Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-04-02
BY AMELIA E. BARR

were as remarkably cOntraSted as
were the tenets, religious and civil,
for which they stood. But II mere
physical ascendency could have domi.
mated Jane Swaffham, she was in its
presence. Yet it was not Matilda, but
Jane. who filed the cool, sweet place
with sense Of power not to be dis
puted. Her pale hair was full of light
and life; 1t seemed to shine in it's
waving order and crown-Iike coil. Her
eyes had steady glow in their depths
that was invincible; her slight form
was proudly poised; her whole man
ner resolute and a little cold as of
one who was putting down an offense
only half-forgiven.
Matilda was conscious of James
influence. and she called all her own
charms forth to rival 1t. Putting out
of account her beautiful face and
stately figure as not likely to affect
Jane, she assumed the manner she
had never known to fail--a manner
half-serious and wholly affectiCnate
and confidential. She knew that
Swaffham was always a safe subject,
and that a conversation set to that
key went directly to James heart. So
turning slowly round to observe ev-
erything, she said,
How cool and sweet is this place,
Janet"
ut is, Matilda l often think that
one might receive angels among these
pure scents"
"Oh, l VOW 1t is the rosemary! Let
me put my hands through it." and she
hastily pulled off her white embroid-
cred gloves, and passed her hands,
shining with gems, through the delici-
ously fragrant green leaves.
Il have a passion for rosemary"
she continued. TT always pertigures
good fortune to me. Sometimes If |
wake in the night l smell it smell
miles OF it-and then know my angel
has been to see me, and that some
good thing will tread in her footsteps"
Then she said with an attempt at
Indifference, when did you hear from
Cymlin? And pray in what place
must | remember him now?"
Il know not particularly. Wherever
the Captain-General is, there Cymlin
Swaffham Is like to be-"
why do you not ask after Stephens
fortune-good or bad?"
II did not at the moment think OF
Stephen. When Cromwell is in the
mind It's impossible to find him fit
company. 1t is he, and he only
Yet If ever Stephen de Wick gets
a glimpse Of home, it is not home to
him until he has been at Swaffham."
Jane made no answer, and they
walked silently to the door where Ma
tilda's carriage was waiting. Mrs.
Swaffham joined them as Matilda was
about to leave, and the girl said, Il
had come near to forgetting some
thing ! wished to tell you. One of
those men called Quakers was preach
ing his new religion at Squire Oliver
Leder's last night. There was much
disputing about him to-day"
What said Lady Heneage of the
preacher" asked Mrs Swaffham.
She thought he ought to be put in
the stocks; and her sister Isabel said
that he was a good man, ard had the
root of the matter in him. l heard
that he was to preach again at Deep
ing Den. Now, | must make what
haste | can; my father will be angry
at my delay. Goodbye! faithful till
we meet again"
She says faithful yet knows not
how to be faithful"
she is much changed"
1T would be strange indeed IL she
was not changed. Before these trou-
bles she was girl living at her
mothers knee, petted by her father,
and the idol Of her brothers. Two of
her brothers fell fighting by the side
of Prince Rupert, her mother wept
herself into the grace for them, her
| father is still nursing the wound he
! got at Naseby, and her only brother.
Stephen, is with Charles Stuart, wher.
ever he may be. If such troubles did
not change girl, she would be hewn
| from the very rock of selfishnesS."
On her way home Matilda sat erect,
| lost in thought, and her eyes had a
! look in them full of anxiety and sor-
row. The sadness of an immense dis
| illusion was over her. Her life had
gone to ruin, but size trusted that
some miracle would restore it. All
her old friends had departed. The
grave had some; others had taken diff
| forent ways, or battle and exile had
scattered them. BY the side Of heI
sick father she stood alone. Oppressed
by such considerations, she felt like
child that suddenly realizes it has
lost its way and is left alone in g
wilderness.
Nothing in her surroundings Offered
her any help. The road was fiat ant
dreary; wide level intersected witt
deep drains and "Groves"-a poor
rough. moist land, whose horizon wa!
only broken by the towers of Ely, vas
and gray In the distance. Large iroI
gates admitted her to de Wick park
The house was a quadrangular build
ing Of various dates, and gray walls
rising from trim gardens with box
edged flower plots and clipped yev
hedges. An oldworld sleepy air, lone
ly and apart and full of melancholy
pervaded the place.
The door stood open. and she passe,
J without delay into the wide entranc
hall, and went leisurely up the broa
} stairway. Her hat, with its mois
dropping feathers. was in her hand
her hair hung Imply about her broy
and face; she was the very picture O
a beauty that had suffered the touc
; of adverse nature, and the depressio
Of unsympathetic humanity.