Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-11-08
Harry kissing Madam
Cavendish's hand

But then | affected not to hear her,
under pretense Of seeing that the sedan
chairs were ready, and hallOOed to the
slaves with such zeal that Madam Cav
endish's voice was drowned, though
with no seeming rudeness, ana Mary
and Catherine came forth in their rus
Ting spreads Of blue and green, and
the black bearers stood grinning white
" out of the darkness. for the moon
was not up yet, and aided them both
into the chairs. and they were or.
stood q few moments watching the re-
treating flare Of tiambeauX, for run
ners carrying them were necessary on
those rough roads when dark, and the
breath of the dewy spring night fan
ned nv face like wing Of peace, and
regretted nothing very much which
had happened in this world, so that l
could come between that beloved girl
and the troubles starting up like poison
Gus weeds on her path.
But when l entered the hall Madam
Cavendish. having sent away the
slaves, even to the little wench who
had been tanning her. with verify. be-
.i.vc. no more Of CONSCIOUSNESS as 10
what WAS going on about her than
iimson weed by the highway, called
me to her in voice so tremulous that
| scarce knew it for hers.
Harry, Harry" she said. II pray
thee, come here" Then, when | ap-
prOached, hesitating, for | had u
shrinking before some outburst of fem
mime earnestness, which has always
intimidated me by its fire of helpless
ness and futility playing against some
resolve of mine which l could not. on
account of my masculine understand
ing of the requirements of circum-
stances, allow to melt, she reached
up one hand like little nervous claw
of ivory and caught Inc by the sleeve
and pulled me down to stool by her
side.
Then she looked ut me, and such
love and even alteration were In her
face as never saw surpassed in it.
even when she regarded her grand
daughter Mary, yet withal cruel dis
tress and self upbraiding and wrath
at herself and me. Harry, Harry,
she said. IL can bear no more Of this"
Then. to my CONSERVATION, up went
her silken apron with Il fling to her
old face. and she was weeping under
it as unrestrainedly as any child.
did not know what to do or say
"Madam," ventured firmly, IF you
distress yourself in such wise for my
sake, tits needless. l assure, 'tis need
less, and with as much truth as were
you my own mother"
"Oh, Harry, Harry" she sobbed out,
"know you not that is why l cannot
bear it longer, because you yourself
bear it with 10 complaints" Then she
sobbed and even walled with that pite-
business of the grief Of age exceeding
that of infancy, inasmuch as the
weight of all past griefs Of a lifetime
20 to swell it and 1t is enchanced by
memory as well as. by the present and
an unknown future. knew not what
to do, but laid Il hand somewhat TIM
idly on one of her thin silken arms
and strove to draw it gently from her
face. madam Cavendish," said.
Indeed you mistake If you weep for
me. At this moment l would change
places with no man Virginia"
"But | would have-I would have
your' she cried out, with the ardor of
girl, and down went her apron. and
her face, like an aged mask of tragedy,
not discolored by her tears. as would
have happened with the tender sKiA
of q maid, confronted me. Il would
have you the governor himself, Harry.
/ would have you'll would nave
Then she stopped and looked at me
with red showing through the yellow
whiteness of her cheeks. "iou know
what would have, and know what
YOU would have, and all the rest or
INV old life would l give could II be
so, Harry" she said, and l saw that
she knew of my love for her grand
daughter Mary.
Then suddenly she cried out We
hemently: "Not one word have said
to YOU about 1t since that dreadful
time, Harry Wingfeld, for shame and
that pride as to my name, which Is
a fetter on the tongue, hath kept me
still, but at last I will speak, for
can bear it no longer. Harry, Harry,
know that you are what you are
convict and an exile, to shield Gather
inc. to shield a granddaughter OF mine