The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1904-11-18
BY AMELIA e. BARR

Matilda, you know that you are bait
ing James temper only that you ma!
see her lose it,
Then Matilda laughed, and STOPPING
to her friend, kissed her and said
Come, little Jane, will ask your
pardon. Kiss and be friends, Jane.
came to get your receipt for Lavender
coaserves, and this is nothing to 1t
Come. let us so to the still.room.
She spoke with an unconscious air Of
authority, and Jane as unconsciously
obeyed 1t, but there was q GOODNESS In
her manner which did not disappear
until the royalist lady had talked with
her for half an hour about the spices
and the distilled waters.
When the electuary had been pre-
pared, the girls became silent. They
were as remarkably contrasted as
were the tenets. religious and civil
for which they stood. But If mere
physical ascendency could have .domi'
mated Jane Swaffham, she was in it's
presence. Yet it was not Matilda, but
Jace. who filled the cool, sweet place
with sense of power not to be dis.
puted. Her pale hair was full of light
and life; it seemed to shine in its
waving order and crown-like coil. Her
eyes had steady glow in their depths
that was invincible; her slight form
was proudly poised; her whole man.
ner resolute and little cold, as of
one who was putting down an offense
only half-forgiven.
Matilda was conscious of James
influence. and she called all her own
charms forth to rival it. Putting out
of account her beautiful face and
stately figure as not likely to affect
Jane, she assumed the manner she
had never known to fail-a manner
half'serious and who'll affectionate
and confidential. She knew that
Swafham was always q safe subject,
and that conversation set to that
key went directly to James heart. So
turning slowly round to observe ev-
erything, she said,
How cool and sweet is this place.
janet"
1T is, Matilda. l often think that
one might receive angels among these
pure scents"
''Oh, l vow it is the rosemary; Let
me put my hands through it," and she
hastily pulled off her white embroid-
cred gloves, and passed her hands,
shining with gems, through the delicf-
ously fragrant green leaves.
Il have a passion for rosemary"
she continued. 1T always perhgures
good fortune to me. Sometimes if /
wake in the night smell TT smeIl
miles of it-and then know my angel
has been to see me, and that some
good thing will tread in her footsteps"
Then she said with an attempt at
Indifference, when did you hear from
CymfiR? And pray in what place
must / remember him now2"
7 know not particularly. Wherever
the Captain-General is, there Cymlin
Swsffham is like to be-"
Why do you not ask after Stephens
fdrtune-good or bad?"
/ II did not at the moment think of
stephen When Cromwell is in the
mind tits impossible to find him fit
company 1t is he, and he only
Yet if ever Stephen de Wick gets
glimpse Of home, it is not home to
him until he has been at Swaffham."
Jane made no answer, and they
walked silently to the door where Ma
tiIdas carriage was waiting. Mrs.
Swaffham Joined them as Matilda was
about to- leave, and the girl sadd,, Il
had come near to forgetting some.
thing wished to tell you. One of
those men called Quakers was preach
ing his new religion at Squire Oliver
Leder's Last night. There was much
disputfng about him to-day
What said Lady Heneage of the
preacher" asked Mrs. Swaffham.
"She thought he ought to be put in
the stocks; and her sister Isabel said
that he was good man, and had the
root of the matter in him. heard
that he was to preach again at Deem
ing Den. Now, 1 must make what
haste I can; my father will be angry
at my delay. Good-bye! faithful till
we meet again."
'She says faithful yet knows not
how to be faithful"
''She is much changed
1T would be strange indeed IL she
was not changed. Before these trou-
bles she was q girl living at her
mothers knee, petted by her father,
and the idol of her brothers. Two of
her brothers fell fighting by the side
Of Prince Rupert, her mother wepl
herself into the grace for them, her
father is still nursing the wound he
got at Naseby, and her only brother,
Stephen, is with Charles Stuart, wher.
ever he may be. II such troubles did
not change q girl. she would be hewn
from the very rock Of selflshness. {.
On her way home Matilda sat crest
lost in thought, and her eyes had a
look in them full Of anxiety and sor.
row. The sadness Of an immense dis
illusion was over her.. Her life had
| gone to ruin, but she trusted that