Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1890-12-25

aunt. for sOrely would we poor folks fare
these trOuboUS times were it not for Sir
Humphrey and his good lady"
"And yOu and your son are to come up
10 the Hall tomorrow night, at early
candle-light. and join in the merry max
ing in the big Kitchen" said Mistress
Margery.
Never fear. we will be on hand,
though verify | misdOubt Sir Humphrey
is as lightsome of heart as in years
agone. But how is your sister, Mistress
Elizabeth, this misty weather."
"Not so well as | could wish" sighed
Margery, the happy glow fading from
her face. "She declares that nothing
ais her. yet every day she gets thinner
and whittier, and seems to care not a
whit for Christmas mummingS. in which
she used to So delight"
"Alack, poor lady. No doubt she
pines for Master Harry. Sach a bonny
young gentleman as he was. and SO fond
of her, too. An. well-a-day. The king
is secure on his throne. but at a heavy
cost. | trow, Marry. Mistress Margery,
is it true that you have never heard
aught of the young master and know not
whether he be on earth or in heaven?"
Never a word, and his name is never
mentioned at Green Court. Sir Hum
phrey diSOwned him when he joined the
Duke If MonmOuth's army, and says it
is "a though he never had son."
~Alack, alack! And my lady?"
"Outwardly she agrees with her huS-
band. hut sometimes | fancy her heart
cries nay. though she be as Stanch 4
royalisU as any of us"
"Lack-a-mercy! But was she not a
mother firSt?"
It q, Goody, and much l wish my
CouS.a Hal had not been so hot
head, q and SO foolish in his attachment
To that willy pretender. But, bless me!
the shadows are falling and | must away
at once; 30 goodnight to We. and very
merry Yule."
1t was a clear, crisp Christmas Eve. in
the year of our Lord 1855, and the "peace
and goodwill" of the happy, holy season
came with peculiar significance after
the turbulent waves of strife. disSenSion,
and direst cruelty which during the past
twelve-mOnth had swept over the land
and through which James Stuart had
passed to the throne of England, which
he now held. as it were, at the point of
the sword.
But winsome, l3-year-old Margery
Dalrymple bothered her pretty head lit
tie about affairs OF state, as she skipped
lightly over the frozen ground in the
direction of the Hall, for her brain was
busy with things nearer home -iO,
no." she thought. "can Dame Creamy be
right and it be Hal Penderill that BesS
is wearying her dear heart out for!
Faith. and he was a merry lad,
and l loved him dearly myself.
/ wish / could learn some tidings
of him with which to bring back the
roses to my sweet sisters cheek, but
alas. | fear he is dead, or if not. Sir
Humphrey would never allow him to
enter Green Court. He is such stern
man and cares for scarce anything but
his dogs and the King"
These thoughts had hardly flashed be-
meath the brown curlS hidden in the blue,
wadded hood. when the little maid was
brought to a startled standstill, and
uttered an exclamation of terror, as a
dark figure suddenly stepped from be-
hind a tree and stood directly before her
in the lonely woodland path, saying in a
low whisper, Hist, Margery! For it is
Margery. swear. Dost thou not know
me. little one?"
at iS-yes. il must be Hall" gaSped
the girl, as soon as she found voice to
speak. But. lack-amercy, how you
frightened me. and why do you come here
in this secret fashion and that rustical
dress?" and the little lady glanced with
some diSdain at the young mans coarse
brooches and leather jerkin.
Because a fugitive dare not be seen
in velvet and lace ruffles: but, sweet