Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-06-08
CHAPTER VIII.

path that led to the Maryland farm,
making with her crimson riding habit
and yellow hair brilliant speck of
color against the dark background of
the green trees and foliage. Her horse
stepped slowly, the rein falling loose
on its neck, and Margaret, pale faced
and detected, rode along listlessly. A
lark calling his mate sent strong. sweet
notes across the forest; busy squirrel,
disturbed by the advent of horse and
rider, ran chattering up the trunk of
tree, and the little spring brook bub-
bled across the mountain road and
splashed and sparkled in the sunlight,
but Margaret, lost in her sad reverie,
iode on unheeding with bowed figure
ind dropping head.
Elsbeth, who for an hour past had
been peering anxiously out of win
dow that overlooked the roadway, spy
ing her young charge at the gates,
threw open the door at her approach
with a great show of cheerful activity.
Enter, pretty, an rest thyself." she
cried as Margaret alighted from the
horse and threw the reins to old Giles.
Then, lifting her eyes in mute de-
spair to Elsbeth's 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 jeweied riding whip, her heavy
skirts trailing after her as she came.
Il care not to eat" she said sadly.
Then, as if unable to conceal her dis
appointment or to contain her suffer
ing she cried out brokenly: "E1sbeth,
another day most gone and Godfrey
hath not come. An wander where
will 1 can get no word OF him. Mine
eyes are strained with looking down
the road that leads from London, and
my heart aches near to bursting with
loneliness and apprehension. Three
weeks last Sunday since l received his
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, l 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
disappointmc with less hope and
some misgiy.s But tonight'-she
drew 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
up her head with a little tragic ges-
ture, II tell thee Godfrey Is i'll or dead,
for so perfect is my knowledge of his
unselfish love for me that l 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 a moment.
"Tut, tut, my bonny maidl Let not
such fearsome thought beset thee" she
urged earnestly Take heart, Mar
garet. l promise thee-thine old Els.
beth who loves thee doth promise
thee-that ere the sun goeth down on
another day thy lover III hold thee in
his arms
Margaret smiled sadly. "An 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
wearily night after night for the man
who hast thine whole heart thou would
pity me-"
Il 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 So
berly; ''such faith, such trust. thou with
thine evil suspicious and grim fore,
bodings 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 overfiowed on her cheeks-"I am
SO beset on every side"
"Beset! Margaret, tell me. Who trou-
bles theeg'
Il 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 so
open and determined that, L truth, l
have fear of him."
She drew a sharp, shuddering breath.
"Elsbeth, the sight of my cousin
strikes a chill to my heart. l know
that he is an upright man and godly,
but he tells me SO plainly of his firm
determination to win me at all haz-
ards; there is something so cruel in
his eyes and so relentless in his bear
ing, that he sets me all a-tremble At
night l have evil dreams of him. and
my waking hours are filled with bad
presentiments. Oh, Esbeth" - she
burst out crying bitterly-''pray God to
send me Godfrey
There, there. Take off this riding
dress that hangs so heavily about
thee"-Elsbeth stroked the bowed head
gently-"and don thine azure muslin