Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-01-03
NJ a p " The MAID OF
lv4 "A ~ i THE INN...
A Story of the Romantic
, Age In En6land.
, In EIl6land.
~ J0SEP1s nATT0sl

vas respected By everybody and cared
for nobody. be vould say. Dut he al
ways aaid this With . nsntal FesssvA-
ttoa vhich iaeludsd Mary and his
mother. but more particularly Mary.
He usually dressed In Q vslvetssn
shooting Jacket. and did net miad a.
all u some stranger mistook hin for Q
gAmskeepse: IN fart. hs rather liksd To
b mistahea- for . samehsspse: tbs
position had for him . spice oe so-
nance. and. moreover. be vas . crack
ahot. . rare fellow across country. and
master OF all eountSy sports. He rolled
somewhat In his gait - sailoFs do. and
spoke In loud voiee. except vhsn be
vas addressing Mary lockwood. and
then his voice dropped Into soft tonss
like those OF . woman.
II was . common remark In KiVkstall
that Jack and Mary would make a. ans
. couple ~ ever stood before an altar.
Mary paid NO hssd TO this kind OF OBJ
servatiou. and the fact that Jack bad.
under tho innuence OF wise instinct.
spoken NO words OF love TO her. en-
abled Mary 10 have him - . constant
companion. hawking. aahins. riding.
nuttinG. or climbing the walls OF KIRK.
stall Abbey.
But. at the opsning Of this history.
Mary had become too valuable In the
management OF the ian for her uncle
TO bs able TO spare her for more than
occasional indulgsncs In shsss holiday
Kind Of sports and ranblss-
She had settled down TO the work OF
the house. to the management Of the
bar: and. although she had very lin.
itsd knovlsdge oereadiag and writing.
she kept Joseph Morley straight with
his eustomsss. and with the bank at
Leeds. She was. In short. treasure Of
good sense. GOOD eonducs. and good
looks, and was both famous and BE-
loved by all the travellers along the
road. She was always scrupulously
neaa and clsan. In cotton or woolen
dresses gathered about the waist. and
oflsu wore upon her head nothing
more than ksrchisf. but Il was dsftly
drapsd and pinned ~ . Spanish man.
tiila. or an Italian head dFess. Her
only corset was the band about her
whist, and thus having the frss uss Of
her limbs. she walked with . stately
grace that was bsaming with health
and .vicor.
Il was q curious contrast. and yet
full OF human nature. the picture OF
Joseph Morlay-thin. wisened. short OF
stature-In . posture Of admiration
and worship. a. you might have seen
him now and then, drawing attenti0n
to his niscss In some act Of physical
proves. trying horse along the road.
iiinging . quoit In the yard. or dsftly
rolling q ball to It's goal ON the green
at the back Of the house.
81 am an old fellow" he would say.
"but have allus paid my way, allus
can. ailus mean to. and. when I'm
gone, IL Mary don't choose to marry
and give the Star and Garter . new
landlord, why. she 10 man enough and
woman enough to manage the house
herself. And 90 shall die happy when
ever my time be come: and what can
q man want more than to see straight
aforc him up TO the last journey he
makes, and that's to the church yard.
II man wants any more below. well. /
haven't heard Of IT,"
Mary would smile at the old man.
and pat his thin cheek. and say It was
not for folk to look too far ahead; the
main thing was to do your duty and
trust in Gods mercy and cultivate con-
tent!