Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-10-04

itself evident in the very king nign-
| way approaching Cavendish Court, and
| increased as the distance diminished,
| according to some Of my mathematical
| rules.
There were In her no change and
shifting to new lights Of beauty or
otherwise at the estimation Of those
around her; she rather controlled, as 1t
were, all the domestic winds. Captain
| Cayendish bowed before his superior
ON his own deck, though believe there
was much love betwiXt them. and as
| for the little maid. she tempered the
willfulness which was then growing
with her growth by outward meekness
at least
used to think her somewhat afraid
Of her grandmother and disposed to
cling for protection and mother love to
her elder sister. Catherine. Catherine
in those two years had blossomed out
her beauty. Her sallowness and green
pallor had become bloom, though not
rosy, rather an ineifable clear white
like lily. Her eyes, ut once shy and
antagonistic. had become as steady as
stars in their estimation of self and
others. and all her slender height was
as well i'm her power Of graceful guild
ance as the height of young oak tree.
Catherine in those days paid very lit
tie heed to me, for her one year of SUI
periOr age seemed then threefold To
both of us, except as she was jealousy
watcl.ul that | win not too much OF
the ove of her little sister. l have new
er seen such love from elder to younger
as there was from Catherine Cavendish
to her half sister Mary after the little
one had lost her mother. And all that
the little maid did, whether Of work or
play, was with an eye toward the 9th
ers appreciation. especially after the
advent of her grandmother.
Catherine had lovers, but she would
have none of them. 1t seemed as If the
maternal love of which most maids feel
the unknown and uHspelled yearning.
and which perchance may draw them
all unwittingly to wedlock. had seized
upon Catherine Cavendish, and she had
as it were, fulfilled it by proxy by this
love of her young sister and so had
her heart made cold toward all lovers
Be that as ii may, though she was
much sought after by more than one OF
high degree, she remained as she was.
For the last part Of my stay ut Cam
bridge | saw but little of her and not SO
much rs would fain have done Of her
sister. | was past the boyish liberty OF
lying in wait in the park for glimpse
of her: she was not Of IN age for ne
to pay my court. and there was little In.
timacy between my mother and Madam
Cavendish. But | can truly say that
never for one minute did lose the con
sciousness Of her In the world with me.
and that at time when my love might
well be somewhat anomalous ana
sexless thing. since she was CROWN n
little past my first conception OF love
toward her and had not yet reached my
second
But oh. the glimpses | used To eaten
of her AT that time. slim legged and
swift. and shrilly sweet Of voice rs n
lark and as shyly a-futter at the mo
ton Of n hand toward her. or else seat
ell prm as any grown maiden. with
grave eyes OF attention upon her task
OF sampler or linen stitching.
Ny heart used 10 leap In fashion
that none would have believed nor un-
dcrst0od at tie blue CLEAN OF her gown
and the gold glcam of her little head
through the trees Of the park or through
the oaken shadows of the hall at Cav
endish Court during my scant visits
there. No maid of my own age drew
for one moment my heart away from
her. She had no rivals except my
books. for | was ever an eager scholar.
though it might have been otherwise
had the state of the country been di-
ferent can imagine that | might III
some severe stress have had my mind.
being hot headed youth. diverted by
the feel of the sword hilt. But just then
the king sat on his throne. ana there
was naught to disturb the public peace
except his multiplicity of loves. which
aroused discussion which salted society
with keencst relish, but went no far
ther.