Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-05
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CHAPTER VII.


lands Of the Maryland farm. But her
thoughts, never far from her son Jo-
kiah, soon strayed back to him.
"E'en now he Is at his wooing," she
Eaid to herself, with stern exultation,
"an' pray the good Lord who is ever
watchful of the faithful to put persua-
sive and convincing words on my lads
conduct"
For time she seemed lost in thought
until her distaff, falling from under her
arm, came to the floor with n rafting
noise that reused her. Then the re-
membrance Of Hetty, who upon her
arrival from her cousins had been sent
to the brook to fill the ewers, coming
to her mind, she rose suddenly to look
at the sun. Finding the hour to be lat
er than she had at first supposed, her
irritation and anger caused by her
daughters delay Mt the brook knew no
bounds. She called the girls name
shrllly once, twice, muttering angrily
as she got no response.
Just then Josiah rode in from his
visit to the Maryland farm.
cease thy shrewish screaming,
mother" he commanded roughly.
"Dost wish to rouse the village? Thy
voice can be heard half q mile be-
low"
The dame, angered ut his rebulSe, re-
sumed her seat in sulleh silence, and
Josiah took his horse to the barn. In
short time he returned and, entering
the kitchen, threw himself down heav-
ilX on a chair near his mother, who
continued to spin busily without ap-
parently needing his presence.
At last he broke the silence by saying
with affected carelessness: Thou didst
not tell me-if my memory serves me
well on SO slight matter-of what ap-
pearance the cavalier was that rode
by Haggott's and mistook the Stern
dorf road. Was lie an unbearded gal
liant, tickle and changeable as the wind,
one day mad in love with a pretty
face and forgetting it the next, or was
he old and gray haired, with an eye to
finishing his days In comfort on the
estate of his brideT
His mother looked out through the
doorway, reflectively maintaining for
a moment or two provoking silence.
After what seemed to the impatient
Josiah an interminable length of time
she remarked with i'll concealed eager
ness, '"Thou vert successful in thy
wooing, Josiah, and ask now of thine
enemy's appearance in order that thou
mayst know the extent of thy
triumph"
"As to that matter, nothing is
definitely settled" he replied impa-
tiently. II will explain our under
standing later, mother, when the noon
hour is not at hand and the animals
to be fed. Canst not find words to
answer my question:" he cried out in
harsh tones. "Didst thou see this
Frenchman plainly? OF what appear
ance was he?"
With quiet deliberation, which was
in direct contrast to her sons excited
manner, she commenced her narra-
tive.
Josiah, 1 ha' told thee of the gal
lant's sudden appearance at good
Brother Haggott's door, of his loud
knocking and of how from my place
behind the lattice observed him care
fully"
"Aye, thou hast, but naught else"
Josiah interposed with eagerness.
His age, mother? OF what age
looked he?"
'Methought as l saw him that the
knight was getting on to thirty sum-
mers, mayhap one or two more" she
said. "He was large Of stature and
finely built, with gray eyes and brown
pointed beard Worn + the French fash.
ion. A round hat with sweeping feath.
er covered bis hair, long leathern rid.
ing boots reached to his hips, and his
doublet was Of ruby velvet, with black
satin slashings. Good son Josiah'-shc
laid her hand Oh his arm with IN eX.
preston of feeling unusual with her
'he presented such a dazzling picture
to mine eyes that for the nonce-know.
ing that oft to silly women the sight of
rich and tawdry dress doth weigh hcav.
lily against piety, honesty and worth of
character-a feeling of insecurity, ap-
prehension and alarm for thy prospects
30 filed my mind that saw the man
who would supplant thee ride bravcly
away in the wrong direction with OK.
ultation and u feeling of gratitude to
God for his gracious protection of us
ever his righteous and faithful serv.
ants" she concluded III her most de.
vout manner.
Springing to his feet, Taunston paced
the room With nervous strides, occa.
sionally pausins to look out of the win
dow or to stand stern and gloomy be-
fore the chimney fire. Suddenly, as II
unable to contain himself longer, he
made sharp exclamation and, going
to his mother, who had resumed her
spinning, cried desperately: Mother,
ha' sworn that those lands shall be
mine! An the knowledge that there is
an enemy approaching with intent to
battle my desire doth set me on the
verge of frenzy"
"Calmness," she replied in voice OF
warning. "Cold calculation and trus
in God were ever better, my son, thar
hot words and hasty action. Already
Abigail's misdirection hath sped thee
six days on thy wooing and six days
more before the Skollvent stream will
be passable, not taking into considera
ton the knowledge of the pest of mea
sles that spreads SO thickly about tho
town of Sterndorf, where our traveller.
are resting safely there by now"
She laughed in grim enjoyment
Happen, lad, we may ne'er hear o
them again"
Josiah paused in his restless walllin:
and leaned against the casing of TIL
door, with CLEAN Of hope in his eyes
''Ha, ha," his laughter rang out harsl
and mirthless. IAN our gallant cour
tier doth fall n victim to the pest twill
be long number o. days before he cal
recover strength to ride down yol
rocky mountain road. In that time
with perseverance and determination
much Roadway can be made"
He opened his lips to continue, hest