Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-11-15

every one hHoWS, uotH teduiiS oui
itself out by its excess Of wick and
lack of substantial fuel. And yet, as
l lay on my bed with the red dawn
Mt the windows and the birds calling
outside and the scent Of the opening
blossoms entering invisible, such paugs
Of joy and ecstasy beyond anything
which l had ever known on earth
overwhelmed me that could not resist
them.
knowing well that in the end |
should prove my strength, for the time
I gave myself to that advance Of man
before the spur of love which | doubt
not is after the same fashion as the
unfolding of the flowers in the spring
and the nesting Of the birds and the
movement of the world itself from
season to season, and would be as
uncomfortable were 1t not that man
tier even than tnat to which
.,t,s; his own existence, and hath
81. p.wcr of putting that which he
.u,r., Jelore his own desire of ii.
H,.t for the time, knowing well that
| could III any time take up the reins
to the bridling of myself. let them
hang loose. and over and over | whis-
pered what Mary Cavendish had said,
and over AMI over | felt that touch
of delicate tenderness OH my arm, anG
| built up such great castles that they
touched the farthest skies of my fancy,
and all the time Drawing the knowledge
that | should myself dash them into
ruins.
But when / looked out Of my win
dow that May morning and saw that
wonderful fair world and that heaven
of blue light with rosy and golden
and green boughs blowing athwart 1t
and heard the whir Of looms, the calls
and laughs of human life, the coo Of
dove, the hum of bees, the trill Of mock
birds, outreaching all other heights OF
Joy, the clangor of the sea birds and
the tender rustic Of the new leaved
branches in the wind, that love for me
which | had seen in the heart Of the
woman I had loved since could re-
member seemed my own keynote Of
the meaning Of life sounding in my
ears above all other sounds Of bane or
blessing.
But the strength l had to act in dis
cord with 1t and thrust my joy from
me. and I went 20 planning how |
could best turn the child's fancy from
myself to some one who would be for
her best good. And yet was not sat
isfied with Sir Humphrey Hyde, and
wished that his wits were quicker. and
wondered if years might improve them.
and if perchance man as honest
might be found who had the keenness
of ability to be the worst knave In the
country.
But the boy was brave, and | loved
his love for Mary Cavendish, and |
could think of no one to whom l would
SO readily trust her, and it seemed to
me that perchance | might by some
pra:sing of him and swerving her
thoughts to his track lead her to think
favorably of his suit. But a man
makes many mistake as to women,
and one Of the most frequent is that
the hearts of them are like wax, to be
nodded into this and that shape.
That morning, when l met Mistress
Mary ut the breakfast table, she was
pale and distraught, and not only did
not speak to me nor look at me, but
when ventured to speak In praise of
Sir Humphreys gallant looks at the
ball she turned upon me so fiercely
with encomiums Of my Lord Estes,
whom l knew to be not worthy Of her,
that held my tongue. But when Sir
Humphrey came riding up little lat
er she greeted him with such warmth
as at once put me to torture and
aroused that spirit Of defense OF her
against myself which hath been the
noblest thing in my poor life.
So l left them, Mistress Catherine at
the fax wheel and Mary out In the
garden with Sir Humphrey, gathering
roses for the potpourri jars and the
distllling into rose water, for little idle
ness was permitted at Drake Hill even
after a ball. I got my horse. but as
started forth Madam Cavendish call
ed-a stif1ly resolute old figure stand
ing In the great doorway-and l dis
mounted and went to her, leading my
horse, which I had great ado to keep
from nibbling the blossoms Of rose
tree which grew over the porch. "Har--
ry," she said In whisper, where Is
Mary?"
I'm the garden with Sir Humphrey
Hyde" I answered.
Then Madam Cavendish frowned.
"And why is she not at her lessons"
she asked sternly.
"The lessons are set for the after
noon, and this morning she Is gather
ing rose leaves. madam" answered.
mn CH rfI III