Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-08-02
CHAPTER yvu

was riding up the mountain to-
ward The village, slowly and with
slackened rein, talking earnestly in
low tones.
NAY. Godfrey. am not ill. But
since the shocking news of Christie
piers Death l cannot lift his trouble
from my heart" she was saying in re-
ply, cvi 'sa.ly, to some remark he had
j,.;t made ~ Go reproach myself
I'LL IN NiGe own sccrr.ty allowed
- LA 10 f,..o.,' hi; ,:.clilat:n:l end -
i..;.;;i'::', CEe comi:.::s!:,:......s wa.l
So: =: :, ,.i,h Il li.::.,.:.::. t:i.t wou:i
taiu I'll |:lanic OF the so.;.sm.tA'.; ;,..::sn..
world lave sen. him 10 the Kitchen.
All, l:.cl:i1ayr
''rhou'rt over sensitive, my love, an
must needs bear the suffering of all
about thee" La Fabienne said. Blame
not thyself for what was not thy fault.
BY the Lord, thou asked the lad to
remain and he would not. None other,
Margaret, unless she had thy tender
conscience, would so uniustly reproaeh
herself. Come, cheer thee. Laugh,
smile, sweet, or else. | swear, I'll get
the blue mcSrlinS mySelf!
"Jest not dear Godfrey, for me-
thinks that others hold my careless
ness against me, for ycsternight, when
riding through the village, noticed sui
len looks, ana instead of the usual
formal greetings saw only frowning
glances or averted faces"
Again It's thine Imagination that's
at fault her companion insisted, in
gey good humor. Gods pity. but
cannot much blame thce,~sweet, for of
| all lean shankcd, sour faced folk e'er
have met these mountain folk take
precedence Thou should hear good
| Gaston's surly jests at their expense!
Right mcrrily would thou laugh, my
sweet
Margaret not making reply, they pur-
| sued their way in silence until they
reached low log house. where just
before the door group of children
We're throwing corn to Il hen and her
young brood. An elder girl. barefoot
ell and dirty faced looked up curiously
at the approach of the riders; then,
| throwing back her tangled hair, opened
her eyes in wonder at the sight of such
unusual splenlor, for the bright sun
fell ON Margaret's hair and lighted the
| thrc;ldwork of gold on her dress. the
\ soft wind caught her long white veil
of gossamer wuund about her riding
hat. tossing it lightly in the air. and
La Fabienne, in his usual splendid
dress, rode after her smiling. his hand
In the leather purse OF his belt, ready
to throw some loose coin to the young
sterS.
At that instant woinHn III a torn
cotton frock appeared at the doorway.
her face drawn in terror and pointing
| long finger toward Margaret.
"Tirzah! Clarlnda! Lukew she Shrek
ed. Come in behind the doors! 'ris
the lady with the evil cross! Hast for
got the lad Chr!stopher's fate? Run!
command ye to rum
The panic stricken children, with
white faces and in great fear, rushed to
their mothers side. clinging to her
skirts tremblingly as she slammed the
door and noisily drew the bolt
What said the sllrewish wench?"
1 NuDlellllS us llG LUX Ills pbtCe
beside Margaret.
q did not exactly get her meaning.
but she called the Children from me.
warning them of poor Christophor's sad
DEATH" she replied "As l told thee.
Godfrey, all Llame of the lads mis-
fortune is laid to mine Indifference"
La Fabienne noting the cloud on his
/ ,,ipn's. rpno liz. p,.-y trrn,,, II, ,,l,
and he laid hi:; hand upon his sword.
"By heaven, Margaret. an any man
makes such destinations in my hearing
I'll run him through
NAY, talk not of Eloo,shed. Cod
frey" she answered. With n gentle
sigh, "but think rather of the time
when we will ride away together FROM.
these unjust people to a joyous and
happy life IN France"
"Naught but that horc and the sweet
joy of thy presence doth keep me lef'e
do assure tlae, Margaret" lie replied
seriously. "but, mark re, sweet, until
we leave no man Sights thee without
settling the reckoning with me-"
Margaret, whose kind heart was full
of sorrow and trouble ut the recent
misadventurc, also the consequent con
duct OF her neigl.lors. took heart at he,
lovers fond woods.
"Thy protection ana love giveth me
great comfort, Goafrey," she replied
Then, witt! Il little sigh. But, wot
this is a n!ort depressing neighbor
hood"
n IS11,in,,,,n l,,t ii,,lt
at her last observation.
"See, yonac:." she continued. ais Ad
ANS cottage. The goldsmith, where pool
Christonhcr's body ,iutl, awaiting bur
ial. AIethin:ss Tie wreath of roses
sent yesterday WIS not enough to ex
press my GympathH would like *
offer Adam some gold. 10 .'a.,. Hap
pen the old man is in acel III i'll; hon
Of trouble"
At the sound OF horses. lioof.; Adam
Browdie appeared al the door, al,
when he saw who ii WAS drew back
with blanched face his tongue cleayin.
to the roof OF hi; mouth.
II give thee good day, ADAM" Mar
garet said, riding closer, and hav;
much sympathy Will thee in thy so..
row. Wilt take this small handful u
gold, good man, as ut times like thes,
folk have many extra needs"
The sun, giittaring over the house
fell on the cross lying OH .hcr bosom
Illuminating 1t. In Adams fear al,
terror 1t was all he saw, and to his ex
cited Imagination 1t appeared to blazer
forth, covering the Whole front of he
dress.
go on thy wicked way!" he criet
= in quavering tones, '.and stop not be
fore the dooS where thou hast wrough
such dire evil. Thy wreath of rose
lieth in ashes in the road! We applied
Il torch ere thy servant left; and til!
gold, take it with thee. want /
mott"
lie closed the door and fastened 1t
drawing the bar across with noisy vi
olence. Margarets face was white as
she picked up her rein, and In Fabi