The record-union., 1897-04-26

stile, through the briers, and so along
| the path with a light step and heart.
But anon the track did grow less dis
tinct and did seem to fork out in d1f-
| ferent directions, to my puZzlement, SO
that / did lose me in the wood.
I was bethinking me how Dorothy
would be alarmed at my delay, when
something did close on my right foot,
| above the ankle with a cruel grip.
The pain was such as l could scarce
endure. At first l thought twas some
wild animal had bit me, but twas
steel trap that did close with spring.
! Do what / would / could not rid me OF
the hellish thing, though I made shift
to undo my buckle for the easing of
my foot
| And it came as a flash to me that
here was Sir Ralph's wood and I was
caught in one of his traps!-a sorry
plight, truly, for a parson of e parish:
and my silk stocking, too, all rent and
bloody, for 1 had not changed into my
woolen, because of the haste to start
For a space mine anger was hot
against the man who had devised such
deviltries. But, I bethought me, the
engine was not there of set purpose to
l was where no business called me.
What would the Bishop say should it
come to his ears?
BY this the late moon had risen, and
had I been otherwise placed, I had
enjoyed the gentle beauty of the night
And, despite my disorder of mind and
body, l could not but mark the delicate
tracery wrought by the shadows of the
txvn fol-
Philomel that had lured me thither
was now grown into chorus.
One thing was plain set on, and that
to keep off, and 'twere possible, the
faintness which did begin to creep on
me. For l knew that, if haply 1 were
to fall in swoon, 'woAd be the break
ing of my leg. So I d;d chant me the
| Litany, what I could remember (and
was ashamed how little could without
book and did sing some hymns to be-
guile my mind
| L was drawing me a breath at the end
OF a verse, when d voice, mighty deep
and stern, spake out of the bushes hard
by.
Thou psaml-singing, crop-eared curl
III teach thee sing another tune
There was a pause, as of one amazed,
and tall man did forth of the covert.
God save my witsl" quothed he.
| Whom have we here?"
L essayed to draw me up with some
what of dignity, though it did hurt my
sore foot to do SO, and made answer
to the ranger, as I thought him.
lis L, Timothy Parlett, Master of
Arts, charged with the spiritual cure
of this parish, and am caught in a
snare. thinking to have reached home
the sooner
But he had already stopped to re-
lease me.
Cad, sir, said he, you adorn the
position! Were I in your case. small
| stomach, troth, were mine for singingi"
Ana did perceive by the quaking Of
his broad shoulders, that he was deeply
moved by pity of my plight Anon he
mad got the iron fangs open and
was Tree. But hereupon Nature did
selze her opportunity or requital for the
pam and loss of blood and | had fallen
nad ne not caught me in his arms. And
felt myself being swiftly carried
homewards
The motion did SO sooth me as 7 fell
IN kind of trance, wherefore I did
awake to md me in mine own bed. but
very weak. And | did hear as in q
dream my dear daughters voice saw
ing, in hushed tones:
| L fear me the limb be soreIv injured -
AND the deep voice of him that did
rescue me made gentle answer:
Nay, young mistress, comfort thee.
Twill soon heal. There be no injury
to the bone of any moment"
Again my Dorothy spake. and her
great love for me did tremble in the
words:
Was it savage dog, think you, sir,
| that did set on him."
Tis no dogs bite"
What then, good sir?"
A space did follow of silence so deep
| as 1 did hear plain the faint natter Of
the ivy on the lattice. And [ did lie
idly waiting for the answer as though
tWere thing l had heard long ago.
Twas one Of Sir Ralph Brant's
mantraps."
And L saw the shadow of my Dorothy
on the wall as she did rise to her feet
in a blaze of wrath.
Were the coward here" cried nv
girl, Il would box him his ears!"
Coward or no." quoth the other.
just punishment"
And l could see his shadow kneeling
at her feet. But for all answer Dorothy
did sink on her chair in a storm of
weeping, and Cruel. cruel she did
murmur mid her tears Whereupon
my weakness did again overcome me,
and / knew no more till the sun was
| high in heaven.
Neither my daughter nor I said aught
to other living creature of the events
of the night, and made some excuse
for my keeping my bed, even to our
old serving woman, Deb, who had been
long abed when l was brought home
The next Lords Day, my kind neigh
Dor, DR.. Shelton of Threllick. did un-
dertake my duties at the church. hav-
ing by good hap a visitor in his house,
to wit, Mr.. Ford of Cambridge. who
did undertake his
DR.. Shelton be an excellent, worthy
man, but an Indifferent preacher (Mr.
Bullamy says the drowsiest save Par
son Thorp. he did ever know. so that
/ marveled the more that Sir Ralph
should go to hear him. Yet so it was
the first time for many months. in
brave attire, Dame Powlett tells me,
and did look like a prince of the
blood.
Now, Dorothy had told me nought
of this, nor could / gather that she
had observed it. However, the second
Lords Day after my accident 1 got to
church by help of stick and Dorothy's
arm, and did note that the cobwebs
Of