Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-01-02

punch that filled the atmosphere with
delicious perfume.
Mary had never looked more beauti-
full than on this fatal night There
was touch of sadness in the express
sion of her face that rather height
ened than diminished the interest the
young stranger felt in her. He did not
attempt to disguise his admiration,
which set old Morley of on her
strength. her courage. her athletic
feats.
Mary was more or less sad because
she had parted with Richard Parker,
not for many days. he had said; but
she had strange foreboding that this
first parting might be their last. He
had offered her marriage. but he pro-
posed that their wedding should be
secret. His father would not consent
to his marrying out of the aristocratic
families in which he had sought to
make an alliance for him. If he dis
obeyed his father he would be disin-
herited; and Mary herself would not
hear OF that. Neither would she lis
ten to the proposal that they should go
to Leeds, be married privately, live
secretly as man and wife in some re-
mote cottage which he would provide,
or travel into foreign lands, until
such time as in the course Of nature
his father should make way for his ac-
cession to title and estate. His father
was an old man, and although he loved
him very much, he could only live
few years longer. and it might be that
perhaps in the meantime he would
forgive him and take his dear Mary.
his beautiful wife, to his castle, and
forget and forgive.
Mr.. Richard Parker, under the influ-
ence of his consuming passion, had
Mary to go away with him. But she
was as firm in her refusal as she was
in the confession that she loved him
and would never marry if she did not
marry him. He was obliged to be con-
tent with this declaration, and he
Foster, as previously arranged.
When he left Mary he took a ribbon
from her neck.
"The knights Of DID," he said, EAST
ened their ladies' gloves in their he'll
NETS. their cages of battle, their love-
tokens. Let your dear little fingers
fasten this ribbon upon my chapeau.
Mary, and it shall be my talisman of
love and luck"
Unhappy boast! She stitched the
ribbon upon his hatband in the shape
Of rosette. half hiding it behind the
silver buckle that already ornamented
the young fellows picturesque head
gear.
When he rode away she had sat at
her window, watching his retreating
figure until it disappeared along the
London road. She did not see the
horseman change his course an hour
later, and make for the distant towers
of York.
But to return to the punch. the rev.
ellers, and the stormy wind at the Star
and Garter. Mary and her uncle had
retired to their little room behind tie
bar, leaving the guests to their own
conversation. which had turned upon
the state OF the roads. the safety OF the
Yorkshire highways as compared with
those in the south, and had drifted
back to Mary. the maid of the inn.
"She certainly does not belle your
report, Taylor" said Wilson. 81 have
seen many fine women in all parts of
the world. but never so superb a crea-
ture as the landlords niece"
1T is not her beauty only, it's her
courage. her daring, that makes her
SO popular in these parts said Tay-
lor.
For my part" said Wilson. II ad-
mire beauty more than pluck In wo-
man; but / shouldn't mind having
some proof of the girls daring"
"Well," said a man who had not pre-
viously spoken, "she amt afeard Of
ghosts. I've knawed her to walk
about the abbey at nightfaw' when I
wouldn't a. done 1t for wager. And
I've seen her walk t abbey on All
Fen by hersen. when it's been as dark
as 1t is now"
"Aye!" said the others.
Il wouldn't mind walking with her
now" said Wilson. laughing, I'm not
afraid Of ghosts"
"Mayhap you'n never seen one"
said the previous speaker.
mo, have not-at least not to my
knowledge"
THAT makes all the difference"
said Mr.. Taylor.
II shouldn't wonder you might like
to keep her company" said a native.
referring slowly to Wilson's remark,
"but she be engaged Already as far as
I meks out; but I'll lay a wager she
would be willing to go T. abbey this
mint. II old Joe Morley axed her, and
you made a bet on 1t of a wager, the
brass to go to poor folk as lives up to
Hark-to-Rover."
AYE" said several voices, "aye!"
Then I'll wager she does not" said
Wilson. who had drunk more Of the
second than the first bowl OF punch.
End was little nettled at the remark
that Mary's affections were engaged.
I'll wager she does not go alone to
the abbey-that is. II it does not
rain"
There was loud laugh at the pro-
viso.
"In the first place." said the native
there win be no rain wi that wind,
and In the next our lasses 4 Yorkshire
isna sugar, they doan't melt"
Il don't think 1t worth while making
the wager" said Taylor to his friend.
"if you bet you will lose"
"The object is charity" said Will
son, "the money goes to the poor. and