The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-15


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6eve, no more of consciousness as to
what was going on about her than a
jimson weed by the highway, called
me to her in a voice SO tremulous that
l scarce knew it for hers
Harry, Harry" she said. "I pray
thee. come here Then, when 1 ap-
preached, hesitating, for 1 had a
shrinking before some outburst of fem
mime earnestness, which has always
intimidated me by its fire of helpless
ness and futility playing against some
resolve of mine which l could not, on
account of my masculine understand
ing of the requirements of circum-
stances, allow to melt, she reached
up one hand like little nervous claw
of ivory and caught me by the sleeve
and pulled me down to a stool by her
side.
Then she looked at me, and such
love and even alteration were in her
face as / never saw surpassed in It,
even when she regarded her grand
daughter Mary. yet withal cruel dis
tress and self upbraiding and wrath
at herself and me. Harry, Harry"
she said, II can bear no more of this"
Then, to my CONSERVATION, up went
her silken apron with a fling to her
old face, and she was weeping under
it as unrestrainedly as any child.
1 did not know what to do or say.
Madam" 1 ventured firmly, eff you
distress yourself in such wise for my
sake. It's needless, I assure. tbs need
less, and with as much truth as were
you my own mother
''Oh. Harry, Harry" she sobbed out,
know you not that is why ! cannot
bear it longer, because you yourself
bear it with no complaint Then she
sobbed and even walled with that pite-
BUSINESS of the grief OF age exceeding
that Of infancy, inasmuch as the
weight of all past griefs of a lifetime
go to swell it and it is EXCHANGED by
memory as well as by the present and
an unknown future. I knew not what
to do, but laid a hand somewhat TIM
idly on one Of her thin silken arms
and strove to draw it gently from her
face. Madam Cavendish." l said,
indeed you mistake if you weep for
me- At this moment / would change
places with no man in Virginia"
But I would have-I would have
your she cried out, with the ardor of
d girl, and down went her apron. and
her face. like an aged mask Of tragedy.
not discolored by her tears. as would |
have happened with the tender skin
of a maid confronted me. Il would /
have you the governor himself, Harry.
would have you'll would have
Then she stopped and looked at me |
with a red showing through the yellow
whiteness of her cheeks. You know |
what | would have. and l know what |
my old life would I give could it be /
so, Harry she said, and i saw that /
she knew of my love for her grand I
daughter Mary.
Then suddenly she cried out We /
hementIy: Not one word have / said /
to you about it since that dreadful /
time, Harry Wingfieid. for shame and /
that pride as to my name. which Is /
a fetter on the tongue. hath kept me
still, but at last I will speak. for l /
can bear it no longer. Harry, Harry, /
know that you are what you are. a
convict and an exile. to shield Gather
inc, TO shield a granddaughter of mine, +
who should be in your place. Harry
Wingf1eld. / know that Catherine Cav
endish is guilty of the crime for which
you are in punishment, and, woe is
me, such is my pride, such is my
wicked pride, that have let you suffer
and said never one word"
I put her hand to my lips. Mad
am 1 said. you mistake: 1 do not
suffer That which Won think of as
my suffering and my disgrace is my
glory and happiness
YES, and why. and WHY Oh.
Harry. tbs that which is breaking my
heart. Tis because you love Mary.
tbs because, verify believe, you have
owed her from the first minute you
set eyes on her. though she was but
/ baby in arms. At first / thought
t was Catherine, in spite Of her fault.
but now / know 1t was for the sake