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

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ter Wingfeld?" she said in sweet
sharp voice.
II go when you go. madam" said l.
You have no need to wait for me,
said she. 81 prefer that you shouk
not wait for me-"
l made no reply, but reined in my
horse. which was somewhat restive
with his head in cloud Of early Aies
'DO you not hear me, Master Wing
field" said she. "Why do you moi
proceed to church and leave me tt
follow when am ready"
She had never spoken to me in suct
manner before, and she dared not lool
at me as she spoke.
~ go when you 60, madam" said
again.
Then suddenly, with an impulse hall
Of mischief and half Of anger, she
lashed out with her riding whip Al
my restive horse, and he sprang, and
had much ado to keep him from bolt
ing. He danced to all the trees and
bushes, and she had to pull Merry
Roger sharply to one side, but finally
got the mastery Of him and rode close
to her again.
Madam said I, 81 forbid you to dc
that again." and as ! spoke ! saw hei
little fingers twitch on her whip, but
she dared not raise it. She laughed az
a child will who knows she Is at fault
and is scared by her consciousness OF
guilt and would conceal it by brava
do Of merriment Then she said in the
sweetest, wheedling tone that / had
ever heard from her, and had known
her from childhood:
"But, Master Wingield, it's broad
daylight and there are no Indians here.
abouts, and II there were, here are all
these English sailors and Captain Ia
Dor. Why need you stay? Indeed, |
shall be quite safe-and hear, that
must be the last stroke Of the bell"
But l was not to be moved by whee-
ding. repeated again that should
remain where she was. Then she,
grown suddenly stern again, withdrew
little from me, but sat still, watching
the unlading with gravity which gave
me vague uneasiness. / began to
have a feeling that here was more
than appeared on the surface, and my
suspicious grew as watched the sail
ors lift those boxes which were sup
posed to contain Mistress Mary's
finery. In the first place, there were
enough of them to contain the ward
robe Of a lady in waiting; in the second
place, they were Of curious shape for
such purposes: in the third place, twas
all those lusty English sailors could do
to lift them.
"They be the heaviest furbelOws that
ever maiden WORE" l thought as |
watched them strain at the cases. both
hauling and pulling. with many men
to the ends to get them through the
hatch, then ease them to the deck.
with regard to the nipping OF fingers.
l noted, too, an order given somewhat
privately by Captain Tabor to put out
the pipes AMI nu;eu that not one man
but had stow.i his away.
There was Il bride path leading
through the woods to Laurel Creek,
and by that way, to my CONSERVATION
Mistress Mary ordered the sailors Il
carry the cases. Twas two miles In
land, and ! marveled much to hear
her, for even should nearly all the
crew 20, tie load would be Il grievOus
one, it seemed to me. But TO my mind
Captain Calvin Tabor behaved as II
the order was one which he expected.
Neither did the sailors gruinble. but
straightwuy loaded themselves with the
cases raised upon Il species Of hurdles
which must have been provided for the
purpose and proceeded down the bride
path, singing to keep up their hearts
another song even more at odds with
the day than the first.
The captain marched ut the head OF
the sailors, and Mistress Mary and fol-
lowed slowly through the narrow aisle
of green. rode ahead. and often pulled
my horse to one side, pressing his body
hard against the trees that might
hold back branch which would have
caught her headgear. All the way we
never spoke. When we reached Laurel
Creek, Mistress Mary drew the key from
her pocket. which showed to me that
the visit had been planned should the
ship have arrived. She unlocked the
door, and the sailors, no longer singing,
for they were well nigh spent by the
Journey under the heavy burdens, de
posted the cases in the great room
Laurel Creek Lad belonged to Mistress
Mary's maternal grandfather, Colonel
Edmond Lane, and had not been In
habited this many II year, not since
Mary was baby in arms.
The old furniture still stood in the
accustomed places, looking desolate
with that peculiar desOlateness Of life
less things which have been associated
with man. The house at Laurel Creek
was fine mansion, finer than Drake
Hill, and the hall made me think OF
England. Great oak chests stood
against the walls, hung with rusting
swords and armOr and empty powder
horns. A carved seat was beside the
cold hearth, and in corner was a tall
spinning wheel, and the carved stair
led in spiral ascent of mystery TO the
shadows above.
Haerx's hnrse reaenfa