Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-05-11

"1ny 1armya ara COMPARISONS again. 81
mon! Now, fersooth, my words are
like rain falling on thy crops!"
It was several hours later when Mis-
tress Taunston on horseback, seated on
a pillion behind her son, rode into the
farmyard The storm had continued
to grow heavier, and the rain was now
falling in torrents. Despite the heavy
cloaks they wore, the riders were
drenched to the skin as a man, one Of
the farm hands, rubbing his eyes as IL
Just reused from sleeping, opened the
barn door for them to enter.
Light the candle, Jacob, and will
hold 1t while thy master doth put up
his horse" Mrs. Taunston ordered from
her high position. There. that is well.
Now help me to alight."
When on the ground she lifted the
light and, following Josiah, who was
leading the horse to Its stall, paused
moment to dismiss the man.
Thou canst go now, Jacob, to thy
bed l would have word in private
with thy master"
Taunston paused In the act of lifting
a measure Of oats to regard his mother
with surprise, thinking something of
unusual Importance must have happen
ed that she made so much ado about 1t.
In her storm beaten, mud besmlrch-
ed garments, holding the flaming can
die above her head, she approached
nearer, saying, "As brother Camett
rode with US, Josiah, had no chance
to speak with thee"
He nodded a rough assent, and she,
lowering her voice to whisper, said,
"My son, we spoke the other night of
certain rumors current that thy cousin
Margaret had left lover in France
that vast coming here anon TO claim
her hand in marriage"
Josiah's heart grew cold within him.
'I heard the idle gossip" he replied
hoarsely. ''but gave the rumor no ere
dence, as my cousin in our frequent
meetings hath made no mention Of
such a man. Why detain me here at
this late hour, when l am already chill
ed to the marrow, to fash me with such
'asant gossip? Margaret is so
young, her aunt so strict, much mis-
doubt me that she e'er hath had much
converse with men, much less already a
lover plighted and betrothed Let's to
the house. 'Tis filter place for con-
verse, il thou hast aught to say, than
this foul horse STALL with the wind
blowing the fame Of thy candle into
blaze"
He moved impatiently toward the
doorway, but his mother sprang before
him, laying strong OBTAINING hand on
his arm.
Hist Hetty waits within and must
not hear she said in an impressive
voice. Josiah, methinks l saw your
cousin Margaret's lover ride by good
Brother Haggott's door late this after
noon"
"Haw Josiah exclaimed sharply.
why dost thou think so? What man.
ner of man didst see?"
The two tall figures standing close
together in the dark barn under a
hanging loft of hay, with the splutter-
ing candle throwing out faint, uncer-
tain streaks Of light, presented weird
picture. Suddenly the horse whinnied
Both started.
Three hours after noon l closed
Mary Haggott's eyes in death" She
commenced her narrative slowly as one
who knew that what she had to say
would command attention. "And not
an hour later, when was still busying
myself about the chamber of the dead,
l heard sounds of horses feet and the
voices of men. Looking through the
lattice, espied cavalier richly dress
ed and mounted, followed by a serv-
ant They had reached the fork in
the roadway just below Haggott's and,
having pulled rein, there waited, unde-
cided which road to pursue. With
great interest l was still gazing from
behind my place of concealment with
wonder at the unusual appearance in
these parts of traveller so fashion
ably attlred when with quick decision
the knight rode up to the door and
knocked upon it loudly. Little Abigail
Haggott, who waited below, answered
the summons.
Which road to CragenstoneT he
asked,
"a feeling like the sharp prod of
knife went to my heart. l knew at
once that such man as tbat-evi-
IDENTIFY Il French nobleman or courtier-
sought not the village OF Cragenstone
unless he were in quest of thy cousin
Margaret Not one Of the plain people
that bide about here, forsooth, was the
magnet that was drawing that man 50
toilsomely up our rough hills. SO /
listened to their further converse with
hated breath. Abigail, almost stunned
with the shock and fear of her moth
ers death and surprised at the sudden
appearance of such a man at the door,
In her confusion and nervous fear in
structed him to keep right on
(Which road?" almost shrieked
Josiah
THE rocky, hilly, torturous ascent,
with deep ravines, aboundlng in tur-
bulent streams and containing preci-
pices sharp and sudden, wherewith to
menace and endanger lives of unwary
strangers-that road he took-the one
that doth lead to Sterndorf," she an
nounced, with grim calmness that did
not conceal the note of triumph in her
voice.
"At first when 1 did hear the timid
Abigail give the wrong direction ana
saw the men ride gayly forward me-
thought to call them back, for may
hap
An thou hadst," josiah interrupted
harshly, his face blanched with excite
ment, Il had ne'er forgiven thee!
Twas good hour when the maid met
him at the door and missent the world
ly gallant?
For q moment he stood there deep
in thought; then he added: I'm truth
tits a lonely road, and much doubt
that they will meet a traveller to give
them other instruction. The Skollvent
stream is greatly swollen. In their
eagerness to reach what they think is
Cragenstone they Will make desperate
efforts to ford 1t, and, once over, de-
layed in Sterndorf by this storm, that
will raise the water to twice its height"
he cried triumphantly, mo human be-
ing can return across that stream in
less than seven days. Pray for a con-
tinual, steady downpour of this rain,
good mother, and heaven give me skill