Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-02-11
CHAPTER \

elaboration sat, and public care.
Lend me thy lantern quothsg
Marry IN 500 thee hanged first.
HitAKsPEARE.
CHAPTER VII
1--WE should wait tell you, u solemn coun-
with due deliberations, had selected
The smallest out Of four and twenty evils,
faith we should walt long
Dash and through with Il -tliats the better
Thea siisi ! z come what may ION ox,s,
On the following day, the council,
consisting Of some four or FIVE gem
tlemen, were assembled Sat the Pro-
prietary Mansion. About noon their
number was rendered complete, by
the arrival OF Colonel George Tai.
bot, who, mounted on spirited.
milk-white steed that smoked with
the hot yigor Of bis motion,
dashed through the gate and
alighted al the door. A psir Of pis.
tolls across his saddle ow and q
poniard, partially disclosed under
his vest, demonstrated the precau-
tions Of the possessof to defend him
self against sudden assault, and no
less denoted the quarrelsome aspect
Of the times. His frame was tall,
athletic. and graceful; bis eye hawk
like, and his features prominent and
handsome, at the same time indica-
tiveofquick temper and rash resolve.
There was In his dress a manifesto
ton Of the consciousness Of o good
figure--it was the costume OF gal
liant Of the times; and his bearing
was Characteristic OF q person Of ac-
tion and gay companionship.
Talbot was q near kinsman Of the
Baltimore family, and besides being
a member Of the Proprietary g coun-
ell, be held the post Of surveyor
general, and commanded, also, the
provincial militia on the nor tbern
frontier, including the settlements
on the Elk River, where be owned q
large manor, upon which be usually
resided. At the present time be was
In the temporary occupation Of q fa-
vorite seat OF the Proprietary, at
Mattapany, on the Patuxent, width.
or the late summons had been des.
patched TO call him to the council.
This gentleman was a jealous
Catholic. and an ardent personal
friend OF bis kinsman, the Proprie-
tary, whose cause he advocated with
that peremptory and, most usually,
impolitic determination which his
imperious nature prompted. and
which served to draw upon him the
peculiar hatred OF Fendall and Coode,
and their partisans. He was thus,
although sincere, 1t may be ima9.
ined, an indiscreet adviser In state
affairs, little qualified TO subdue or
allay that jealous spirit Of proscrip-
tion which, from the epoch Of the
Protectorate down to this date, had
been growing more intractable In
the province.
Such was the individual who now,
with the firm stride and dauntless
carriage Of a belted and booted
knight Of chiyalry. TO which his
picturesque costume heightened the
resemblance. entered the apartment
where bis seniors were already con.
vened.
well metl" be exclaimed, as be
flung bis hat and gloves upon table
and extended his hand to those who
were nearest him. How fares IL.
gentlemen What devil Of mutiny
is abroad now2 Has that pimpled
fellow Of fustiau. that swiIler Of the
leavings Of o tap room. sks worship
ful king Of the Burgesses, master
Jack Coode. got druA X again and be-
gun 10 bully Ia bis sups2 The fall
consr who hammered ct my door
last night as If be y'Ouid have beat
en- your Lorship's Rouse about my