The record-union., 1891-12-26


beating, throbbing hearts leapt and quiv-
/ cred with one anxious dread.
/ I'VE must conceal ourselves" whiS-
/ pered Dorothy. For the love of heaven,
no word, Ralph.'
Sweetheart" he answered, there is
! yet time Leave me; you can reach the
farmhouse where your horse waits before
my pursuers gain the forest. There may
! be danger for you if YOU remain
Then wan smile crossed her face. and
she shook her pretty head, the which
caused the merry curls to dance and Jig
around her drows-a frolie much at yari-
| ance with the sadness that lay on them.
Il shall remain with you" she said reso-
lutely; and he was fain to let her bide.
Therefore, they sought my shelter. and
concealed themselves as best they could
amongst my boughs. They sat close,
supported by strong branch, his arms
/ around her, both silent with great fear
And the sound grew nearer and nearer
until the noise Of the horses hoofs ever
approaching seemed like blows of a ham
mer falling on the green sward. And
could hear these two anxious hearts
beating in unison; and i conld see their
faces, hers drawn with anguish and fear
for the safety of the man she loved, and
his full OF passionate, seIf-forgettlng de-
votion. She bent forward straining her
eyes, he held her hand, and neither ut
tered a syllable.
And now the sounds grew more dis
tinct, as did those poor lovers heartbeats.
Then there came borne upon the wings
of the wind (methinks my faithful friend
| stroye by such means TO warn us of our
impeding peril, stray sentences and
cruel laughter. Once the deep baying Of
a hound caused the girl to shiver with
such dread that Ralph Andover was fain
TO whisper Though such whisper might
have cost him his life, "'Tis no blood
TO smile an answer. Nearer and nearer
came the sounds. and the outlines of
human forms grew clear. Would they
stop? See, the foremost man had already
passed. and my lady had already sighed
a great sigh of relief when one of them
stepped out of the ranks and presently
dismounted. AT sight of him Mistress
Dorothy's heart gave a great bound
which sent my leaves quivering. She
forced her slender fingers into my bOughs
and pressed her lips close so that she
might not cry out; the sweet blood for
sock her cheeks, and her eyes that could
look so tender grew fierce with hate and
dilated from fear.
He who approached alone seemed a
person Of distinction; there was that
within him that spoke of the practiced
warrior and the habit of command. Me-
thought he could not fail to notice the
upturned moss and the signs OF disturb
|
scrutable as he looked up, and seemed
but TO mark the blueness of the sky WISH
bic betwixt my branches. He gazed
earnestly at me, and, to my great diSmay,
a bird, which had become tamiIiarized
with the lovers presence, set up a loud
and cheerful caroling, pouring out its de-
light in dear, thrilling song, at which the
lady was like to faint. Then the stranger
looked up and said betwixt his teeth,
The pretty traitor, innocent babbler ~
and smile curled his lipsiand gave a
sinister expression to his face. Then he
tore down some tender sapings and cut
some initials on the moss, thereby, it
seemed to me, TO make the place recog-
nizable to himself, and presently lac
mounted his morse and rode away, sing
ing some merry song with mOcking re-
frain as he went. So great was his haste
that terrible fear that he was about to
acquaint his companions with the discoV-
cry he had made came upon me. By
reason OF my superior hight | could scan
the country round, but [ could not see
that the horseman VINO had just left did
aught else but rejoin the troop.
Meanwhile the poor, pale lady, now
that the danger was past, broke out into
piteous weeping, though she was careful
to check her sobs. Ralph Andoyer was
obliged to stand by and see his mistress
weep, though at sight of her tears his own
began to fall. l could not but note the
difference batwiXt these tears, for whilst
hers were like passing summer shower,
balmy and refreshing, his were like the
drops of thunder-cloud, heavy with
sense of greater evil to some.
Sir Ralph had so far recovered from his
hurt that he could move about more
easily. The lady had cast herself on the
ground, and, laying her soft cheek on my
rugged trunk, was weeping bitterly.
Though so old and rugged, her tears pen
etrated to my very heart, and L would
CheerIully have sacrificed limb to have
been able to give these poor lovers some
Solace. He llnelt down beside her and
Strove, not quite vainly, to comfort her:
but when he spoke his voice was stern
Sweetheart" he said, this must now
end. | will no longer be bounded and
hunted like malefactor, thereby expos
ing you to perils innumerable. I will no
longer subject you to the risk of being
discovered, perhaps reviled by ilI-man-
nered fellows. | am almost cured of my
wound, and shall soon be able to use my
foot until l can honOrably meet my enc
mics. / will hide no more One parting
kiss, sweetheart, and the cruelest OF our
suffering is overpastp'
Then she arose and looked at him. 81
swear to you" she cried, passionately
that this shall cease. One days more
concealment is all l ask of you. 1 have
spoken to one / can trust, captain of a
1 promised
convey you to Holland. Therefore, for
my sake, sweetheart, bear this ignominy
but one day longer" And then a great
flush crept over her cheeks and brows.
For their taunts or revilings 1 care not
one jot," she cried. 1.-THE ours who come
spying and testing while your life is at
stake!"
Whereat Ralph, for answer. took his
mistress in his arms and kissed her rev.
erently, at which was not much amazed,
seeing that every mans heart must have
been touched by her tenderness and love.
Sweet" he said gently, yet little
huskily, Il will remain day longer,
since you SO much desire it. Yet to what
end? l do not greatly covet life. All
beauty will have died out of it. Dorothy
love, he added, with short, sharp sob
like stab 'My sweetheart do not
ask me to live without you"
Then there fell great silence; and me-
thought perceived struggle in Doro-
thy's face, for by turns she grew ROSY red
and then ashcn pale, and it seemed as il
she would fain speak, yet could no words
force themselves through the slender
column Of her throat; it seemed as if they
all lay prisoned there, until there arose a
sound like the gurgling of brooks that
have been ice-bound, and-"Heart's
dearest, | am coming with YOU" she said.
Then he fell on his knees and kissed the
hem Of her dress, and thanked her and
blessed her, and wept, and for very love
OF her could say nothing that was dis
tinct to her or to me: vet methinks we
both understood. SO happy were they in
this new recognizance of their mutual
love that they almost forgot their fear oil
discovery, until Dorothy's eye fell on the
initials newly cut in the moss.
MY cousin need not have feared" she
said with exceeding bitterness, "that |
should have forgotten his visit. Sweet
heart, you would never leave me in the
hands nf cr1ab ylaoY1Fs1