Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-04-27


folk of the timber-land came out upon
their towers to denounce.
| made my way over the rustling
brittle leaves, and soon found a trail
that led up over high land. | fol-
lowed it for a matter of some minutes
and came to the road, taking my left
hand way, as they told me. There
was no traveller in sight. | walked as
fast as | could, passing a village at
sunrise, where | asked my way in
French at a Smithy. Beyond there was
narrow clearing, stumpy and rank
with briers. on the upside of the way.
Presently, looking over level stretch,
| could see trees arChing the road
again, from under which. as | was
looking, squad of cavalry came out
in the open. 1t startled me. | began
to think | was trapped. thought of
lodging into the brush. But, no; they
had seen me, and | would be fool now
to turn fugitive | looked about me.
Cows were feeding near. | picked up
a stick and went deliberately into the
bushes, driving one of them to the pike
and heading her toward them. They
went by at a gallop, never pulling up
while in sight of me. Then | passed
the cow and went on, stopping an hour
later at lonely log house, where
found French people, and a welcome
that included moose meat, a cup of
coffee and fried potatoes. Leaving,
rode some miles with a travelling
tinker, a voluble, well-meaning youth
who took a liking for me, and went
far out of his way to help me on. He
blushed proudly when, stopping to
of militia, they inquired if l was his
wife.
mo; but she may be yet" said he;
who knOWs?"
| knew it was no good place for me,
and felt some relief when the young
man did me this honor. From that
moment they set me down for a sweet
heart.
She's too big for you. my boy"
said the general, laughing.
The more the better" said he;
cant have too much of a good wife
l said little to him as we rode along.
He asked for my address, when | left
him, and gave me the comforting as
surance that he would see me again
| made no answer, leaving him at
turn where, north of us, | could see
the white houses of Wrentham. Kings
ton was hard by its fort crowning
hilltop by the river.
1t was past three by a tower clock
at the gSte Of the Weirs when | got
there. A driveway through tall oaks
led TO the mansion of dark stone.
Many acres of park and field and gar
den were shut in with high walls.
rang bell at the small gate, and some
fellow in livery took my message.
"Wait ere, my lass" said he, with
an English accent. Il II go at once
to the secretary"
sat in rustic chair by the gate
side, waiting for that functionary.
''Ah, come in, come in," said he,
coOlly, as he opened the gate little.
He said nothing more, and followed
him-an oldish man with gray eyes
and hair and side-wh iskers, and neat
ly dressed, his head covered to the ears
with a nigh hat. tilted backward. We
took a stone path, and soon entered a
rear door.
''She may sit in the servants hall"
said he to one of the maids.
They took my shawl as be went
away, and showed me to a room where,
avidapt1v tho car,op+c ala tboi, o,t
ing. They were inquisitive, those
kitchen maids, and now and then |
was rather put to it for a wise reply.
| said as little as might be, using the
dialect, long familiar to me, of the
French Canadian. My bonnet amused
them. 1t was none too new or fashion
able, and | did not remove it.
Afraid we II steal it," | heard one
of them whisper in the next room.
Then there was a loud laugh.
They gave me a French paper
read every line Of it, and sat looking
out of a window at the tall trees, at
servants who passed to and fro, at his
lordship's horses, led up and down for
exercise in the stable-yard, at the twi-
light glooming the last pictures of
long day until they were all smudged
with darkness. Then candle-light, a
trying supper hour with maids and
cooks and grooms and footmen at the
big table, English every one of them,
and set up with naughty curiosity. |
would not go to the table, and had a
cup of tea and a biscuit there in my
corner. A big butler walked in hur-
riedly awhile after seven. He looked
down at me as if l were the dirt of the
gutter.
They re waitin'," said he. curtly.
"An' Sir Chawles would like to know
if ye would care for humberreller?"
"Ah, m'sieu'! he rains?' | inquired
mo, num-"
"Ah! he is going to rain, maybe?"
He made no answer, but turned
quickly and went to near closet
from which he brought a faded UNI