Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-11-10

81
oJThat then, Godfrey?"
It. but so nearly were our horses swept
from under us by the swift current OF
the stream and so difficult was 1t for
| them to gain a footing on the steep
embankment Of slippery rocks on the
other side, that, + truth, / thought we
would be lost. After much maneuver-
ing and some desperate chances we
found shallower water, little sand,
and triumphantly gained the other side.
"Then night came on, and over the
unknown road for a distance that SEEM
ed interminable we almost felt our
way" And he laughed lightly at the
recollection. "Gaston's lamentations
and curses Of thy country, sweet, and
water running off me in streams, damp
ened mine ardor so that it was with
detection and rather heartless pleasure
that we beheld the first flicker Of light
from window ahead Of us on the
road. Reaching the house, or, rather,
| cabin that it was. knocked loudly for
admittance. A querulous old voice
babe me begone, cried feebly that there
was q tavern for strangers mile down
the road, and that we had no manners
to disturb a poor sick body at that
time O. night. So we continued on our
journey until we reached house with
signs of life about it that proved to be
the tavern.
"a solemn visaged landlord received
us, took our order for a good warm
supper, called boy to take the horses,
and we entered.
allow great distance to the May
land farm? inquired as he showed
us to room.
"'The Maryland farm? he repeated
in stupid bewilderment. 4 ha' meier
heard on It,
"'Fool! Churlv exclaimed, my pa
thence exhausted by the long series of
discomforts. Thou Invest at Cragen-
stone and hath ne'er heard Of the May
land farm!
"'But this Is the village of Stern
dorf,' he answered. 'Cragenstone lieth
on t'other side of the mountain, across
the forest. Prithee, sir, it's a long, ter
dious, roundabout journey from here
to there Margaret. i'm my surprise
and disappointment at his information
I could have run him through, so des-
IN
sympathetic face and no better sugges-
ton to offer than that we abide there
until the ending of the storm mad
dened me, and, as though the fault of
the mistake were his instead of mine,
babe the fellow begone in my surliest
tones. 'Twould weary thee, hearts love,
to tell thee ALL" he continued, with
sigh-'how the next day the storm
ragged, preventing our departure, and the
next and next; how took counsel re-
peatedly with the oilers about the tav-
ern as to the expediency of our setting
forth and how they all assured me
gravely that it would be impossible to
ford the Skolvent stream. Then grew
listless and, to my surprise, seemed not
to care; had no appetite; mine eyes
swelled and smarted in my head, fol-
lowed by nausea and hot fever Then,
dire calamity, l was attacked with the
pest called measles, disease raging
in every house In the village, and lay
Ill Of it for near fortnight, and, Mar
no rot whom r xyos cfropO enough ond
safe Of contagion to come to thee all
traces of the storm had passed, the
stream was passable, and we rode
forth, with blithe farewells to the So
Der faced loungers about the tavern
door, down the mountain to find the
right road that brought us at last hap. |
PLY to Cragenstone. Sweet, art glad
10 see met"
Margaret pressed the hand gently |
that held hers, saying, with sigh Of
content: "Thou knowest well, dear God
frey, how glad am I. Such nights of
suspense, such burning fevers Of i'm
patience, such days of hourly heart
sick expectation, no mortal e'er before
experienced. Methought perchance that
thou vert dead, Godfrey, that thou
vast SO long in coming"
NAY, heavens gift of joy, I lived for
thee"
For moment neither spoke; then La
Fabienne said suddenly: "But tell me,
Margaret, of thy cousin. Certes, he
seemed an i'll favored whelp enough.
So he would wed with thee, my lover"
"What rare fortune, Godfrey, that
thou didst come irtimew she exclaim-
ed, with a shudder. "An thou had
delayed another minute that vile
wretch had put his lips to mine"
La Fabienne's face darkened, and he
exclaimed angrfly as he laid his hand
upon his sword.
"See my bodice how it's torn? And
my kerchief is in ribbons, SO desperate
was our encounter. In my fright !
screamed quite wildly"
"And thou didst call my name," he
said fondly. Il recall my surprise at
hearing it. Had thou news of mine
arrival, MargaretT
NAY, dear Godfrey" she answered,
with little laugh that was half sob
as she buried her face in the velvet
folds Of the pulled sleeve Of his
doublet. "Thy name, that does ever
dwell securely in my heart, in my
necessity sprang from thence to my
lips, and they gave voice to it. Then
thou, as if sent specially by kind
Providence to rescue me, burst through
The thicket and nOw-thou art here"
AYE, 1 am here" he said, with par
ocular emphasis. "But, sweet, art not
III 90 rxr from, OF rdines co lopor %