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

many of those articles of women's
attire mentioned by Mistress Mary
were of great value and brought grea
sums in London, and knowing. too
that the maid, though innOcently font
of such things. to which she had, more
over, the natural right Of youth and
beauty such as hers, which should
have. all the silks and jewels of earth
and no questioning, for its adjoining
was not given to selfish appropriation
for her own needs, but rather consider
ed those of others first.
However. Mistress Mary had some
property In her own right. she being
the daughter of q second wife who had
died possessed Of small plantation
called Laurel Creek, which was mile
distant from Drake Hill, farther in
land. having no ship dock and employ,
ing this. Mistress Mary might have
sent some of her own tobacco crop to
England wherewith to purchase fnery
for herself.
Still wondered, and / wondered
still more when Mistress Mary, albeit
the Lords day and the penalty for
such labor being even for them of
high degree not light, should propose
as she did that the goods be then and
there unladen. Then / ventured to
address her, riding close to her side,
that the captain and the sailors should
not hear and think that | held her in
slight respect and treated her like a
child, since I presumed to call her to
account for aught she chose to do.
Madam" said I us low as might
be, do you remember the day."
"And wherefore should not! asked
she, with & toss of her gold locks and
a pout of her red lips which was child.
ishness and willfulness itself; but there
went along with it glance of hey eyes
which puzzled me, for suddenly a
sterner and older spirit Of resolve seem
ed to look out of them into mine.
"Think you am in my Sdotase. Master
Wingfield, that l remember not the
day?" she said. "And think you that
am going deaf that l hear not the
church bells"
IF we miss the service for the un'
lading of the goods, and it be discover
ed, it may 30 amiss with us" said l.
"Are you then afraid, Master Wing
field?" asked she, with Il glance OF
scorn and blush Of shame at her
own words, for she knew that they
were false.
felt the blood rush to my face, and
| refined back my horse and said no
more.
II pray you have the goods that you
know of unladen ut once, Captain Ia
bor." said she. and she made motion
that would have been a stamp had she
stood.
Calvin Tabor laughed and cast
glance of merry malice at me and bow
ed low as he replied:
"The goods shall be unladen within
the hour MISTRESS" said he, land II
you and the gentleman would rather
not tarry to see them for fear Of dis
covery"-
Eve shall remain" said Mistress
Mary. II pray you order the goods un-
laden at once, Captain Tabor" Then
the captain laughed again In his dare
devil fashion as he turned to the sailors
and shouted out the order, and straight
way the sailors so swarmed hither and
thither upon the deck that they seem
ed five times as many as before, and
then we heard the hatches flung back
with claps like guns.
We sat there and waited, and the bell
over in Jamestown rang and the long
notes died away with sweet echoes as
If from distant heights.
waited and listened while the sail.
ors unloaded the goods with many a
shout and repeated loud commands
from the captain, and Mistress Mary
kept her eyes turned away from my
face and watched persistently the un'
lading and had seemingly no more
thought of me than Of one Of the
swamp trees for some time. Then all
at once she turned toward me, though
still her eyes evaded mine.