The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-04
WHEN VIRGINIA WAS YOUNG.


Prisoners OF Rope" has had such vogue.
has written another and more ambitious novel.
called TO Have and To Hold" (Houghton.
Mifhin & COL The book has been illustrated
by Howard Pyle. E. B. Thompson, A. w.
Belts and Emlen Mcconnell. and will be pub
lished February IL, Advance sheets have
been received by The Post.
Miss Johnston has gone back to the early
history OF Virginia for her stage and actors
in this interesting story. ITO Have and TO
Hold II was In midsummer 1921 that our
hero. Captain Ralph Percy. gentleman, throws
the dice to see whether no shall mud wife OF
not. The shipload OF maids from England
had arrived at jamestown, and thither all the
men OF the town and country were crowding.
ready to pay the 100 pounds of tobacco passage
money. Percy, who tells the story, was in.
terested In the news by no other than John
Roife he who had married Pocahontas, some
times called the Princess Rebekah. daughter
Of that powerful Indian king, Powhatan. Poca.
hontas was dead at the date OF the beginning
OF this story but there is much about her
brother. Nantauquas.
At jamestown he met that jolly minister,
ldNtis NoHe lTuiu MtSlcl JtIttug
Sparrow, he who was at one time the friend
OF Ben Johnson, and of that gay crew Of
actors and writer's who ate and drank and
laughed together in far-away London. The
maids were to be at church service that
morning after which they were to choose or
be chosen, Percy says:
"The long service OF praise and thanks
giving was well nigh over when saw her.
"she sat some ten feet fro mme. in the
corner. and as in the shadow OF tall pew,
Beyond her was row of milkmald beauties,
red OF cheek, free of eye. deep bosomed, and
heritboned like Maypoles. l looked again. and
sav--and SEGA rose agongst blowzed peoples
and peonies, a pearl amidst glass beads,
Perdita in ring OF rusties, nonparella Of all
grace and beauty!
The congregation arose, and she stood up
with the other maids. Her dress OF dark
wooden, severe and unadorned, her close run
of prim white Golf. would have cried, Puri-
tan had ever Puritan looked like this wo-
man, upon whom the poor apparel had the
seeming of purple and ermine'
After the service the girls went out upon
the turf, and the wooing began;
saw EutpueTuteS lftsn ITOu ATCduld
wave back dozen importunate gallants. then
throw a knot of blue ribbon into their midst,
laugh with glee at the scramble that ensued,
aud finally marched off with the wearer OF the
favor. l saw a nelghbor of mine, tall Jack
Pride, who lived twelve miles above me. blush
and stammer, and bow again and again to
mllliner's apprentice of girl not Ave feet
high, and all eyes who dropped a curtesy at
each bow. When | had passed them nifty
yards or more, aud looked back they were
still bobbing and bowling And heard a
dialogue between Phyllis and corydon. Says
Phyllis, Any poultry
"Corydon: A matter OF twalve hens and
twa cocks
phyllis; A cow
"corydon; 'Twa.
Phyllis: How much tobacco7'
"corydon: Three acres, hinny, though 1
dnna drink the weed myself. I'm Stewart,
woman. an the kings puir cousin
Phyllis; What household plenishingT'
"Corydon: 'Ane large bed, ane flock bed
ane trundle bed, ane chest, ane trunk, anc
leather Carpet, sax cawfskin chairs. an twa-
three rush, Ave pair o sheets an auchteen
dowlas napkins, sax alchemy spunes.
Phyllis; I'll take you.
Down by the brook he found the beautl-
full girl, and saw that she had spirit. for as
ne came up she boxed an impudent fellows
ears: Still. she was helpless. lonely woman.
Her dark eyes had a hunted look in them.
Madam. said. will you marry meT
she looked at me strangely. DO you live
here7' she asked at last, with a disdalnful
wave of her hand toward the town.
mo, madam, / answered 4 live up the
river. in Weyanoke Hundred, some miles
from here
Then, in Gods name, let us be gonei
she cried. with sudden passion.
II bowed low and advanced to kiss her hand
1.-THE finger tips which she slowly and re-
luctantly resigned to me were icy. and the
look with which she favored me was not such
one as poets felgn for like occasions"
~
She gave her name as Patience Worth, and
Captain Percy paid the 100 pounds OF tobacco
for her passage, although he asked to be al
lowed to pay her passage money in gold
when they stood before the minister Jeremy
Sparrow, she gave her name as Jocelyn Leigh
At his home that day Jocelyn Percy was
not a specially pleasant companion. She act
ed with all the naughty pride OF grand dame.
but at last she told her story, and begged for
pity. She was not what she seemed. She
had been OF high estate. but fate worse for
her than death threatened her, and so she hid
herself with Sir Edwyn sandys' maids, and
came to America. On the way she prayed for
death. but death did not come
II am not without shame" she said. 81
know that you must think all III OF me, that
you must feel yourself gulled and cheated
ami sorry--f was married TO you today--but /
know you not and love you not. | ask you to
hold me as ! hold myself a guest In your
house. nothing more. ] am quite at your
mercy. am entirely friendless, entirely alone
appeal to your generosity. to your honor
Before could prevent her she was knecl-
ing TO me, and she would not rise, though /
babe her do so.
II went up to her and took her by the hand
81 am gentleman, madam, said. You
need have no fear OF me, pray you rise
"she stood up at that, and her breath came
hurriedly through her parted lips. but she
did not speak
IT grows late, and you must be weary I
continued, Your room is yonder. l trust that
you will sleep we'll. Goodnight
Il bowed low, and she courtesied to me-
Goodnight she Eaid.
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