Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-26
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"a n leafy branches over the grass
w that stretched out before the
house the young mistress of
| the Maryland farm, wearing a dress of
thinnest white linen, sat with her lover
on wooden bench. Both We're silent,
La FaDienne watching with interest
the endeavors OF Il young robin that
was struggling with large ground
Worm and Margaret absorbed in her
own Thoughts, that seemed from the
pensive and serious expression on her
face TO be far away and troublesome.
Although large clouds had spread
themselves over the sky, obscuring the
sun, the heat of the afternoon seemed
to exceed that of the morning. Not
leaf stirred; the dogs lay motionless in
the shade painting, and the air was
close, surcharged with heat and heavy.
Giles, passing with Il wagon load Of
stones, touched lis hat respectfully,
calling TO them that relief was in sight,
as the clouds were forming for a thun-
derstorm.
AN from the looks Of yon black
cloud metllinls twill be heavy one,
good Giles" La Fabiennc replied; then,
turning to Margaret, who at the in
terruption of lie. meditation had drawn
a quick breath, half sigh, half an
expression of unpleasant thought, in,
quired, "Iiath' lightning terrors for
thee, sweet:'
Nay, not now, when thou art here"
she said gently, laying ler hand on his
sleeve with caressing touch, but
last night, Godfrey, l had a dream Of
evil omen that, | confess, hath dis
turbed me. dreamt thift enemies by
stratagem took thee from me; then
came telling re that thou vert in this
place and that to taunt me. Wild eyed,
my hair hanging down my back and
giving loud piercing shi'ielss of distress,
l followed tiIelr directions only to find
upon my arrival that thou vert not
there. Oh. Godfrey, twas an awful
night! An The terror of it hangs DER
me today"
Bon Dieu," he exclaimed, pressing
the SINAI! hand alroctionately, "how art
thou changed from the gay, laughing
Margaret who but lately dwelt in Par
is! Away with a:tA megrins, sweet!
TITS this dull village, filed with scowl-
| ing Puritans, that weareth on thy
nerves. do protest. T. truth, Marga-
ret he continued more thoughtfully,
"a man whose lot hath been TO be much
ut court rs mine hath sees many sides
OF life, but besllrew ne il have ever
before encountered such ignorance, in
tolerance and narrow minded bigotry
as doth lle.e exist. Outlines when
Longing about tie inn ana pcrforcc
listening 10 The conversations and az
guments of these sorry wights l fain
must call for another bumper in an
cnGeavor to raise my sinking spirits
lest do myself harm from sheer de-
preston"
lie laughed lightly ut his jest, and
Margaret smiled.
Then the manner of my cousin Jo-
siah Taunston and his mother doth
grievc me-" she continued softly. "rhey
make u)eir avoidance of me so plain,
and Hetty. whom l love, is forbid my
house. Each day ! receive an added
slight from them, one day this, aa-
OTHER that. Only this morning one of
the shepherds brought me word that
two more lambs We're stricken with the
disorder that is spreading about among
the sheep, causing much loss and dam
age. So when E-as dressed crossed
over to mine aunt's house to ask of her
the remedy she hath for the malady.
10 my civil greeting she returned
surly nod, did not invite me to enter
and replied that she knew of no cure
for the trouble among my sheep unless
1t WAS constant prayer. Then she ad-
vised me with sncers and grim insinu-
atoms to ask God On my knees to lift
the evil out of my heart and to scatter
the black and evil spirits that had to
all appearances obtained control of
me-
Talked she so 10 thee, sweet:" Sir
Godfrey cried angtiiy Thou gocth
there then 10 more. SHE hates thee be-
cause thou wilt.not love .Ioslah."
And when 1 was going down the
path Margaret continued, Il met IIet-
ty coming from the brook with the
ewcrs, and when she stopped TO give
me greeting her mother called to her
quite wildly from the doorway to come
on ut once, rs if she feared ! would do
Hetty HARM" she concluded sadly.
For Il time La Iabienne sat quietly,
maintaining an angry silence; then he
said:
Margaret, metliought once to go
away for the nonce and then come
back for thee. But now, when l go,