Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-10-11

chamber being toward jamestown, ant
the wind that way, could hear then
till fell asleep. At midnight / awak
ened suddenly at the sound Of ligh
laugh, which I knew to be Mary Cav
endish's. There was never in the mait
any power Of secrecy when her hu
NOR overcame her. She laughed
again, and I heard a hushing voice
which l knew to be neither her sis
ter's nor grandmother's, but mans
was up and dressed In trice, ant
sword in hand. and out Of my window
which was on the first floor. and there
was Mistress Mary and Sir Humphrey
Hyde. I stepped between them and
thrust aside Sir Humphrey, WHIT
would have opposed me. go into thu
house, madam" said to her, ant
pointed to the door, which stood open
Then, while she hesitated, hall
shrinking before me, with her old habit
Of obedience strong upon her, yet with
angry willfulness urging her to re
bellion, forth stepped her distant
cousin Ralph Drake from behind 6
white Towering thicket, and demanded
to know what that cursed convict fel
low did there, and had he not right
to parley with his cousin, and was hei
honor not safe with her kinsman, and
he an English gentleman? perceived
by Ralph brakes voice that lie had
perchance been making gay with the
revelers at jamestown, and stood still
when be came bullyingly toward me,
but at that minute Mistress Mary
spoke.
II will not have such language to
my tutor. Cousin Ralph" said she,
"and / will have you to understand 1t.
He is gentleman as we'll as yourself.
and you owe him an apology So say
Ing, she stamped her foot and looked
at Ralph Drake. her eyes flashing In
the moonlight. But Ralph Drake,
whose face l could see was flushed,
even in that whiteness Of light, flung
away with an oath muttered under his
breath. and struck out across the lawn,
his black shadow stalking before him.
Then Mistress Mary turned and bade
me good night in the sweetest and most
curious fashion, as II nothing unusual
had happened, and yet with softness
in voice as IL she would fain make
amends for her cousins rough speech,
and futtered in through the open door
like white moth, and left me alone
with Sir Humphrey Hyde.
Sir Humphrey was but lad to me,
scarcely older than Mistress Mary, for
all his great stature. He stood before
me. scraping the shell walk with the
end Of his riding whip. Both men had
ridden hither, and ut that moment
heard Ralph brakes horses hard trot.
"If you come counting Mistress Mary
Cavendish, it's for her guardians, her
grandmother and elder sister to deal
with you concerning the time and place
you choose" said I, "but If 1t be on
any other errand"-
Good God, Harry" broke in Sir
Humphrey. do you think ! am come
love making in such fashion and with
Ralph Drake in his cups, though /
swear he fastened himself to me
against my will?'
I waited a moment Sir Humphrey
1ad been much about the place since
ne was a mere lad and had had. | be-
lieve, a sort of boyish good will toward
me. Not much love had he for books.
but was accounted fair shot and
had some knowledge of sports Of hunt
ing and fishing and had given him
some lessons, and lie had followed me
about some few years before. some
what to chc ineasiness of his mother.
who could not forget that was Il con-
vict.
l cast about in my mind what to say,
being resolved not to betray Mary Cav
endish, even did this man know what |
could betray. and yet being resolved
to have some understanding OF what
was afOot.
"a man of honor includes not maid
ems in plots. Sir Humphrey" said /
finally.
Sir Humphrey stummered and looked
at me and looked away again. Then
suddenly spake Mistress Mary from
her window overhead, set in climbing
trumpet vine, and so loudly and reck-
lessly that had not her grandmother
and sister been on the farther side OF
the house they must have heard her.
"'Tis not Sir Humphrey included the
maid in the plot, but the maid who in
cluded Sir Humphrey" said she. Then
she laughed, and at the same moment
a mockbird trilled in tree.
"Why do you not tell Master Wing
field that the maid and not you nor
Cousin Ralph is the prime mover IN
this mystery Of the cargo of furbelows
on the Golden Horn?' said she, and
laughed again.
"I shield not myself behind a maid
ems skirts" said Sir Humphrey grimly.
"Then," cried Mary, will l tell thee,
Master Wingfeld, what 1t means. He
cannot betray us, Humphrey, for his
tongue is tied with honor, even II he
be not on our side. But he is on our
side. as Is every true Englishman.'
Then Mary Cavendish leaned far out
the window, and white lace scarf
she wore fioated forth, and she cried
with a great burst Of triumph and
childish enthusiasm: u will tell thee
what 1t means, Master Wingheld;
will tell thee what 1t means. am but
a maid, but the footsteps of General
Bacon be yet plain enough to follow
in this soil of Virginia. and-and-ths
king gets not our tobacco crops"