilla and were kept sorely busy. More
illness, came visiting Us; and what, with the
nursing, the baking and staying indoors for
conversation, we had scarce breathing space.
Then it happened that it was many days
ere again saw Roger Stoughton. Then /
knew he was changed, and it grieved me-
He spoke but little to me. and very coldly;
once as l went by he half turned away and
spoke not all At church, when looked
across to where he sat under the great win
dow, felt that mine eyes were sorrowful
So began to consider whether it would not
be better for him and me to be no longer
lovers, and better for him to WOO some Lady,
and just here uprose his cousin Josephine to
my mind, and rebelled against her-some
young dame who was used to trailing about
in silken gowns, with hands hanging idle
beside her. / thought Of this till l could
think no more; then l went seeking for my
hawthorn blossom, and kissed it once and
again and again. and put my cheek down
upon it, "a though it were the face Of little
child
My mothers kinfolk departed, and June
and the lilies came instead. The grass out
in the lanes grew so tall that when folk
went through it they wers hidden to their
knees. And with the tall grass and the lilies
came a rumor to Sudbury town-the news
of Roger Stoughton's marriage.
$40 that slender, half English cousin Of
his" said my mother, who was the first to
hear of it. Il wish good luck 70 that fine
lad. Roger Stoughton.'
But my father, making a great noise with
his boots in the corner, and methought
watching rue through the noise. answered
her:
There be a fins lads as Roger Stcughton.
and as faithful
Now knew not, nor will ] ever know,
whether my father hal knowledge Of my
love for Roger Stoughton or not; however.
at times after, was he very tender To me.
We all went 10 the welding. Though my
heart broke, should Sudbury know it, There
were already some thistledowns Of gossip
floating with my fair name about the air.
Though the winds had roarel like wild beasts
# Bashan, and the fools poured their great
waters. yet ! would not have kept away
from Sudbury steeples.
Nv gown was gay with broideries brought
down fromLonion; l wore an ancient pearl
necklace about my throat. Did | Taught
My jests were remembered for many days
afterwarl. Did talki Yea, or else / should
have turned mai. In truth, all women DO
liars But in the nighttime. when no sound
was in the house, AMI the one star ] had
loved since little child flannel like a tall,
yellow candle out of the black poplar tops,
made fast the door OF my chamber md hid
my face in my hands Then my lying came
TO an end, then my s.-ength failed He
was not mine, but hers; what right had to
think logger % himi II he han lovaI Ter
more than me, was it not n mans part to-
ward her. What had to tell that he loved
me, Not a single word; only looks and
tones, and the feeling Of my rolr. foolish
heart. These questions l asked myself, and
after a while my stout viii and my pride
came back 10 me, AMI there in the dark l
fought my battle. l was not a religious
maiden like my cousin Priscilla, and trouble
was new to me and hard to understand
had only thes, two to help ma. Once,
across the dark and the silence I heard
the nightingale singing. There were
many of them abroad by night
in Sudbury woods, AMI | thought in my
misery that they Knocked at me. l stuffed
fierce fingers into my ears, yet heard them
still singing; or, as in the oil days Of child.
hood, broke into great fit of weeping.
When had wept till wa, weak, and felt
should never weep mora, the nightingales
were silent, and in the dim light the cocks
were Growing.
1t was some two or thres years afterward
that n low fever broke out in Sudbury town
Coils will.' the people said; but my
father asked them II it were God who had
made their drinking water foul, or kept
their lands from draining ), they callei
him blasphemous
Then there came word that Roger slough.
ton was stricken DOWN with the fever, and
moreover that ths maids had all fls ia their
fright from the vicarage
The vicar and Mistress Josephine with 4,G
little were gone on a Journey To the
south. by reason Of the old man being but
ailiny and fesb!e None VAS there 10 care
for him but an ancient nurse, who could
scarce TO see across a floor.
sharp sword ran through my i,eart at
this news. | ma lie resolve to 60 to him
sail not a word To my mother, tut went
and sought Priscilla. She was out in our
garden, among the fair ami white lilies, and
there told her
Col bless thee said Priscilla
| turned when | reached the cate and |
looked backed ut the old houss. AMI the |
d ark trees. and the felis where my father |
was reapins grain. IL cume to me that |
might never see them more. Aud Priscilla |
stood like a lily among tas lilies, the wind |
blowing her pale hair abcu. her slender !
white throat Then went lack and kissei |
her
What followed after did always seem a.
though it hal not befallcR me, Persis Carew. |
n