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

color | always fancied-
that it but fluttered a little around her
feet in the marsh grass, but her face
looked out from a green gauze hood
with an expression that belied all this
Steadfastness of primness and decorum.
1t was as if play actress had
changed her character and not her at
tire, which suited another part Out
came her slim arm, as if she would
have caught me by the hand for the
sake of compelling my answer. Then
she drew it back and spoke with all
the sharp vehemence of passion of a
woman who oversteps the bounds of
restraint which she has set herself and
is a wilder thing than if she had been
hitherto unfettered by her will
Il command you to tell me what /
wish to know, Harry Wingfeld," said
she, and now her eyes fixed mine with
no shrinking, but broadside of scorn
and imperiousness.
"And l refuse to tell you, madam
said l.
Then indeed she caught my arm with
little nervous hand like cramp of
wire. You shall tell me. sir" she de-
clared. This much / know already.
Yesterday the Golden Horn came in
and was unladen of powder and shot
instead of the goods that my sister pre-
tended to order, and the eases are
stored at Laurel Greek. This much do
know, but not what is afoot nor for
what Mary had conference with Sir
Humphrey Hyde and Ralph last night,
and you later on with Sir Humphrey.
/ demand of you that you tell me,
Harry Wingfield.'
'.That ! cannot do, madam" said l.
She gave me d look with those great
black eyes of hers, and how it came to
pass i never knew, but straight to the
root of the whole she went as If my
face had been an open book.
Such qtlickness of wit ! had often
heard ascribed to women. but never
saw ] aught like that, and ! trow it
seemed witchcraft "'Tis something
about the young tobacco plants"
quoth she '.1The king would not pass
the measure to cease the planting. and
the assembly Of this spring broke up
is clerk of the assembly, hath turned
against the government since Bacon
died, and all the burgesses are with
him. and Governor Culpeper sails for
England soon. and what. is the lieu
tenant governor to hold the reins
There is a plot Matching to cut down
the young tobacco plants" | could
but stare at her. There is a plot to
cut down the young tobacco plants as
soon as the governor hath sailed she
said, "and my sister Mary hath sent
to England for arms, knowing that the
militia will arise and there will be
fighting"
still stared at her, not knowing in
truth what to say. Then suddenly she
caught at my hands with hers and
cried out with that energy that saw
all at once the fire of life beneath that
fair show of maiden peace and calm of
hers: Harry, Harry Wingfeld, If
my grandmother, Madam Cavendish,
knows this. my sister Is undone; no
pity will she have Straight to the
governor will she go, though she hob
Bile on crutches to Jamestown She
would starve ere she would move
against the will of the king and his
representative, and so would |, but
win not have my little sister put to
suffering and shame God save her,
Harry Wingfeld, but she might be
thrown into prison and worse-I pray
thee, save her, Harry Whatever Ill
you have DONE and however sighting.
~ | have held you for it. pray you
do this good deed by way of amends,
and I will put the memory of your
misdeeds behind me-
Even then my bewilderment at her
mention Of my misdeeds, when verify
considered that she, as well as I, knew
more of her own. was strong, but /
grasped her two little hands hard,
then relinquished them and bowed and
said, Madam, will save your sister
at whatever coz.
sAnd count it notT, said she.
No more than ] have done before.
madam said 4 and maybe with some
little bitterness, for sometimes a WON
an By persistent goading may almost
raise herself to the fighting level Of
a man.
But how y said she.
That / must study 2
But | charge you to keep II from
Madam Cavendish."
You need have no fear
May God forgive me, but told
Madam Cavendish that the Golden