Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-10-11
& 3; . :l
The Hearts
Highway 41,i,i: 44Si ! /;
MARY E.
WILkIN S
c.arr;lAt. leos. b. DOUBLEDAY. PAGE q Co.



| of o,hc.s and not by their own; bat
| presently through them, scattering
them to the left and right, galloped
black lad on great horse after Sir
Humphrey. with the word that his
mother would have him return to the
| church and escort her hOmeward. Then
Sir Humphrey turned, after whisper
| ed word or two with Mistress Mary,
and rode back to jamestown, and the
black lad, bounding in the saddle like
ball, after him.
still kept my distance behind Mis-.
tress Mary, though often saw her
head turn and caught blue fash OF
an eye over her mask.
Then passed us. booted and spurred,
for he had gotten his priestly robes of
in a hurry. Parson Downs on the fast
est. horse in those parts and riding like
jockey in spite of his heavy weight.
His horses head was stretched in a
line with his neck. and after him rode,
at near ss great speed, Captain Noel
Jaynes. who. as report had 1t. had won
wealth Oh the high seas in unlawful
fashion. he was gray old man with
the eye of hot headed boy and a sd
ber cut across his right cheek.
The parson saluted Mistress Mary as
he passed. and so did Captain Jaynes,
with glance of his bright eyes at her
that stirred my blood and made me
ride up faster to her side.
But the two men left the road alb
ruptly, plunging into a bride path at
the right, and the green walls Of the
wood closed behind them, though one
could still hear for long the galloping
splash of their horses hoofs in the
miry path.
Mistress Mary turned to me. and her
voice rang sharp. "'Tis pretty par
son." said She HE Is on his way to
Barry Upper Branch with Captain
Jaynes, and who is there doth not
know tits for no good. and on the Sab
bath day too?"
Now Barry Upper Branch belonged
to brothers Of exceeding i'll repute, ex-
cept for their courage, which no one
doubted They had fought well against
the Indians. and also against the gov
ernment with Nathaniel Bacon some
half dozen years before. There had
been a prize on their heads, and they
had been In hiding, but now lived
openly on their plantation and were In
full feather, and therein lay in great
measure their i'll repute.
When my Lord Culpeper had arrived
in Virginia, succeeding Berkeley, JEFF
fries and Chichely, then returned the
brothers Richard and Nicholas Barry,
or Dick and Ned as they were termed
among the people, and as my Lord Cul-
peper was not averse to increasing his
revenues there were those who whis-
pered. though secretly and guardedly,
that the two bold brothers purchased
their safety and peaceful home dwell
ing.
Barry Upper Branch was rich plan
tation and had come into full posses
sion of the brothers but lately, their IA
ther, Major Barry, who had been
stanch old royalist, having died. There
were acres Of tobacco and whole fields
of locust for the manufacture of
metheglin, and apple orchards from
which cider enough to slack the thirst
Of the colony was made. But the broth
ers were far from content with such
homemade liquors for their own drink
ing, but imported from England and
The Netherlands and Spain great stores
Of ale and rum and wines and held
Herewith high wassail with some
choice and kindred spirits, especially
on the Sabbath.
Not woman was there ut Barry Up
per Branch except for slaves, and such
stories were told as might cause a
modest maid to hesitate to speak of the
place, but Mary Cavendish was as yet
but child in her understanding of GER
tain things. Her blue eyes fixed me
with the brave Indignation Of boy az
she went on. "'Tis pretty parson,'
said she again, land it would be the
tavern, just as openly, were 1t on
week day."
1 put my finger to my lip and cast a
glance about, for it was enjoined upon
the people under penalty that they
speak not i'll Of any minister of the gos-
pei. While cared not for myself. hav-
ing never yet held my tongue except
from my own choice, yet was l always
concerned for this young thing, with
her utter recklessness of candor. lest
her beauty and her charm might not
protect her always against undesirable
results, and not only were the slaves
within hearing of her voice, but none
knew how MANY others, for those were
brave days for tale bearers.
But Mary spoke again, and more
sweetly and shrilly than ever. "A pref
ty parson. forsooth! And to keep COM
pany With pirate captain. Vie! When
he looks at me clutch my gold chain
and turn the flash of my rings from
sight, and Dick and Ned Barry are the
worst rakes in the colony! Naught
was ever heard good Of them, excepting
their following of General Bacon, but
good cause makes not always worthy
adherents."
This last she said with toss OF her
head and proud glance, for Nathaniel
, Bacon was to this maid hero of he
roes, and naught but her sex and her
tender years, she being but twelve or
80 at the time, had kept her from join
, ing his ranks. But indeed In this l had
full sympathy with her. though chary
of expressing 1t.
Mistress Mary Cavendish had franz
ed In black in her chamber silhouette
of this hero, and she wore In locket
lock of his hair, by which she had
come in some girlish fashion through
young gossip Of hers, kinswoman
Of Bacon's, from whose head verify
believe she had pilfered 1t while asleep.
| And. more than that, ! knew of her