Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-08-24
overwhelmed me that / could not resisI

knowing We'll that III the END
should prove my strength, for the time
I gave myself to that advance Of man
before the spur of love which doubt
not is after the same fashion as the
unfolding Of the flowers III the spring
and the nesting of the birls ana the
reason to season, and would be as
uncomfortable We're it not that man
is mightier even than that to which
he owes his own existence, and hath
the power of putting that which he
loves before his own desire of it.
But for the time, knowing well that
| could al any time take up the reinS
to the bridling Of myself, let them
hang loose, and over and over / whis-
pered what Mary Cavendish had said,
| aud over and over felt that touch
Of delicate tenderness on my arm. and
/ built up such great castles that they
touched the farthest skies of my fancy,
and all the time Drawing the knowledge
that | should myself dash them into
ruins
But when looked out of my win
dow that May morning and saw that
wonderful fair world and that heaven
of blue light with rosy and golden
and green boughs blowing athwart it
and heard the whir of looms, the calls
and laughs Of human life, the coo of
dove, the hum of bees, the trill of mock
birds, outreaching all other heights of
| joy. the clangor Of the sea birds and
the tender rustic of the new leaved
branches in the wind, that love for me
which / had seen in the heart of the
woman | had loved since could re-
member seemed my own keynote of
the meaning of life sounding in my
ears above all other sounds of bane or
blessings
But the strength had to act in dis
cord with it and thrust my joy from
me, and / went to planning how
could best turn the child's fancy from
myself to some one who would be for
her best good. And vet / was not sat
listed with Sir Humphrey Hyde. and
wished that his wits were quicker. and
wondered ii years might improve them,
and if perchanee man as honest
might be found who had the keenness
of ability TO be the worst knave in the
country.
But the boy was brave. and | loved
his love for Mary Cavendish, and /
could think of no one to whom l would
so readily trust her, and it seemed to
me that perchance l might by some
praising OF him and swerving her
thoughts to his track lead her to think
favorabIy of his suit. But man
makes many mistake as to women,
and one of the most frequent is that
the hearts of them are like wax, to be
nodded into this and that shape.
That morning, when | met Mistress
Mary at the breakfast table, she was
pale and distraught. and not only did
not speak to me nor look at me, but
when / ventured to speak in praise of
Sir Humphreys gallant looks at the
ball she turned upon me so fercely
with encomiums of my Lord Estes,
whom knew to be not worthy Of her.
that held my tongue. But when Sir
Humphrey came riding up little lat
er she greeted him with such warmth
as at once put me to torture and
aroused that spirit of defense of her
against myself which hath been the
noblest thing in my poor life.
SO l left them, Mistress Catherine at
garden with Sir Humphrey, gathering
roses for the potpourrf jars and the
distilIing into rose water, for little idle
ness was permitted at Drake Hill even
after ball. got my horse, but as
| started forth Madam Cavendish call
ed--a stiffiy resolute old figure stand
ing in the great doorway and | dis
mounted and went to her, leading my
horse, which | had great ado to keep
from nibbling the blossoms of rose
tree which grew over the porch. "Har--
ry," she said in whisper, where is
Mary?"
"In the garden with Sir Humphrey
Hyde" answered
Then Madam Cavendish frowned.
"And why is she not at her lessons ?"
she asked sternly.
1.-THE lessons are set for the after
noon, and this morning she is gather
ing rose leaves. madam" | answered.
| But that Madam Cavendish knew as
well as /. having in truth so ordered
| the hours of the lessons.
But she said. besitating Then she
stopped and looked at me with an an
CRY indecision. and then at the garden,
where the top of Mary's golden head
was just visible above the pink mist
of the roses. and Sir Humphreys fair
one bending over It. Harry" she
said. frowning, and yet with piteous
sort of appeal, why do you not go
out into the garden and help to gather
the rose leaves?"
Then. before could answer, as ii
angry with herself at her own folly,