Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-06-10

THE danger is great" Darlington
said, wistfuIly regarding his daughter.
Yet less great than at first it seems.
YourmOther and you can contrive that
none other shall guess his presence
here. Even should our servants dis
cover what guest is with us, we can
rely upon them not to betray him.
There remains Captain Pelham who
For him l answer" Mistress Lydia
interrupted haughtily. His honor is
mine own
Nay, my child, there might be IN
his mind some uncertainty as to which
way his honor directs.
Shame. father she cried. You who
know so well that the instinct of a
gentleman's homer is as certain as is
that w0ndrous needle TO whose guidance
sailors trustr'
And Darlington, infected by the en-
thUsiasm Of her bright eyes, acquiesced.
The following day would be that on
which a market was held weekly at
q village within the British lines, where
Philadelphia tradesmen brought such
goods as the farmers could not supply
from their own resources. 1t had been
Mistress Lydia's custom, when the roads
were safe. to visit this market attended
by Augustus, an old negro servant. and
it was agreed between her and her
father that, to avert suspicion of un-
usual anticipation, she should proceed
thither on the morrow.
Accordingly she was arrayed for this
expedition when she sought Captain
Pelham on the terrace, in the morn
ing's early sunshine. A fair picture she
made in her dark green habit with brass
buttons, and her large many-plumed
hat-a picture he described with ten
derest detail years afterward.
She found him pale and respondent
as she hung over his armchair loathe
tc leave him for one of the few hours
which remained of his stay at the
Manor. But he sent her resoIutely from
him, giving her letter for his brother,
as was his wont on these market DAYS
"a letter which she was to deliver to
a trooper who would be dispatched to
receive it.
She rode forth, while Augustus,
mounted on a tan horse and carrying
huge basket, paced soberIy behind.
Spring rains had broken the avenue
into alternate courses of mud and water,
and, as she bent to lift her habit vet
further from the probable splashing,
Pelt ANS letter slipped from her waist
band
With such haste as years and Stout
ness permitted, Augustus descen led
from his saddle. and restored the packet
to her.
Alas, it was wet and stained,
1T will be the delay of merely ten
minutes to return and bid Captain Tel
ham address another wrapper" sne
mul L fred, glad Of this excuse y be-
hold the welcome in her lovers ewes
She tore off the dTenched envelope
penetrated, and looked at the Enclosure
with keen daintiness. Her look
changed. Her color faded. Her lips
set sternly. Happiness went out of
Lydia BarTingtCns life while she stared
at the letter confded to her trans
mission by the man for whose honor
she had pledged her own.
Yet presently she Iiftedher head and
turning her horse toward the Manor,
81, rode up the avenue at a speed
Augustus found difficult to emulate.
Beside the high oak chimney in the
entrance hall stood a massive writing
table. There she tore Pelham's letter
to tjuv pieces. and sealed them care
fully within a fresh envelope, upon
which she inscribed his name.
explain to Captain Pelham the mis-
chance Of his packet" she said; though
her lips were white her voice did not
faIter Inform my mother that I have
ridden forth again unattended. Ask
her to prevent my father from hearing
that I have done so until I return"