The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-12
MARY E..
WILKINS

but verify IT seemed to me that after
Madam Cayendish arrived at Caven-
dish Court the influence of that great
strength of character which when il
exists in a woman intimidates every
man, no matter who he may be, made
itself evident in the very kings high
way approaching Cayendish Court. and
increased as the distance diminished,
according to some of my mathematical
rules.
There were in her no change and
shifting to new lights of beauty or
otherwise at the estimation of those
around her; she rather controlled, as it
were, all the domestic winds. Captain
Cavendish bowed before his superior
on his own deck, though believe there
was much love betwixt them, and as
for the little maid, she tempered the
willfulness which was then growing
with her growth by outward meekness
at least
used to think her somewhat afraid
Of her grandmother and disposed to
cling for protection and mother love to
her elder sister, Catherine. Catherine
In those two years had blossomed out
her beauty. Her sallowness and green
pallor had become bloom, though not
rosy, rather an fneffable clear white
j like lily. Her eyes, at once shy and
] antagonistic. had become as steady as
stars in their estimation of self and
others, and all her slender height was
as We'll In her power of graceful guild
+ ance as the height of a young oak tree.
/ Catherine in those days paid very lit
/ tie heed to me, for her one year of SUI
perior age seemed then threefoId to
both Of us, except as she was jealousy
watchful that l win not too much of
the love of her little sister. 1 have new
er seen such love from elder TO younger
= as there was from Catherine Cavendish
to her half sister Mary after the little
one had lost her mother. And all that
the little maid did, whether of work or
play, was with an eye toward the 9th
er's appreciation, especially after the
advent of her grandmother.
Catherine had lovers, but she would
have none of them. 1t seemed as if the
maternal love of which most maids feel
the unknown and unspelled yearning,
and which perchance may draw them
all unwittingly to wedlock, had seized
upon Catherine Cavendish. and she had,
as it We're, fulfilled it by proxy by this
love of her young sister and so had
her heart made cold toward all lovers
Be that as it may, though she was
much sought after by more than one of
high degree, she remained as she was.
For the last part of my stay at Cam
bridge 1 saw but little of her and not so
much as j would fain have done of her
sister. 1 was past the boyish liberty of
lying in wait in the park for glimpse
of her; she was not of an age for me
to pay my court, and there was little in
timacy between my mother and Madam
Cavendish. But l can truly say that
never for one minute did lose the con-
seriousness of her in the world with me,
and that at time when my love mi =
well be a somewhat anomalous an
sexiess thing, since she was grown a
little past my first conception of love
toward her and had not yet reached my
second.
But oh, the glimpses / used to catch
of her at that time, slim legged and
swift, aud shrilly sweet of voice as a
lark and as shyly a-flutter at the mo-
ton of hand toward her, or else seat
ed prim as any grown maiden, with
grave eyes of attention upon her task
of sampler or linen stitching.
My heart used to leap in a fashion
that none would have believed nor I'M |
derstood at the blue CLEAN of her gown
and the gold CLEAN of her little head
through the trees of the park or through |
the Oaken shadows of the hall at Cav I
endish Court during my scant visits
there. No maid Of my own age drew {
for one moment my heart away from /
her. She had no rivals except my /
books. for / was ever an eager scholar, I
though it might have been otherwise |
had the state of the country been diff
ferent. 1 can imagine that l might in |
some severe stress have had my mind.
being hot headed youth. diverted by
the feel of the sword hilt But just then
the king sat on his throne, and there
was naught to disturb the public peace
except his multiplicity Of loves, which
discussion which sailed society
with keenest relish, but went no far
Their
1 took high honors at Cambridge,
though no higher than l should have
done, and SO no pride and no modeSty
in the owning and telling; and then L
came home, and my mother greeted me
more warmly than she was
wont, and my stepfather. Colonel John
took me by the hand, and
my brother John played me at cards
that night and won. as he mostly did.
John was at that time also in Cam
bridge, but only in his second year. be-
ng, although of quicker grasp upon
to his own gain than /,
ret not so alert at booklore. but he
had grown handsome man, as fair as
1 woman, yet bold as any cavalier that
ever drew sword-the kind to win a
by his own strength and her
own arts.
The night after returned there was
/ ball at Cavendish Court, the first
since the death of Madam Rosamond,
md my brother and 1 went, and my
'tepfather and my mother. though she
owed not Madam Cavendish.
And Mary Cavendish, at that time ten
ears old, was standing, when l first
inferred. with a piece Of blue-green tap