Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-08-23
THE LOVE OF A WOMAN.

was in half dream It was not glad
dream to cheer the heart. nor a mad
dream Of battle to set my pulses leap
ing My gray meditations were broken
by the clatter CT hoofs in the courtyard
below and the sound of greetings. l
stood, as best could for my weakness,
and looked out A big roam horse was
there, and gentleman had just dis.
mounted and was leaning over MY
mother'e hand The whole family SEEM
cd to be at the dining hall door to greet
him Marion and the captain greeted
him with the fervor Of old friends
heard my father say welcome to my
house Sir Whilst
sank back in my chair,
"Who the devil is this Z" l said. HE
bows like sword scabbard and has a
face like bishop
Presently Harry came up and told me
that the newcomer was Sir Willis How.
ard who had come on from England
posthaste with brave news for the cap
tain
What is the newsp't asked huskily
'That the estate in Devon will be
Castletree's again on Christmas day,
and that the real political offender has
been discovered.
For some time l said nothing. The
light had gone out at the window
How young wasl
Then, "Who is Sir Willisf, asked.
Gan old friend of the Castletrees and
the captains godson. he replied. "and
famous swordsman. too have
heard.
All this, which should have cheered
7 me vastly, only threw me into deeper
gloom.
When Harry presented me to the
newcomer, ! looked at him narrowly.
measuring him as one fencer does an
other before the saluting He was not
overtall, but square shouldered and
long armed His face was long and
grave. his eyes steely. his smile slow
and sinister.
he said very little. but his shifting
eSes saw everything,
With the family he was quite ia
vorite at first. and. as the Castletreee
were persuaded to stay in WassmarA
until after Christmas. Sir Willis post
poned his own departure
think we all saw his reason for do
ing so before three days had past. He
walked. rode and sat on the south ter.
race with Mistress Marion, and she &C.
cepted all his attentions with gayety.
His manner toward Harry was al
ways considerate and pleasant. but to.
ward me that Of lord to footman.
One day. when he had come up with
the captain to borrow my spurs. he told
my mother. who was reading aloud,
how in England the younger sons were
always packed off to the ends Of the
earth to find their own fortunes.
The captain flushed crimson, the
baroness stared, but only remembered
1t and made no sign
In few days could move about the
house. and even take short walks on the
terrace. At meals threw off my lately
acquired reserve and talked freely. lay
ing myself open to his cutting sarcasm
enjoyed this because it made my
rival anything but lovely in the eyes oil
the family and heightened my score
against him Marion. however. seemed
to find his company as fascinating a,
ever. and the rest had to put up witt
their guest
Where was the open hearted boy
now. once so fond Of clapping hand t.
hilt and then begging forgiveness fol
the samef Even the Princess Barbara
would now find me grown old enough
roften, thought of her.
,yae polished and learned viscount
showed more feeling then l. and wa.
often barely polite to the Englishman
and Captain Castletree in spite Of hi
return Of fortune. looked anxious and
surprised at my change of spirit
Twas standing under the three shield,
one day looking down She avenue ant
thinking Of that first time Marion hat
come tripping up toward the house o.
LISTENS, when boy suddenly appeared
with bunch Of late meadow roses. q,
belonged in the stables and eyed m,
nervously before plucking up courag,
to say, "Your honor. the English lore
and Mistress Castletree picked these fol
you.
l took them from his hands, and thu
old hot blood would not be held down
With an oath flung them across tn,
hedge and, turning on my heel. wen
into the hall
There stood my mother, facing M
with sad eyes cooled nightly a
sight Of her.
Zone more delicate little insult. /"
said, and touched my rapier hilt signifi
cantly.
She followed me and threw her arm
about my neck. "Dart. dear Dart, d,
not forget that he is our guest. sh
begged.
"He will not always be, I" I answered
As the date which Sir Willis Howar,
set for his departure drew near I no
ticed decided change in both Marion
manner and his own. As he grew warm
or. she became cooler. This touched hin
more deeply than he would have us see
He was to start for Blatenburg YER
early in the morning On the preceding
evening Mistress Castletree would no
come down from her room
At 4 o'clock his horse was at the doc
and the whole household. even the Eng
nan maid. were there to bid him ..got
speed. " ! think my poor mother di
this with pleasure. and was muc
sweeter to him during the last ten sex
onds Of his visit than ever before.
II will see you to the road. sir. .
said in his ear. and went down the AZ
enue at his stirrup.
I carried q sword under my arm-no
my favorits rapisr. bat . heavier wsas
- WIN @ iAsenlaln a1AnA =