Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-07-13
MARY E.
WILKINS


rious and especial beauties of differ
ent times and circumstances, when she
was attired this way or that way, or
was grave or gay, or sweetly helpless
and clinging or full of daring. When.
riding near her, | did not look at her,
she seemed all of these in one, and
was conscious of such great dazzle
forcing my averted eyes that / seem
ed to be riding behind a star
That morning Mistress Mary glowed
and glittered and famed in gorgeous
apparel until she seemed to fairly
overreach all the innocent young flow
cry beauties of the spring with one
rich trill of color, like high note of
bird above a wide chorus of others.
Mistress Mary that morning wore a
tabby petticoat of a crimson color, and
crimson satin bodice shining over
her arms and shoulders like the plum
age of a bird, and down her back
streamed her curls, shining like gold
under her gauze love hood.
Mistress Mary wore a mask of black
velvet to screen her face from the sun,
and only her sweet forehead and her
great blue eyes and the rose leaf tip
of her chin showed.
The road was miry in places, and
then | would fall behind her farther
still that the water and red mud
splashing from beneath my horses
hoofs might not reach her. Then, final
ly, after / had done thus some few
times, she refined in her Merry Roger
and looked over her shoulder with
flash of her blue eyes which compelled
mine
why do you ride so far away,
Master Wingtield?" said she
/ lifted my hat and bent so low in
my saddle that the feather on it grazed
the red mud
Because | fear to splash your fine
tabby petticoat, madam" / answered.
Il care not for my fine petticoat,"
said she in petulant way, like that of
spoiled child who is forbidden sweets
and the moon and questions love in
consequence, yet still there was some
little fear and hesitation in her tone.
Mistress Mary was a most docile pupil,
seeming to have great respect for my
years and my learning, and was as
gentle under my hand as was her Mer-
ry Roger under hers, and yet with the
same sort of gentleness, which is as
the pupil and not as the master de-
cides and let's the pull of the other will
be felt
| answered not. yet kept at my dis
lance. but at the next miry place she
held in Merry Roger until was forced
to come up, and then she spoke again.
and as she spoke a mockbird was sing
ing somewhere over on the bank of the
river
Did you ever hear a sweeter birds
song than that Master Wingheld?'
said she. and answered that it was
very sweet. as indeed it Was
What do you think the bird is mock
ing. Master Ningfeld?' she said. and
then | answered like a fool for the
man who meets sweetness with his
own bitterness and keeps it not locked
in his own soul is a fool.
Il hope not said l, but he may be
hooking the hope of the spring and he
may be hooking the hope in the heart
Of man. The song seems too sweet for
a mock of any bird which has no
thought beyond this years nest
Mistress Mary's blue eyes. as help
less of comprehension as flower, leok-
ed IN mine.
But there will be another spring,
Master Wingfeid.' she said somewhat
timidly, and then she added, and
knew that she was blushing under her
mask at her own tenderness, and
sometimes the hopes of the heart come
true"
She rode on with her head bent as
one who considers deeply, but |, know
ing her well. knew that the mood
would soon pass, as it did. Suddenly
she tossed her head and flung out her
curls to the breeze and swung Merry
Rogers bride rein and was away at
gallop, and | after her, measuring the
ground with wide PAGES on my tall
thoroughbred. In this fashion we soon
left the plodding blacks so far behind
that they became 2 part of the distance
shadows.
Then all at once Mistress Mary
sweryed off from the main road and
was riding down the track leading to
the plantation wharf, whence all the
tobacco was shipped for England and
all the merchandise Imported for house
hold use unladen. There the way was
very wet, and the mire was splashed
high up on Mistress Mary's fine tabby
skirt, but she rode on at a reckless
pace, and also, much at a loss to
know what had come to her. yet not
venturing, or rather, perhaps, deigning,
to inquire. And then / saw what she
had doubtless seen before, the mast
Of ship rising straightly among the
trees.
When / saw the mast knew that
the ship belonging to Madam Cavern
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