The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-02-10


had done before, and would have done
with any girl of her station as pretty
as Marigold But the girl avoided his
kiss. Then he seized her by the hands
and looked into her eyes, and what
ever he read there, his face became
compassionate, and muttering a male
diction on himself he let her go
Marigolu attended her mistress on
the night of the Luttrellstown ban.
and awaited her with the other maids
IN the dressing-cloeet to which tho
ladies' often repaired when they had
danced the freshness of powder from
their heads or the rouge needed renew
ing
At last the time came for them to go,
They had the chamber to themselves,
when Mistress Davoren flung her own
cloak Of purple silk upon her maids
shoulders, and her hood Of purple and
white satin over Marigold's dark curls
Listen, she said, as she herself as
sumed the maids modest cloak and
hood, Il but Knocked you when talk
ed Of his marrying you Show him
your face when he has carried you
home. Then return to me. and I will
give you a thousand golden guineas
And, so you kiss no more gentlemen,
will find an honest man to marry you.
The maid answered nothing, though
under her hood she went red and pale
but, as their coach drew up before the
portico of the house she whispered:
Madam, give up this plan, l humbly
implore you If the gentleman loves
you and you love him let him carry
you off"
Mistress Davoren laughed
A few seconds later the coach was
rolling along. wi-h Marigold in her fine
feathers within. and her mistress in
sober black riding with the coachman
It was a mild night of autumn, and
after some miles had been travelled
half a dozen horsemen rode out of the
shadows and surrounded the coach.
you and the maid snail 60 quietly"
said the spokesman. we want only
the lady"
His hand was on the door Of the
coach, when suddenly Marigold, who
lad been sitting in daze, repented
her Of her share in the trick about 20
be played on the man she loved and
Immediately she began to cry out AMI
protest But in a second a cloak was
thrown owes her head, and her cries
we're extinguished, though she still
struggled as she felt herself lifted on
horses saddle and supported here,
In the dark, and half suffocated she
felt herself held to a heart that was
beating wildly. and though she knew It
was not for her, she could lot, after
those first struggles, but snatch at this
brief hour OF happiness. So she ceased
TO struggle and lay still.
Then suddenly she saw the starlight
and a face bending over her, while the
horse carried them swiftly.
I'VE are alone now, whispered Lord
Delacours voice Nv are beyond
pursuit in the grounds of Delacous
court What pretty play at resist
ance you made, 1t might have imposed
on any one Yet you had bid me carry
you on"
Masigold took his kisses in silence.
Soon, soon they would be hers no long
er. but only anger and hatred, perhaps
instead.
80 your guardian would wed you to
a dotard, went on Lord Delacour.
How he viii rsve There are the
/ lights of the Court In half an hour
you win be my wife
Presently he lifted her from the
. horse, and half led half carried her
through great doors and within a state
/ " hall, and along a corridor where her
1 feet sank in velvet The place was III
/ III. for il was the darkest hour of the
/ early morning and none was about but
my Lords old nurse, Mrs. Susan. who
would have dared anything for his
I pleasure. And the hood was yet over
Marigold's face.
/ In little room panelled with white
wood two candles burned on a high
mantel-shalf by the light Of which an
/ old friar was reading his breyiIry lie
looked round sleepily as the pair c2rAo
/ in. followed by Mrs. Susan.
Come Father Francis" said NV
Lord. make Us one, We are READY l
and this lady"
The priest began the marriage SER
vice He had but said a sonteGne nf
two when the dullness that had seem
cd To lie on Marigolds wits cleared ii
a sudden
She flung back the hood.