Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-06-22
CHAPTER XIV.

keep US safe"
CHAPTER XIV.
W YNDER a tree that spread its
n leafy branches over the grass
that stretched out before the
house the young mistress Of
the Maryland farm, wearing dress Of
thinnest white linen, sat with her lover
on a wooden bench. Both were silent,
La Fabienne watching with interest
the endeavors Of young robin that
was struggling with a large ground
worm and Margaret absorbed in her
own thoughts, that seemed from the
pensive and serious expression on her
face to be far away and troublesome.
Although large clouds had spread
themselves over the sky, obscuring the
sun, the heat of the afternoon seemed
to exceed that Of the morning. Not
leaf stirred; the dogs lay motionless in
the shade painting, and the air was
close, surcharged with heat and heavy.
Giles, passing with wagon load of
stones, touched his hat respectfully,
calling to them that relief was in sight,
as the clouds were forming for thun-
derstorm.
"An'. from the looks of yon black
cloud methinks twill be a heavy one,
good Giles" La Fabienne replied; then,
turning to Margaret, who at the in
terruption of her meditation had drawn
quick breath, half a sigh, half an
expression of unpleasant thought, in
quired, Hath lightning terrors for
thee, sweet?"
NAY, not now, when thou art here"
she said gently, laying her hand on his
sleeve with a caressing touch, "but
last night, Godfrey, I had a dream OF
evil omen that, l confess, hath dis
turbed me. dreamt that enemies by
stratagem took thee from me; then
came telling me that thou vert In this
place and that to taunt me. Wild eyed,
my hair hanging down my back and
giving loud piercing shrieks Of distress,
l followed their directions only to find
upon my arrival that thou vert not
there Oh, Godfrey, twas an awful
night! An the terror Of 1t hangs DER
me today"
Bon Dieu," he exclaimed, pressing
the small hand affectlonately, ''how art
thou changed from the gay, laughing
Margaret who but lately dwelt in Par
Is! Away with such megrlms, sweetl
IT'S this dull village, filled with scowl-
ing Puritans, that weareth on thy
nerves, l do protest L truth, Marga-
| ret" he continued more thoughtfully,
"a man whose lot hath been to be much
| at court MS mine hath sees many sides
of life, but beshrew me IL have ever
before encountered such Ignorance, in
| tolerance and narrow minded bigotry
as doth here exist. Ofttimes when
| lounging about the inn and perforce
| listening to the conversations and ar
guments of these sorry wights / fain
must call for another bumper in an
| endeavor to raise my sinking spirits
| lest / do myself harm from sheer de-
preston"
He laughed lightly at his jest, and
| Margaret smiled.
''Then the manner Of my cousin Jo-
siah Taunston and his mother doth
| grieve me-" she continued softly. "They
| make their avoidance of me so plain,
and Hetty, whom ! love, Is forbid my
house. Each day receive an added
slight from them, one day this, an
| other that. Only this morning one of
the shepherds brought me word that
| two more lambs were stricken with the
disorder that is spreading about among
| the sheep, causing much loss and dam
| age So when l was dressed crossed
| over to mine aunt's house to ask Of her
| the remedy she hath for the malady.
| To my civil greeting she returned
| surly nod, did not invite me to enter
and replied that she knew OF no cure
for the trouble among my sheep unless
it was constant prayer. Then she ad-
vlsed me with sneers and grim inslnu-
ations to ask God on my knees to lift
| the evil out of my heart and to scatter
the black and evil spirits that had to
| all appearances obtained control Of
me-"
Talked she so to thee, sweet" Sir
Eodfrey cried angrily. Thou goeth
there then no more! She hates thee be-
cause thou wilt not love josiah
-Auu hlCl was EOiiE uOhh thG
path" Margaret continued, II met Het-
ty coming from the brook with the
ewers, and when she stopped to give
me greeting her mother called to her
quite wildly from the doorway to come
on at once, as IL she feared would do
Hetty HARM" she concluded sadly.
For a time La Fabienne sat quietly,
maintaining an angry silence; then he
said
Margaret, methought once to go
away for the nonce and then come
back for thee. But now, when / go,
I'll take thee with me, and We'll re-
turn no more"
Margaret slipped her hand into his
with clinging fingers.
Godfrey, oh, my love-" she whisper
ed, with tears standing In her eyes,
there Is Il terror, an apprehension I'M
defined, hanging over me. The cold
looks Of these people weigh heavy on
my heart. Take me with thee when
thou goest."
'An thou say the word we go to-
morrow" he exclaimed sternly, hold
ing the small hand strongly in his own.
Right willingly would I, Godfrey.
for without my dear father naught
pleasant here doth hold me. But cares
of the estate, the selection of perma-
nent overseer, which / find difficult;
new buildings for the tenants, now In
construction, and many matters OF Inn
portance TO mine interests will keep
me here a few weeks longer. Clothe
thy soul in patience for that small
time, dear Godfrey"-she lifted her
head quickly, smiling through her tears
-"an' when thou seest solemn face
that doth depress thee
''Ill think of thine, my winsome
love-" ho interrupted happily. pleased
at the change in her mood. "a face so
beauteous TO mine eyes that when
remembrance of 1t shall fash across
my mental vision ] swear that all
black horrors will disappear, melted
away. verify, by the radiance Of It,"
Thou fatterer, Godfrey Margaret
exclaimed softly, her lips curving into
n smile. such high sounding praises
come easily 10 courtler. Nay"-she
raised her 1nger warningly-"swearn
by
One OF the lads from the village COM
Ing around the corner Of the house in
fhnfr IIranttlr aanuaH NfarUarak IN