The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-07-25

dered yonder on the Vineyard hill. A
Spanish man has done the deed Juan dc
Garcia by name" When my father heard
these words, his face became liyid as
though with pain of the heart, his Jaw fell
and low moan issued from his open
mouth. Presently he rested his hand upon
the pommel of the saddle, and lifting his
ghastly face he said:
4'Where is this Spaniard? Have you
killed him?"
'4No, father. He chanced upon me in
Grubswell, and when he learned my name
hewould have murdered me. But I played
quarter staff with him and beat him to a
pulp, taking his sword"
''Aye, and then?''
.sAnd then let him go, knowing moth
ing of the deed he had already wrought
upon our mother. Afterward will tell
you ALL
''You let him go. son. You let Jean de
Garcia go! Then, Thomas, may the curse
of God rest upon you till you find him and
finish that which you began today"
'sSpare to curse me, father, who am ac-
cursed by my own conscience. Turn your
horses rather and ride for Yarmouth, for
there his ship lies, and thither he has gone
with two hours start Perhaps you may
still trap him before he sets sail.''
Without another word my father and
brother wheeled their horses round and de-
parted at full gallop into the gloom Of the
gathering night.
They rode so 1ercely that, their horses
being good, they came to the gates OF Var
mouth in little more than ~ hours, and
that is fast riding. But the bird wes
flown. They tracked him to the quay and
found that he-had shipped awhile before
IN q boat which was IN waiting Tor him
and passed to his vessel, which lay in the
roads at anchor, but with the most Of her
canvas set. Instantly she sailed and now
was lost in the night Then my. father
caused notice to be given that he would
pay reward of 200 pieces in gold to any
ship that would capture the Spaniard, and
two started on the quest, but they did not
find her that before morning was far on
her way across the sea.
At length the morning came, and with
it my father a2d brother, who returned
from Yarmouth on hired horses, for their
own were spent In the afternoon also
news followed them that the ships which
had put to sea on. the track of the Span
lard had been driven back by bad weather.
having seen nothing of him.
New Z told aT the story Of my dealings
with the murderer of my mother, keeping
nothing back, and must bear my fathers
bitter anger because, knowing that my
mother was in dread Of a Spaniard, had
suffered my reason to be led astray by my
desire to win speech with my love. Nor
did meet. with any comfort from my
brother Godfrey, who was fierce against
me because he learned that I had not
pleaded in vain with the maid whom he
desired for himself. But he said nothing
Of this reason; also that no drop might
be lacking in my cup, Squire Board, who
came with many other neighbors to view
the corpse and offer sympathy with my IA
ther in his loss, told him at the same time
that he took it i'll that / should WOO his
daughter against his wish, and that if 1
continued in this course it would strain
their ancient friendship Thus was hit
on every side, by sorrow for my mother
whom had loved tenderly, by longing
for my dear whom might not see, by self
reproach because had let the Spaniard go
when held him fast, and by the anger Of
my father and my brother. Indeed those
days were so dark and bitter, for was at
the age when shame and sorrow sting their
sharpest, that wished that were dead
beside my mother One comfort reached
me indeed, message from Lily, sent by a
servant girl whom she trusted, giving me
her dear love and bidding me to be Of good
cheer.
At length came the day of burial, and
my mother, wrapped in fair white robes,
was laid to rest in the chancel Of the
church at Buckingham, where my father
has long been set beside her, hard by the
brass efigies that mark the burying place
Of Lily's forefather, his wife and many Of
their children This funeral was the sad
dest Of sights, for the bitterness Of my fa-
ther's grief broke from him in sobs, and
my sister Mary swooned away in my arms.
Indeed there were few dry eyes in all that
church, for my mother, Notwithstanding
her foreign birth, was much loved because
Of her gentle ways and the goodness Of her
heart. But it came to an end, and the
noble Spanish Lady and English wife was
4CAo w 0CA 4O14 AAA cAAS
where she shall rest on when her tragic
story and her very name are forgotten
among men. Indeed this is likely to be
soon, for I am the last Of the Wingfelds
alive in these parts, though my sister
Mary has left descendants OF another name,
to whom my lands and fortune go except
for certain gifts to the poor Of Bungay
and of buckingham.
When it was over, I went back home.
Ny father was sitting in the front room
well nigh beside himself with grief, and
by him was my brother. Presently he be-
gan to assail me with bitter words because
had let the murderer go when God gave
him into my hand
You forget, father" snecred Godfrey.
Thomas wcoes maid, and it was more to
him to hold her in his arms than to keep
his mothers murderer safely. But by this
it seems he has killed two birds with one
stonc-hc has suffered the Spanish devil
to escape when he knew our mother feared
the coming OF aSpaniard, and he has made
enmity between us and Squire Board; our