Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-11-22
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The Hearts
Highway 1;,i,i; 149i /; /;
MARY E..
WILKINS
copyrilA.. 1890. by DOUBLEDAY. PAGE a ,


she was t. the far front III this re-
bellion as in the other. Madam Story
was n woman so tall that she exceed
I'd the height of many man. and she
was clad in black and crowned with
, great hat feathercd with sable like
a hcarse, ana her skin was Of Il white
kess more GazZling against the black
than any color. Her face had been
handsome lad it not been so elongated
and strained out of its proper lines Of
beauty. and her forehead was OF
wonderful height, smooth eXpanse
between lunches Of black curls, and
in the midst was set that curious patch
which she had worn ever since Bacon's
untimcly death, it being, as | live.
nothing more nor less than a mourn
ing coach and four horses, cut SO cum
ningly out of black paper that 1t was
marvel Of skill.
She stared with scOrn at the one
black woman approaching her with
the silver tray, then she turned and
stared at Nick Barry, sitting half over
come with drink, lolling against the
other. He cast look Of utter sheep
l-ishness at her and then Strengthened
himself and rose like the other men,
and Dick Barry ,motiOned to both OF
the black women to withdraw, which
they did. Sinking out darkly, both
with fine rustic Of silks.
Then Madam Story saluted the other
women, though somewhat stitfiy, and
Dick Barry, who was never lacking
in certain gloomy dignity, though
they said him to be the worse of the
two brothers, stepped forward. Mad
am" he said, II pray you to be scat
ed" With that he led her with a
courtly mir to great carved chair
in which his father had been used to
sit. and she therein. somewhat molli-
fed, her black length doubled on itself,
and that mourning coach on her fore
head, was wonderful sight.
Then arrived Major Robert Beverly
and another notable man, one OF the
burgesses, whose name do to this
day conceal in consequence of VOW
to that effect, and then two more.
Then Major Beverly, who was In fact
running greater risks than almost any,
inasmuch as he was clerk or the as
sembly and was betraying more OF
trust. after he had saluted Madam
Story conferred privately with DICK
Barry and my Lord Estes and Parson
Downs, with this effect.
Dick Barry. with such show OF gal
lantry and seriousness as never was'
prevailed upon the three ladies to for
give him his discourtesy, but hinted
broadly that in an enterprise fraugnt
with so much danger it were best that
none but the ruder sex should confer
together, and they departed, Mistress
Longman enjoining upon her husband
to remain and deport himself like
man Of spirit, and Mistress Allgood
whispering with sharp hiss into her
GOOD mans alarmed ear, he noddlng
the while III token Of assent.
But Madam Tabitha Story paused
on the threshold ere she departed.
standing back on her heels with
marvellous dignity and waving one
long, black draped arm. "Gentlemen OF
Virginia." said she in n voice OF such
solemnity as l had never heard ex-
celled, II beseech you to remember
the example which that hero who has
departed set you. beseech you TO
form your proceedings after the FASH
ion of those of the immortal Bacon,
and remember that If the time comes
when woman's arm Is needed 10
strike for freedom, here is one ut your
service. while the heart which moves
il beats true to liberty and the great
dead"
Nick Barry was chuckling IN a
maudlin fashion when the door closed
behind her. and Parson Downs great
face was curving upward with smiles
like a wet new moon, but the rest were
sober enough in spite Of some overin-
diligence, for in truth 1t was grave
matter which they had met to DECIDE
and might mean the loss of life ana
liberty to one and all.
Major Robert Beverly turned sharply
upon me as soon as the women were
gone and accosted me civilly enough,
though the memory Of my convict es-
tate was In his tone master Wing
field" said he, may l inquire
Sir" l replied, for had so made up
nv mind, IL am with you in the cause,
and will so swear If my oath be consid'
cred of sufficient moment"
know not how proudly and bitter
" | said that last, but Major Beverly
looked at me, and kindly look came
into his eyes. Master Wingfield," he
said. 1.-THE word of any English gen.
tleman is sufficient" And l couid
have blessed him for 1t and have ever
since had remorse for my taking ad'
vantage of his dark closet OF an 0ld
love for the hiding of the secret OF the
ammunition.
Then as we sat there In blue cloud
of tobacco smoke, through which the
green bayberry candles cleaned faint
ly and which they could not overcome
with their aromatic breath Of burning,
She plot for the roofing up OF the
Young crop was discussed In all Its
bearings.
I wondered somewhat to see Major
Beverly and still others Of the burgess
es who presently arrived placing their
lives in jeopardy with men of such
standing as some present But a COM
mon cause makes common confidence
and it might well have been, hang one,
hang all. Major Robert Beverly spoke
Drinking treason to the kins
and success to the rebels
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