The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-20
and unmanageabie as one yet un-

and unmanageabie as one yet un- bitted.
 He, on the other hand. kept his fair delicacy of look. and was somewhat frail of health, which made another reason for my mothers loving him, since she blamed herself that excessive grief for my father had weakened the unborn child.
 was lonely till my cousin Joan came. Her mother, Dame Winchester was my mothers sister. and now both were widowed. Therefore they thought well of housing their grief under one roof.
 It was a gibe of mine at my brother Ayrner, that he, and not Joan, should have been the Girl, and since 1t brought the red to his cheek. I flung 1t often.
 She was a gay and spirited little maid, with bright eyes and a tangle of chestnut curls. and at first she low ed me best. She had the heart for any wildness, and many a time I brought her home, dripping with water, or n1ired from head to foot, and at times bumped and bruised, as ill-became a little lady so dainty.
 But these are childish things, and let me on to the time of the great war. My mother was dead before those
  of them, perhaps, as many loyal lady did. And even at the last, dear soul, she left a barbed wound in my heart. for, said she to me. in those last pre- cious hours while we yet kept her: Roger. my son, do you love your cou- sin Joan?"
 T know not. dearest" said I, and reddened, even at that moment, for was a caiiow, rough lad, and would have been ashamed to think upon love.
 She laid her thin hand on mine, and thought she would have kissed me, for we had drawn closer during her illness, but what she said was:
 Listen, Roger. If Aymer loves her. too, as I fear he does, let Aymer wed her. You will forget. You will go out in the world among other men and will see other ladies to love. You are strong and valiant, my son; he Is gen. tie and delicate. Let him have his love-"
 She paused, exhausted with pleading for her Benjamin, and answered her. looking in her eager eyes, that I would not stand in Aymers way. I remember that she forgot to be anxious lest l loved Joan, but she had never thought of me where Aymer was concerned.
 As soon as she was laid by my fath- CT was away to the wars. With an angry heart went I. and merry song on my lips was far from feeling, and would nor meet the eyes of my cousin Joan, nor of him who seemed destined to supplant me.
 remember how her eyes were des- o1ate, and her proud pale face averted from me the day I went; but I had given myself no time to look backward.
 As for the wars and their calamitous ending, you shall read it in my Lord Clarendon's excellently writ history of the rebellion. I shall not overcloud my story with telling.
 I did not discreditably, and for my part in certain exploits came to be known as Mad Mainwaring."
 But, alack! those glories were well over, and here was I, a ragged caval- fer, with but my horse, my sword and my little dog. And ere I joined some gay friends of mine, who were mak ing war in another fashion, a great hunger came upon me to look upon the home of my childhood. to see that which I had renounced, and visit once again my mothers grave.
 I turned my face westward. there fore, and rode night and day. till the watery sunset of a spring evening showed me Kings Beeches. with it's turrets and chimneys black against the sky.
 The window was open and some one was singing, ripe voice, which l was slow to recognize as that of my bro ther Aymer.
 With the song went the thin music of a splnet. I hoisted myself by my hands on the window sill yet, ere I had looked within, I knew what I should see.
 brother dressed soberly. yet with richness, leant by the spinet which my cousin Joan was playing. Her face was lifted against the green satin of the boudoir walls, and with sharp pang realized how much lovelier the wo-