Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-08-03

and been outdone by none there vas
sudden halt: then. before | knew
what was to happen, around her leap
ed laughing score Of them. shouting
that here was the true Maid Marion.
and that old John Lubberkin could
now resign his post.
Then off the hobby horse they tun
bled him. and the lads and lasses gail
cred around her. and the graybeards.
standing aloof with some chagrin.
would. believe. in spite of me- since
they outnumbered me vastly. have
forced Catherine into that rude pa
geant as Maid Marion But while
was thrusting them aside. holding my
self before her as firmly as | might.
there came a quick clatter of hoofs.
and Mistress Mary had dashed along
side on Merry Roger. She scattered
the merry jewellers right and left, call
ing out to her sister to go homeward.
with laugh. s'Fie on thee. Gather
ine.' she cried out. IF thou art
abroad on May morning dressed
like the queen of it, what blame can
there be to these good folk for giving
thee thy queendom?"
Catherine did not move to go when
the people drew away from her, but
rather stood looking at them with that
lurking fire in her eyes and flush on
her fair cheeks Mistress Mary sat on
her horse. curling him with her little
hand, and her golden curls foated
around her like a cloud, for she had
ridden forth without her hood on hear
ing the sound of the horns and bells,
eager to see the show like any child.
and she merrymakers stared at her.
grinning with uncouth delight and new
er any resentment.
There was that in Mary Cavendish's
look when she chose to have it so that
could. | verify believe. have swayed
an army, so full of utter good will and
loving kindness it was, and, more than
that. Of such confidence in theirs in re-
turn that it would have taken not only
knayes, but knaves with no conceit of
themselves. to have foresworn her good
opinion Of them Suddenly there rose
a great shout and such a volley of
cheering and hallooing as can come
only from English threats.
A tall lad cast a great wreath over
Mistress Mary's own head and cried
out with shout that here, here was
Maid Marion And scores of voices
echoed his with Maid Marion, Mar
ion" And then, to my great astonish-
ment and dismay, for man is with
no enemy SO much at loss as with q
laughing one, since it wrongs his own
bravery to meet smiles with blows.
they gave forth that | was Robin
Hood; that the convict tutor, Harry
Wingfield. was Robin Hood,
l felt myself white with wrath then
and was for blindly wrestling with a
great fellow who was among the fore
most, shaking with mirth, an oak
wreath over his red curls making him
look like satyr, when Mistress Mary
rode between us. sack, Master Wing
field" said she II pray thee. stand
back" Then she looked at the folk,
all smiles and ready understanding of
them, until they hurrahed again and
rang their bells and blew their horns,
and she looked like blossom tossed
on the wave of pandemonium
had my hand on her bride rein,
ready to do my best should any rude
ness be offered her, when suddenly she
raised her hand and made a motion,
and to my utter astonishment the
brawling throng, save for some on the
outskirts, which quieted presently, be-
came still Then Mistress Mary's voice
arose clear and sweet, with childish
note of innocence in it:
Good people," said she, .sfain would
be your Maid Marion, and fain would
be your queen of May if you would
hold with me this kingdom of Virginia
Aagainst tyrants and oppressors."
/ question if a dozen there grasped
her meaning, but, after a seconds gap
ing stare, such shout went up that it
seemed to make the marshes culver. |
know not what mad scheme was in the
maids head, but | verify believe that
throng would have followed her where
ever she led. and the tobacco plants
might have been that morning cut had
she so willed.
But | pulled hard at her bride, and
forgot my customary manner with
her. SO full of terror for her was.
For Gods sake. child, have done"
said, and she looked at me, and there
came strange expression, which had
never seen before, into her blue eyes,
half of yielding as to some strength
which she feared. and half of that high
enthusiasm of youth and noble senti-
ment which threatened to swamp her
in its mighty flow as 1t had done her
hero Bacon before her.
know not if | could have held her,
it all passed in second the while those
wild huzzas continued, and the crowd
pressed closer, all crowned and crested
with green, like tidal wave of spring
but another argument came to me, and
that moved her. "'Tis not yourself