Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-07-11

nothin c h.ck, and must bear my fathers s
bitter anger because, knowing that my
mother was in dread Of 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 Geofrcy, who was fierce against
me because he learned that I had not
pleaded in vain with tho maid whom he
desired for himself But he said nothing
Of this reason; also that 10 drop might
DO lacking in my cup, Squire Board, who
came with many other nctghbors to view
tho corpse and offer sympathy with my IA
ther in his loss, told him at the same timo
that he took it i'll that I 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 cvcrr side, by sorrow for my mother
whom T had loved tenderly, by longing
for my dear whom I might not see, by sclf
reproach because I had let the Spaniard go
when I held him fast, and by the anger OF
my father and my brother. Indeed those
days were so dark and bttt,-, for was at
the age when shame and sorTow sting their
sharpest, that I wished that were dead
beside my mother One comfort reached
me indeed, q 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 tho day Of burial, and
my mother, wrapped in fair white robes,
was laid to rest in the chanccl OF the
church at Buckingham, where my father
has long been set beside her. hard by th'
brass effigies that mark tho burying place
of Lily's forefathcr, his wife and many Of
their children. This funeral was the sad
deEt of sights, for the bitterness Of my IA
theirs grief broke from him in sobs, and
nv sister Mary swooncd 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
left to her long sleep in the ancient church,
where she shall rest on when her tragic
story and her very nano are forgotten
among men. Indeed this is likely to be
soon, for 7 am the last Of the WinSfields
alivc 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, 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 tho murderer go when God gave
him into my hand.
''You forget, father" snccred Godfrey.
"Thomas wooes maid, and twas more to
him to hold her in his arms than to keep
his mothers murderer safely. But by this
it seems no has killed two @irds with one
stone-hc has suffered tho Spanish devil
to escape when he knew our mother feared
the coming of Spaniard, and he has made
enmity between Us and Squire Board, our
good neighbor, who, strangely enough,
does not favor his wooing."
tsIt Is so" said my father. Thomas,
your mothers blood is on your hands. "
I listened and could bear this goadirg
injustice no longer.
LIT Is false" said. "I say it even to
my father. The man had killed my moth
er before T met him riding to seek his ship
at Yarmouth and having lost his way
How then is her blood upon my hands'
AS for my wooing Of Lily Bo.ard, that is
my matter, brother, and not yours, though
perhaps you wish that it was yours and
not mine Why, father, did you not tell
mo what you feared of this Spaniard? I
heard some loose talk only and gave littlo
thought to it, my mind being full of other
things. And now will say something
You called down Gods curse upon me, IA
ther, till such time as I should find this
murderer and finish what had begun.
So be it! Let Gods curse rest upon inc
till I do find him. I am young, but ! un
quick and strong, and so Soon rs may he
start for Spain to hunt him there til!
shall run him down or know him to be
dead. If you will givc INC money 10 help
me on nv quest, so bcit-if not, 90 WITH.
out swear before God and by my moth
er's spirit that I will neither rest nor stay
till, with the very sword that slew her; l
have avenged her blood upon her murder
er or know him dead, and if I suffer my
self to bc led astray from tho purpose Of
this oath by aught that is, then may q
worse end than hers ovcrtakc INC, may my
soul be rejected in heaven, and my name
be shameful forever upon the earthH'
Thus sworo in my rago and anguish,
QOlQulS up iuy lautl W ucttNSu Uiitto = SeAAA
ed upon to witness tho oath.
My father looked at mo keenly. "1f
that is your mind, son Thomas, you shall
not lack for money. would go myself,
for blood must be wiped out with blood,
but am too broken in my health; also
lam known in Spain, and the holy otlico
would claim mo thero. Go, and my bless
ing 90 with you. 1t is right that you
should go, for it Is through your folly that
our enemy has escaped u.s."
''Yes,i is right that ho should go, said
Geofrey.
"You say that because you wish to be
rid Of mo, Godfrey" answered hotly,
land you would be rid Of me because you
desire to take my place at tho side of a
certain maid Follow your nature and do
as you will, but II you would outwit an
absent man no good shall como to you of
it..
''Tho girl is to him who can win her, !"
no said.
''Tho girls heart is won already, Geof-
frey. You may buy her from her father,
but you can ncvcrwin her heart and with
out heart. sho will be but poor prize.
'iPeace Now is no time for such talk
of love and 1naids," said my father, land
listen. This is the tale Of the Spanish muir
derer and your mother have said moth
ing Of it heretofore, but now it must out:
When I was lad, it happened that also
went to Spain because my fathcr willed it.
Invent to monastery at Seville, but
had no liking for monks and their ways,
and broke out from tho monastery. For
year or moro mado my living as best |
might, for feared to return to England
as a,runaway. Still I made q living, and
not bad one, now IN this way and now in
that, but, though am ashamed to say it,
tnostlyby gaming, .at which I had great
luok. One night ''-c5 dhis man Juan dc
Garcia-for In lIs, hate ho gavc you his
true name when no would have stabbed
yuu-at play. Even then no had an evil
tame, though ho was scarcely more than a
lad, but he was handsome in person, set
high in birth and of q pleasing manner. IL l55
>h.-oo5 @b,t bo ,r,n,, pf mo 81 thp dice, anu