The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1905-02-04
cHAPTER |.

esty's colony Of Virginia. 1t
- drank the opal mists Of the
marshes, decked the fields into shadow
haunted cloth Of gold and so unrolled
over the old "piddle plantation" where
a round century before Bacon and his
men had taken the oath against Eng
land, browsing, yellow mid-May aft
ternoon.
Two quickened rivers, like silver CIR
dies unclasped, wound through the
lowland, FROM where phantom-far lay
the shadows OF pines against the color
washed line Of sky. sharp edged and
black, In gigantic pointed fronds. The
rivers rolled broadly to the sea, hold
ing between them green valley sweet
with the warm perfumes of leaf and
flower, and this valley folded to It's
heart Williamsburg, the gay little cap
ital.
The teal and mallard that winged
over from York to James looked down
thereon and saw a single broad thor
oughfare, shaded by poplars and null
berries, with William and Mary col.
lege at one end and the new capitol
at the other. Struggling streets Of
wide porched houses bordered with gar
dens debouched upon this, and spread
Ing away in oil directions, like gathered
ribbons, by league long plantation and
through broken forest, went tawny,
twisting roads.
Along one of these roads. by clumps
Of rustllng laurel, came a great coach
with green body and brown cloth, bear
Ing the arms of the Tillotsons of Glad
den Hall. A black body servant rode
behind 1t a-horseback.
The coach. which rolled humping
and swinging ponderously where the
way was rugged, pleasantly and light
" where the road was smooth, held
matron and a slender girl. The latter
was Of that age when nature paints
with her richest brush. Her hair was
a wave Of russell lights, with shadows
OF warmer brown. Her face, rose
stained, was the texture of a rose. Her
mouth, below serious eyes of blended
blue, gave touch of willfulness. If
there was intentness on the brow, SO
was there languor in the lips, red. half
ripe, the upper short and curved to
smile. She was all raptures-all sap
phire and rose gold against the dark
cushion,
Both as they rode were silent, look
Ing out through either wide window
upon the warm, scent stepped glimpses
of the way All along were waving
reaches of wheat, where the poppy
flung its wrinkled splash of red or
acres of young growing tobacco where
In sweating slaves tolled listlessly, their
songs woven with the undertone of the
sluggish stream, slashed by reviling
oaths and whip crackings of bearish
overseer. At the dusty edges of the
road thistle and wild honeysuckle
scrambled for their breath, and cow
slips went spinning yellow ribbons. 1t
was a slumberous land swathed in
tremulous haze of heat and wash of
sun.
Anne" said the matrcn at length.
withdrawing her gaze from the win
dow.
yes, Aunt Mildred"
10 you intend to treat that boy bad
Typ
The girl was silent, gazing across the
fields, watching the birds slender fash
ings In the olive hollows.
you haven't answered my ques-
ton"
"What ouestionfv
DO you intend to treat that boy bad
Typ
What boyT" inquired Anne. with a
sweetness that BODIED other things.
Francis Byrd"
Il intend to treat him as l always
have-no better, nor worse
THE world has changed since my
time reelected Mrs. Tillotson. maids
deemed themselves lucky to have one
gallant and wasted small time in wed
ding. Last winter ! thought II had
been Captain Jarrat Now he is left
for Molly Byrd to make eyes at. The
way that woman nctsl So suppose
II VIII be with Francis"
Lot them cease arranging things for
''f AANht 'ii'd 4Annc i VIII not be
put up and bargained for. will be
the subject OF no family councils. |
VIII wed when and whom ] please"
Her aunt looked a BIT startled NJ the
outburst
"Of course. Of course" she assented
mildly but you don't please. You're
eiehtoen-tNo years older than / was
when J nnTied your uncle. Franeis
Byrd OF Westoyer Is the pick " them
all"
HE - a mWe boy" Apno's tone held
growing inpoflonce.
'ife ~ MOI 600 young" went Oh NJ.
illioison, no lake stock ~ all you SAY.
tqi nenemper, dear, tllaf ho b 10 wear
~ fplql coloF nov iIls al We'll
etppHl foF }pu Rnd mo ~ ho onen
NMsl ~ dQpi hnYe a. % any oaih
ieAinf end iley donf hang us. Rui
Antf mnn fAnno' le ~ fl1o N i0nfueN
Ahpf lNlnna pnH lor
hnQN ~ lns NJ Nw aho Du1a
ffAhNf n ll4iNH lD4 N AlleuI. /
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