The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-18
A wEssEx WORTHY.
TIE MARRIAGE OF MASTER JOHN
HoRsELEiGH. KNIGHT OF CLIFTON
BY THOMAS HARDY.
tAuthor Of "Tess OF tho D'Urberviiles &c)


faced Gentlemanl this entry may still be read
by any one curious enough to decipher tho
grabbed handwriting OF that date. l took q
copy OF IL when was last there; and It runs
thus the had opened his peck etbook. and now
read aloud the extract. afterward handing
round the book to us. wherein wo saw trans
cribod the following):
Mastr. John iorseleigh. Knight Of the p'yashe Of
Cytrion was mNryd to Edith. TIE wyne late oil John
stoeser chAwnte OF iayenpoo the Xliii date Of De.
rhyrche of InGeIonde. Kynge Henry the With, 1889
Now. II you turn to the long and elaborate
pedigree OF the ancient family of the Horse
leighs OF Clyfton- lIorseegh. you will ind no
mention whatever of this alliance, notwith-
standing tho privilege given by tho sovereign
and head OF tho church. the said Sir John
being therein chronicled rs marrying. at n
dnto apparently earlier than the above. the
daughter and heiress OF Richard Ihelipson OF
Montislope. in Neither Wesscx. u lady who out
lived him. OF which marriage there were issue
two daughters and son, who succeeded him
in his estates. How are wo to account for
these. as it would seem. contemporaneous
wivesp strange local tradition only can
help us. and this can be briefly told.
One evening in the autumn Of tho year 1910
or 1911. n young sailor. whose Christian naJne
was Roger. but whose surname is not known.
landed at his native place OF lIavcnpoo. on
the South Wessey coast. after n voyage in the
Newfoundland trade then newly sprung into
existence. He returned in the shin Primrose,
with cargo of "trayne oyle brought homo
from the New Founde Lnnle," to quote from
the town records OF the date. During his 40
sence of two summers and winter which
made up the term OF a Newfoundland spoil"
many unlooked-for changes had occurred
within the quiet little seaport. some Of which
closely affected Roger. the sailor. At tho time
OF his departure. his only sister Edith. had
| become the bride OF one Stocker. n resrccta-
BILE townsman. md part owner OF the br. in
which Roger had sailed; and it was TO tho
house OF this couple his only relatives. that
tho young man directed his steps. On trying
the door in Quay street he found it lock I'd. and
then observed that the windows were loar,led
ur. 1nIuiring Of II bystander. he learned for
tho first time OF the death OF his brother-in-
law, though the event had taken place nearly
eighteen months before.
And my sister Edith 2" asked Roger
"Sho's married again-as they do say. and
hath been so these twelve months. l don't
vourh for the truth OF. though if she isn't she
| ought to be-"
| Rogers face grew dark. Tie was n man with
| n considerable reserve of stron. passion and
| he asked his informant what he meant by
| speaking thus
| Tho man cNrlnined that shortly after tho
! young woman's bereavement n stranger had
| como % the port. He had seen her moping on
| the quay. had been attracted by her youth and
| loneliness and in an extraordinarily bric.
! woong had completely fascinated her: had
carried her off, and as was reported had mar
| red her. Though he had come 10y water. he
! was supposed to live 10 vcry great distance off
! By land. They were last heard of at Oozewood.
| in Upper WesseS. at the house OF ono Wall. a
| timber merchant. where he believed she still
| had lodging. though her husband. if he we're
| lawfully that much. was but an occasional Wis
| itor to the place.
| Tho stranger" asked Roger. Did you
| see him? What manner Of man was he?"
Il liked him not" said the other He
seemed OF that kind that hath something to
conceal. and as he walked with her he ever
and anon turned his head and gazcd behind
him. as II he much feared an unwelcome pur-
suer. But faith" continued he. e it may have
been the mans anxiety only. Yet did not
| like him."
WAS he older than my sister?" Roger
asked.
Aye. much older from a dozen to score
| OF years older man Of some position may
be. playing an amorous game for the pleasure
| OF the hour Who knoweth but that he have a
wife already? Many have done the thin
| hercabouts o! late"
Having paid a visit to the graves OF his rea-
tives. tho sailor next day went along the
straight road which. then n lane. now n high
| way. conducted to tho curious little inland
| town named by the Havenpool man. It is I'M
| necessary to describe Oozewood on the South
| Avon. 1t has n railway at tho present day:
but thirty years of steaEl traffic past its pre-
| cincts have hardly modiiiel its original fca-
lures. Surrounded by II sort OF fresh water
lagoon. dividing 1t from meadows and coppice.
its ancient thatch and timber houses have
barely made way even in the front street for the
ubiquitous mo Tern brick and slate. 1t neither
decreases nor diminishes in size: 1t Is dili-
| cult TO say what tho inhabitants find to do.
for though trades in woodward are still car
ried on. there cannot be enough OF this
class OF work nowadays to maintain all the
householders. the forests around havin! boon
| SO greatly thinnrd and curtailcd. At the TIM
| Of this tradition tho forests were dense. arti-
| ncers in wood abounded. and tho timber trade
WAS brisk. Every house in town. without ex-
| ccption. was OF oai; framework, fll!ed in with
| plaster nj nd covered with thatch, the chimney
| being the only brick portion Of the structure.
| Inquiry soon brought Roger the sailor. to the
| door OF Wall. the timber dealer referred to-.
| but it WAS somo time before he was able to
gain admission to the lodging OF his sister.
| the people having plainly received directions
not to welcome strangers.
She sttnS in T"om on
herds" chairs. made oil tho spot then rs TO
| this day. and as they were probably made
there in the days OF the Heptnrchy. In her lap
| was an infant which she had been SucKling
| though now it had fallen asleep: so had the
| young mother herseI fora ley lninuteS' under
footsteps on the stat RS. she awoEc, started up
| with a glad cry. and ran to the door opening
which She met her brother on the thrc!si,"nld l.
| this iS didn't expect eR.' she
said. An Roger-I thought it was John"
| Her tones fell to diSappoi nent.
| The sailor kissed her. looked at her sternly
for n few moments, and pointing to the infant
! said. +" You mean the father OF thiS!"
| Yes my husband" said Edith.
| Il hope So" he answered;
| Why Roger. Pm married-of truth am II
she cried. ..,
| Master Stacker was nm honest man. and ye
should have respected his memory longer.
| Where is thy husband Z"
Ills comes often. thought 1t was he now.
| Our m rria.c has to be kept secret for VIII lie
1T was done prlvily 'or certain reasons: hut
we WAS married Mt church like honest folk
-afore God we were. itoger-six months after
| poor Suckers DEATH
| |.sitp,vns tno soon" said Roger.