Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-09-27

| e. L1s5 Nary CavendiSn just turHe,
| GaNSg Of eighteen, she and l to
| Sct.cf one Sabbath morning in th'
month of April were riding to meetin.
| in jamestown. We were all alone eX
cept for the troop of black slaves strag
Cling in the rear, blurriHg the road GU
riously with their black faces. 1t sci
| dom happened that we rode in sucl
| wise, for Mistress Catherine Caven
dish, the elder sister of Mistress Mary
and Madam Cavendish, her grand
mother, usually rode with us-AIadan
Judith Cavendish. though more thai
seventy. sitting horse as well as hel
granddaughters and looking, wher
viewed from the back, as young as
they and being in that respect us well
us others Il wonder to the countryside
But it happened today that Madam
Cavendish had touch of the rheumat
les. that being an ailment to which the
swampy estate of the country rendered
those of advanced years somewhat liza
BILE. and had remained at home on heI
plantation of Drake Hill. Catherine
who was most devoted granddaugh'
ter, had remained with her, although
suspected with some hesitation ut al
lowing her young sister to go alone, ex'
cept for me, the slaves being accounted
no more company than our shadows.
Mistress Catherine Cavendish had
20
was at no loss to understand when
had stood aside to allow Mistress Mary
to precede me in passing the door, but
she had no cause for the look nor for
the apprehension which gave rise to it.
BY reason of bearing always my bur,
den upon my own back | was even
more mindful of II than Others were
who had only the sight of it, whereas
l had the sore weight and the evil as
pect in my inmost soul. But it was to
be borne easily enough by virtue OF
that natural resolution Of man which
can make but featherweigLt OF the
sorest ills If it be but put in the balance
against them. was tutor to Mistress
Mary Cavendish. and had sailed from
England to Virginia under clrcum-
stances of disgrace-being, indeed, a
convict
I knew exceedingly well what was
my beftting department when l set
out that Sabbath morning with Mis-
tress Mary Cavendish, and not only
upon that Sabbath morning, but at all
other times. Still | can we'll under
stand that my appearance may have
belied me, since when l looked in a
glass would often wonder at the
sight Of my own face, which seemed
younger than my years and was
strangely free from any recording lines
Of experiences which might have been
esteemed bitter by any one who had
not the pride of bearing them.
When my black eyes, which had Il
bold daring in them, looked forth at
me from the glass and my lips smiled
with gay confidence at me, could
not but surmise that my whole face
was as mask worn unwittingly over
Il grave snirit
rode Il pace behind Mary Caven-
dish and never glanced her way. not
needing to do so in order to see her, for
| seemed to see her with Il superior
sort of vision. compounded partly of
memory and partly of imagination. Of
the latter had. not to boast. though it
may perchance be naught to boast of,
being simply kind of higher folly, a
somewhat large allowance from my
chilChood But that was not to be Won
dered ut. whether it were TO my credit
or otherwise. since it was Inherited
from ancestors of much. nobler fame
and worthier parts than l. one OF
whom. though not in the direct line,
the great Edward Maria Winstield. the
president of the first council OF the
Dominion of Virginia havin" written
book which was held to he notable.
This Imagination for the setting forth
and adjoining of all common things ami