Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-07-13

carry the cases. Twas two miles in
land, and | maryeled much to hear
her, for even should nearly all the
crew go, the load would be a grievous
one, it seemed to me. But to my mind
Captain Calvin Tabor behaved as if
the order was one which he expected
Neither did the sailors grumble, but
| straightway loaded themselves with the
cases raised upon a species of hurdles
which must have been provided for the
purpose and proceeded down the bride
another song even more at odds with
the day than the first
The captain marched at the head of
the sailors, and Mistress Mary and fol-
lowed slowly through the narrow aisle
Of green. | rode ahead, and often pulled
my horse to one side, pressing his body
hard against tie trees that | might
hold back a branch which would have
caught her headgear. All the way we
never spoke. When we reached Laurel
Greek, Mistress Mary drew the key from
her pocket, which showed to me that
the visit had been planned should the
ship have arrived. She unlocked the
door, and the sailors, no longer singing,
for they We're we'll nigh spent by the
journey under the heavy burdens, de-
posted the cases in the great room.
Laurel Creek had belonged to Mistress
Mary's maternal grandfather, Colonel
Edmond Lane, and had not been in
habited this many a year, not since
Mary was baby in arms.
The old furniture still stood in the
accustomed places, looking desolate
with that peculiar desolateness of life
less things which have been associated
with man. The house at Laurel Greek
was a fine mansion, finer than Drake
Hill, and the hall made me think OF
England. Great oak chests sto11
against the walls, hung with rusting
swords and armor and empty powder
horns. A carved seat was beside the
cold hearth. and in a corner was a tall
spinning wheel, and the carved stair
led in a spiral ascent of mystery to the
shadows above.
When the cases We're all deposited
in the great room Mistress Mary held
short conference apart with Captain
Calvin Tabor, and | saw some gold
pass from her hand to his Then she
thanked him and the sailors for their
trouble very prettily in that way she
had which would have made every
one as willing to die for her as to car
ry heavy weights. Then we all fled
out from the house and Mistress Mary
locked the door and babe goodby to
Captain Tabor; then he and his men
took again the bride path back to the
ship, and she and proceeded church
ward on the highway.
When we were once alone together
l spurred my horse up to hers and
caught her bride and rode alongside
and spoke to her as if all the past
were naugf /, and with the right to
which l had been born 1t had come
to that pass with me in those days
that all the pride had left was that
Of humility, but even that was ready
to give up for her if necessary.
ssTell me, madam said |, what was
in those cases.?
Have | not told your she said, and
knew that she whftened under her
mask.
There is more than woman's fnery
in those cases, which weigh like lead"
said l. What do they contain?"
Mistress Mary had, after all, little of
the feminine power Of subterfuge in
her. If she tried it it was, as in this
case, too transparent Straight to the
point she went with perfect frankness
of daring and rebellion as boy might.
1T requires not much wit, methinks,
Master Wingfield, to see that" said
she. Then she laughed. Lord, how
the poor sailor men toiled to lift my
gauzes and feathers and ribbonsw said
she. Then her blue eyes looked at me
through her mask with indescribable
daring and defiance.
sWell. and what will you do?" said
she. You are gentleman in spite
you are a gentleman, you cannot be
tray me to my hurt and you cannot
command me like child, for / am a
child no longer, and will not tell you
what those cases contain.
ssYou shall tell me- said I.
make me if you can" said She
Tell me what those cases contain,
said T.
Then she collapsed all at once, as
only the citadel of woman's will can
do through some inner weakness.
"Guns and powder and shot and par
tisans,,' said she. Then she added, like
one who would fain readjust herself
upon the heights of her own resolution
by good excuse for having fallen:
s'ETie, why should not have told you,
Master Wingheld? You cannot betray
me, for you are gentleman, and am
not a child"
why have you had guns and ammu-
milton brought from England?" asked.
But in the shock Of the discovery had
loosened my grasp Of her bride and