Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-11-03
Author Of "In Love and Truth


spajr to Elsbeths face, Margaret came
toward the house.
"Thy tea is brewed, and the hot
cakes that thou likest are covered,
keeping warm for thee on the hearth
stone" Elsbeth announced.
Margaret entered languidly, carry
ing her jeweled riding whip, her heavy
skirts trailing after her as she came.
81 care not to eat" she said sadly.
Then. as il unable to conceal her dis
appointment or to contain her suner-
ing. she cried out brokenly: "Elsbeth,
another day most gone and Godfrey
hath not come. An wander where
will I can get no word Of him. Mine
ewes are strained with looking down
the road that leads from London, and
nv heart aches near to bursting with
loneliness and apprehension. Three
weeks last Sunday since l received MS
missive."
Her riding whip fell to the floor with
a thud as she sank into chair, cover
ing up her white face with her hands.
"Elsbeth," she said at last to the
woman who stood before her In dumb
sympathy, "hast ever thought that God
FREY. reckless in his haste to see me,
did attempt to ride up the mountain
In that fearful storm and-GOd's pity
on me!-was lost?"
"Tut. tut, sweetheart! Elsbeth's
voice was gay and full Of courage to re-
assure her. "Sir Godfrey's but detain-
ed in Lunnon. Thou must keep IN
mind what a great lord he is and that
mayhap his business there Is of vast
Importance. 'Tis often, warrant thee,
that mans heart Is In one place and
perforce his body In another. Ha' done
grieving, Margaret, and eat little sup
to strengthen thee. He'll come anon"
Her young mistress did not move or
raise her head.
Every night since the storm broke"
she lamented, II have worn my finest
gowns to welcome Godfrey-at first
with happy heart full Of bright hope,
then, after succeeding days of bitter
disappointment, with less hope and
some misgiving. But tonight"-she
drew a sharp breath and put her hand
over her heart-"I go to dress SICK
with terror and broken hearted with
despair. Elsbeth," she cried, throwing
I'D her head with little tragic ges-
ture, 81 tell thee Godfrey is Ill or dead,
for so perfect is my knowledge OF his
unselfish love for me that know, I'M
less fever did render him delirious or
death had stilled his tongue, he would
not leave me pining here alone, suffer-
ing this frightful apprehension"
Weeping silently, she prepared to go
up the stairs.
Elsbeth was at her side in moment.
"Tut, tut, my bonny maid! Let not
such fearsome thought beset thee" she
urged earnestly. "Take heart, Mar
garet. 1 promise thee-thine old Els
beth who loves thee doth promise
thee-that ere the sun goeth down on
another day thy lover II hold thee in
his arms"
Margaret smiled sadly. "An I could
believe thine oft repeated promises,
good Elsbeth, my heart would not now
have lost its lightness."
At the top Of the staircase she paus-
ed.
"Oh, Elsbeth, tits easy for thee to be
brave when tits not thy Godfrey who
doth not Gomez she said. "But could
thou really know what tits to wait
YEARLY night after night for the man
who hast thine whole heart thou would
pity me-"
81 ha' ever advised thee, Margaret"
the elder woman said, putting her arm
about the girl comfortingly, mot to
fasten too much affection on any man,
else he prove not worthy of it and thy
Joy be turned to sorrow"
Margaret raised her eyes, filled with
deep reproach, to Elsbeth's face.
"Such true love as doth exist be-
tween Godfrey and me-" she said go
berly; "such faith, such trust. thou with
thine evil suspicious and grim fore
holdings could have no thought on
What knoweth thou Of men and lovers,
Elsbeth, that thou art always prating
of their imperfections? 'Twere not
kind of thee to tease me with thy
maudlin talk when"-the tears in her
eyes overlooked on her cheeks-"l am
| so beset on every SIDE"
4 tsn1ooxt AForoor toll mo Who from.
bles thee"
81 have told thee Of my cousin
Josiah's opportunities, Elsbeth," she
/ answered. ''Thou knowest that his
| cold, persistent wooing doth fret me
and lately his advances have been sc
/ open and determined that, + truth,
have fear of him."
She drew a sharp, shuddering breath
"Elsbeth, the sight Of my cousin
strikes q chill to my heart / know
that he is an upright man and cody
but he tells me 80 plainly Of his firm
| determination to win me at all haz
ards: there Is something so cruel II
his eyes and so relentless in his bear
ing, that he sets me all a-tremble. Al
night I have evil dreams Of him, ant
my waking hours are filed with bat
presentiments. Oh, Elsbeth" - sh'
burst out crying bitterly-"pray God u
send me Godfrey
"There, there! Take of this riding
dress that hangs so heavily aDou
thee"-Elsbeth stroked the bowed heat
gently-"and don thine azure muslin
that Sir Godfrey loved to see the'
wear. Dost remember, sweet, ont
night in Paris when I was brushing
thy hair that thou told me that IN!
lover said thou vert like dainty flow
or in that frock--a blue fOrgetmenot
10 ho fhQo n hlnpl