The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-02
Fair Margaret Casten
BY H. RIDER HAooARp.
Copyright. 1907. BY II, Rider Hne0srd,
CoMnNed.

- NNA 49,
nor could all her questions shake II. he
told her how the ~mischanoe had happened.
for he had seen it, so he said, and where
her fathers hurts we're, adding that al
though the physician held that as yet he
was in no danger Of his life Master Castell
thought otherwise, and did nothing but
cry that his daughter should be brought
TO him at once.
Still Margaret doubted and hesitated.
for abe feared she knew not what.
'Petor should be hero within two hours
at most" she eaid 10 Betty. Would II not
lie best 70 wait for him?"
ooh, Margaret. and what il your father
should die In the meapwhilef Perhaps he
knows better how deep his hurts are than
docs this leech. II 80 you would have q
sore heart for all your life. Surely you had
better go or at least 1 will
Still Margaret wnvered. till the sailor
sai6!
Lady, ~ It is your will to come l oan
guide you to where a boat waits TO take you
across the river. II not l must be gone, for
the Ghip sails with the moonrise and they
only wait your coming TO carry the master
your father. to the warehouse on shore,
thinking it best that you should be present.
II you do not come this will lie done as
gently as possible, and there you must seek
him tomorrow, alive or dead And the
man took up his cap as though to leave.
Il will come with you,' said Margaret.
Betty, you are right; order the two horses
10 be saddled. mine and the groom's. with
"a pillion on which you can ride. for Will
not send you or go alone. l understand
that this sailor has his own horse
The man nodded and accompanied
Betty to the stable. Then Margaret took
rem and wrote hastily to Peter, telling
him Of their evil chance and bidding him
follow her at once to the ship, or, II It had
sailed, to the warehouse.
Il am loath to CO." she added, 'alone
with a girl and a strange man, yet I must,
Ny heart is torn with fear for my beloved
father. Sweetheart. follow me quickly
This done she gave the letter TO that
servant who had shown In the sailor.
bidding him hand II without fail to Master
Peter Bronze when he came. which the man
promised to do.
SStay!' said Margaret to the sailor as
they were about to start. How comes 1t
that my father did not send one Of his "
men instead OF you. and why did none
write to me7'
The man looked surprised; he was a very
good actor.
His people are tending him." ne said.
and he babe me to go because 1 knew
the way and had a good hired horse ashore
which I have used when riding with mes
sages TO London about new timbers and
other matters.
As for writing, the physician began a
letter, but he was 30 slow and long that
Master Castell ordered me to be OF without
il. II seems" the man added. addressing
Betty with some irritation. that Mistress
Margaret misdoubts me. II 30, let her
find some other guide or bide at home. II
is naught to me, who have only done as l
was hidden
Thus did this cunning fellow convince
Margaret that her fears were nothing;
though, remembering the letter from
D'Aguilar. Betty was somewhat troubled.
The thing had a strange look, but. poor,
vain fool, she thought to herself that
even IL there were some trick it was GER
tainly arranged only that she might seem
10 be taken, who could not come alone.
In truth che was blind and mad and
cared not what she did, though. let this
he said for her, she never dreamed that any
harm was meant toward her cousin Mar
Raret or that q lie had been told as to
Master Castell and his hurts.
Soon they were out OF London and riding
swiftly by the road hat followed the north
hank of the river, for their guide did not
AXE them over the bridge. as he said the
ship was lying in midstream and that the
boat would be waiting on the Tilbury shore.
Hut there was more than twenty miles TO
travel, and, push on as they would. night
had fallen ere ever they came there.
At length, when they were weary Of the
dark and rough road, the sailor pulled up at
a spot upon the rivers brink-where there
was a little wharf but no houses that they
could see-saying that this was the place.
Dismounting, he gave his horse to the groom
TO hold, and going to the wharf asked in
a loud voice II the boat from the Margaret
was there, to which a voice promptly
answered Aye"
Then he talked for a minute to those in
the boat, though what he said they could
not hear, and ran back again, bidding them
disrnount, and adding that they had done
we'll 70 come, as Master Castell was much
worse and did nothing but cry out for
his daughter.
The groom he told to lead the horses a
little way along the bank till he found an
inn that stood there, where he must await
their return or further orders. and To Betty
he suggested that she should go with him
as there was but little place left in the boat.
This she was willing enough to do, think
ing it all part Of the plan OF her carrying
off; but Margaret would have none of it,
saying that unless her cousin came with
her she would not stir another step. So
grumbling a little the sailor gave way
and hurried them both 20 some wooden
steps and down into a boat. of which they
could but dimly see the outline.
So soon as ever they were seated side by
side in the stern 1t was pushed of, and they
rowed away rapidly into the darkness,
while one Of the sailors liz a lantern which
he fastened to the bow, and far away out
on the river. as though in answer TO the
signal. another star Of light appeared,
toward which they headed.
Now Margaret, speaking through the
gloom. asked the rowerB OF her fathers
state; but the sailor. their guide. prayed
ber mt 20 trouble them. IA the tide ran