The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-13

outskirts. which quieted presently. De
came still Then Mistress Mary's voice
arose clear and sweet. with q childish
note OF innocence in il:
! Good people, said she, '-fain would
be your Maid Marion. and fain would
be your queen OF May if you would
hold with me this kingdom of Virginia
I against tyrants and oppressors.
/ l question if dozen there grasped
her meaning. but. after 4 second gap
I ing stare such a shout went up that il
] seemed to make the marshes culver.
know not what mad scheme WAS in the
! maids head. but l verify believe that
1 throng would have followed her where
ever she led. and the tobacco plants
might have been that morning cut had
/ she SO wiled
| But l pulled hard at her bride. and
forgot my customary manner with
| her. SO full of terror for her l was.
For Gods sake. child, have DONE" 1
4 said. and she looked at me. and there
came strange expression, which 1 had
never seen before. into her blue eyes.
half of yielding as TO some strength
which she feared. and half of that high
I y
ment which threatened TO swamp her
: in its mighty flow as it had done her
hero Bacon before her
1 know not if I could have held her.
it all passed in second the while those
wild huzZas continued, and the crowd
pressed closer, all crowned and crested
with green, like a tidal wave of spring.
but another argument came TO me. and
that moved her TITS not yourself
alone. but your sister and Madam Cav
endish to suffer with you," said. Then
she gave quick glance at Catherine,
who was raising her white face and
trying to get near enough TO speak to
her, for her sisters speech had made
her frantic with alarm, and hesitated.
Then she laughed and the earnest
look faded from her face and she called
out with that way of hers which no
body and nothing could withstand
Nay she said wait till l be older
and have as much wisdom in my head
as hath the Maid Marion whom you
have chosen. The one who hath seen
so many Mays can best know how to
queen it over them"
So saying. she snatched the wreath
her head and cast it with such a sweep
OF grace as never l saw over the head
Of fax headed and masked Maid Mar
ion, and refined her horse back. and
the crowd. with worshipful eyes of
admira ton of her and her sweetness
and wit and beauty, gave way, and was
off down the road toward Jarvis field,
with loud clamor of bells and horns
and wild dancing and wavings of their
gadsticks and green branches.
Mistress Mary rode before us at a
gallop, and presently we We're all at
the breakfast table in the great hall at
Drake Hill, with foaming tankards of
metheglin and dishes of honey and sal
mon and game in plenty. For, what
ever the scarcity of the kings gold,
there was not much lack of food in
this rich country.
Madam Cavendish was down that
morning. sitting at table with her stick
beside her, her head topped with a
great tower of snowy cap, her old face
now ivory yellow but with a wonder
full precision of feature, for she had
been a great beauty in her day. so
alert and alive with the ready compre-
hension Of her black eyes, under slight
ly scowling brows, that naught escap-
ed her that was within her reach of
vision. Somewhat dull was she of
hearing. but that sharpness OF eye did
much to atone for II. She looked up
when we entered with such keenness
that for a second my thought was that
she knew ALL
What were the sounds Of merry
making down the road?" said she.
Twas the morris dancers and the
maypole. 'rTis the LIST of May, as
you know. madam" said Mary in her
sweet voice. made clear and loud to
reach her grandmother ear. Then
up she went to kiss her, and the old
woman eyed her with pride. which she
was fain to conceal by Gliding. "You
will ruin your complexion if you go
out in such q wind without your
mask" she said, and looked at the
maiden's roses and lilies with that rap
ture of admiration occasioned half by
memory of her own charms which had
faded and half by understanding Of
q