Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-11-08

of Mary that you sacrificed yourself
for her sister, Harry, know. / know
and would that could give you
your hearts desire, for it's mine also!
Then, so saying. this old woman,
who had in her such majesty Of char
acter and pride that it held folk aloof
at farther distance than loud swag'
gerings Of Importance Of men high In
office. drew down my head to her
withered shoulder and touched my
cheek with hand of compassionate
pity ana blessing. as If had been In
truth bcr son. and caught her breath
again and again with a sobbing sigh.
All that couN say to comfort her
I said. assuring her. us was indeed the
truth. that no woman could justly esti.
mate the view which man might
take OF such Il condition as mine, and
how the power of service to love might
be enough 10 content one, and he stand
in 10 necl Of pity. but she was not
much co!lSolcd.
Harry" size said. Harry, thou art
like knight of olden times about
whom a song was written which
heard sung in my girlhood and which
used to bring the tears. though / was
never too ready with them. Woe be
TO me that I, knowing what ! know,
have yet not the courage to sacrifice
my pride and my unworthy grand
daughter and see you free. Oh. Har,
ry. that thou shouldst sit ut home
when thou art fitted by birth and
breeding to 60 with the best Of them!
Harry. pray thee. put on thy plum
colored suit and go to the BALI"
"ue:r Ma.lam Cavcndish." said
,.alf laughing. for she seemed more
nd more like Child, YOU know that
il cannot be, and that | have no de,
sire for balls"
"But | would have thee go, Harry
but l am not asked" l said.
What matters that? IT'S almost
with open doors. since it is farewell
of my Lord Culpeper before sailing
for England. Harry. go, and-a-and
Il swear II any exception be taken to
it, IL will tell the truth"
Dear madam, it cannot be- / said
"and the truth is to be concealed not
only for your sake, but for that OF
Others"
Then she broke out in another paroX
ysm of childish wailng that never
was such q wretched state OF affairs,
such wretched old woman handi'
capped from serving one by her love
for another Harry. cannot clear
thee unless | convict my own grand
daughter Catherine" she said piteous'
ly, "and if l spared her not. neither
her nor my pride, what of Mary
Catherine hath been like mother t.
the child, and she loves her better than
she loves me. 'Twould kill her, Harry
And, Harry. how can | give Mary TO
thee. and thou under this ban? Mary
Cavendish cannot wed convict"
THAT she cannot and shall not"
said. "She shall wed a much worthlcr
man and be happy, and sure It's her
happiness that is the question"
But Madam Cavendish stared at ME
with unreasoning anger, not under
standing, since she was woman
and unreasoning as woman Will be
in such matters. "If you love not my
granddaughter, Harry Wingfield.' she
cried out, "'tis not her grandmother
will fling her at your head. will
let you know, sir, that she could have
her picl. in the colony If she so chose
and it may be that she might not
choose you, Master Harry Wingtield.'
| laughed. Madam Cavendish."
said, rising and bowling, were l a
king instead Of convict, then would
lay my crown at Mary Cavendish's
feet; as it is, can but pave, II
may, her way to happiness with my
heart"
"Then you love her as l thought,
Harry?"
Madam" I said, Il love her to my
honor and glory and never to my dis
content, and pray you to believe with
a love that makes no account OF SELF
ish end, and that am happier ut home
with my books than many cavalier
who shall dance with her at the ball.
"But. Harry" she said piteOusly, 81
pray thee to CO."
I laughed and shook my head ana
went away to my own quarters ana
sat down to my books, but ut some
thing past midnight Madam Caven-
dish sent for me in all haste. went
I'D to her and, laying gentle hand
upon her head. laid 1t back upon the
pillow and touched her poor forehead,
wrinkled with the cares and troubles
of so many years, and felt all the pity
in me uppermost. "'Tis near midnight
and you have not slept, madam
said. II pray you not to fret any
longer about that which we can none
of us mend and which is but to be
borne as the will OF. the Lord"
"Nay, nay, Harry" she cried out,
with a pitiful strength Of anger. Il
doubt IL it be the will Of the Lord.
I doubt if it be not the devil-Cather-
inc. Catherine! Tarry, my brain reels
when l think that she should have
done it-a paltry ring, and to let you
ut may be that she had not her
Wits" l said. "Such things have been
l have heard, and especially In the
case of q woman with jewels. 1t may
be that she knew not what she did,
and in any case 1 pray you to think
no more Of 1t, dear madam" And all
the time l spoke was smoothing her
old forehead under the Tapping frills
of her cap.
One black woman was there In the
room sitting in the shadow of the bed
curtains fast asleep and making q
strange purring noise like cat as she
slept.
Suddenly Madam Cavendish clutched
hard at my hand. Harry" she said
II sent for you because l have lain
here fretting lest Mary and Catherine
get not home in safety with only the
black people to guard them. l fear
lest the Indians may be lurking about. u
Dear Madam Cavendish," said
Nd IN,