Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-11-01
The Hearts s
Highway 14S5 11ti.i; ! /;
MARY E.
WILKIN

copyrifAt, 1900. BY DOUBLEDAY. PAGE q {

by her in such wise, but so fond was
my pupil CT her book that often have
seen her with it propped open for her
reference OH chair at her side.
1t was thus the next morning, the
morning of the day Of my Lord Gull
peper's ball. 1t was warm morning,
hnd the doors and windows Of the
hall were set wide open and all the
spring wind and scent coming in and
limity curtains flying like flags. and
the gold of Mistress Marys hair toss
ing now and then In stronger gust,
and she and Catherine examining down
their flax baskets, lest the fax take
wings to itself and fly away. Both
Mary and Catherine were at their fax
wheels, but Madam Cavendish was in
the loom room with some of the black
women. Mary had her Latin book
open, as l have said before, on a
chair at her side, but Catherine span
with her fair face set to some steady
course of thought, though she, too, was
fond Of books.
Never lesson had she taken Of me,
holding me in such scOrn, but l ques-
toned much at the time, and know
now, that she was well acquainted
with whatever knowledge her sister
had got, having been taught by her
mother and then keeping on by her
self with her tasks. When l entered
the hall, having been to jamestown
after breakfast and just returned, both
maids looked up, and suddenly one OF
the wheels ceased its part In the duet
and Catherine was on her feet and her
thread fallen whittier it would. Mas
ter Wingfeld." said she, 81 would speak
with YOU"
Madam, at your service" said l.
and followed her, leading out on the
green before the house. What means
this-what means this, SIR" she began
when she was scarcely out Of hearing
of her sister.
What did you about the goods? Did
you-did you
She gasped for further speech and
looked at me with such haughtiness
of scorn as never l had seen. 1t Is
hard for any man to be attacked In
such wise by woman and be under
the necessity of keeping his weapons
sheathed, though lie knoweth full well
| the exceeding convincing Of them and
their fine point to the case in hand.
Did you-did you"--she went on
did you purchase those goods your
self for my sister? Did you?'
| bowed again. Madam" said l,
"whatever | have, and my poor flesh
and blood and soul also, are ut the
service OF not only your sister, but her
family"
marveled much as / spoke thus to
see no flush Of shameful consciousness
ovcrspread the maids face, but none
did, and she continued speaking with
that sharpness of hers, both as to pale
look and voice, which wounded like
cold steel, which leaves an additional
sting because OF the frost in 1t. know
you not, sir" said she, that we cannot
| suffer man in your position, a-a-to
! purchase my sisters wardrobe| Then,
before | knew what she was about to
do, in went her hand to broidered
pocket which hung at her girdle and
out she drew flashing store of rings
and brooches and one long necklace
flushing with green stones. Here, take
these" she cried out. II have 10 mon
ey, but such an insult l will not suffer
that my sister goes clad at your ex-
pense to the ball tonight. Take these.
They are five times the value Of the
goods"
| would in that minute have given
ten years of my life had Mistress Cath
crime Cavendish been man and couiu
have felled her to the ground, and no
man knowing what l believed l knew
could have blamed me. The flashes of
red and green from those rings and
gewgaws which she held out seemed
to pass my eyes to my very soul.
"Take them" she said. "Why do you
not take them, sir!"
~ have no need Of jewels, madam"
said, land whatever the servant hath
is his masters by right, and his master
doth but take his own and no discredit
to him."
She fairly wrung her hands in her
helpless wrath, and the gems glittered
anew. "But-but," she stammered out.
know you the full result of this, Har-
ry Wingfeid? She, my sister Mary.
thinks that I-I-sent to England for
the goods for her. She knows that
have some acquaintance with what she
hath done, and she-she is blessing me
for it, and l cannot deny what she
thinks. I-I-cannot tell her what you
you have done, lest-lest"-
To my great astOnishment she stopped
short with such flame of bushes as
had never seen on her face before,
and | was ut loss to know what she
might mean, but supposed that she
considered that the shame Of Mistress
Mary's wearing tinery which had been
paid for out of convict's purse would
be more than she could put upon her
and yet that she dared not inform her
! lest she refuse to wear the SKY piue
robe to the governors ball and so an
ger Madam Cavendish.
Madam" said, your sister Is but
blessing you for what you would have
done, and wherefore need you fret"
God knows would" she broke out
passionately. Every jewel possess,
the very gown from my back, would l
have sold to Save her this had l but
known. Why did she not tell me?
Why did not she tell me? oh, Harry,
pray you to take these jewels"
81 cannot take them, madam" said.
Yet such was her distress was sorry
Catherine offerinS her jewels
10 pay for Mays wardrobe
ssH