The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-01-17

passed a ~SleepleSS night. wondering
what had happened To keep his loved
one from him. When young ladies
go out secretly at night to meet young
gentlemen who Turk about their ia
Tiers house in disguise il is time that
Ia watchful parent turned the key
upon a willful daughter.
But the next day came to the inn
one of the retainers of Sir George,
one Jasper Jugg, a keeper Of the
chase, who, for the love he bore his
Mistress, Dorothy. and for the gold
he had from Sir John Manners, had
been privy to many of the meetings
between the two in Haddon.Chase and
had watched that they were not in
terrupted. Jasper told him what had
take nplace at the hall-and. indeed,
if Jasper had not COME with h news
Sir John would soon have heard il.
for the story spread through the hall
and down to the village as quickly
as such stories will, and the landlord,
not knowing to whom he spoke, told
Sir John the whole tale-and moro,
for such o story grows with embroid-
cry as it travels-an hour after Jas
per had left the place.
Now, what was to be done? Sir
George, it was evident. suspected that
was lurking in the neighbor-
hood and might make search for him
III would betide the young man hOuld
he fall into the hands Of the wrathful
knight. Doh othy's attendant, Nan
Maxim. was a damsel of the mature
age of so, devoted to her mistress. but
also devoted to Sir George and his
family. Like a good a h
shared her masters hatred for the
race OF the Manners, and thought she
knew of the love between Dorothy
and the young Sir John, yet she had
never approved OF it, and now felt
herself doubly justified III throwing all
obstacles she could between the lovers.
Jasper Jugg, the forester. who did
approve OF the matter, was deeply in
love with buXom Nan. But Nan turn
ed ever a deaf ear to his protesta-
tons. Not that Nan was above or
beyond love-not a bit Of 1t. Thirty
years had not left her heart so cold
that 1t was incapable OF being fired
with the tender passion. Only her
heart was set upon a certain north
country peddier whom she had met at
the last Blackwell Fair. where the
young man had given her three yards
Of crimson ribbon to trim her peach
blow mantle with. And when a ped
dler does such an act as that he is
pretty sure to be in love, Mans heart
had c~apitulated at once to the allure
ments Of the crimson ribbon and the
charms of the handsome stripping. He
was much n than Mar, to be
sure, but then your mature virgins al
ways like a lover yonger than them
selves, and a young man must always
fall in love With q woman older than
himself before he falls in love with
one Of his own age.
So Jasper Jugg was wildly jealous
and the peddler had been hanging
about Haddon even as Sir John Man
ners had. deferred from making a
public appearance at the hall for fear
of Jasper's cudgel, even as Sir John
hesitated to brave the wrath
Of Sir George Vernon. But however
much Nan was interested in her own
love affairs. she was Of no disposition
to help out her mistress with hers,
and Dorothy felt that it was useless
to try to bride or cajoie the woman
into helping her to escape from her
prison or ito make use Of her to carry
any message to Lord John
Such a message would be likely to he
taken straight to Sir George.
The lord of Haddon soon %relented
from his severity to his daughter, how
ever, and removed the guard from the
gallery leading to the crossbow room.
He sent for Dorothy to come to him
and plead with her. weeping much the
Whlie-and it was not often in his life
faht Sir George Vernon Wept. Doro-
thy, too, was much moved and threw
herself into her fathers arms with
tears and prOtestations Of her afec-
zion. But the girl would promise
nothing, and so. though she was not
kept a close prisoner any longer, she
was not allowed to leave the house.
and must occupy at night the room
next h crossbow room, being always,
night and day. under the watchful eye
of Nan Maxim. But Cupid. angry with
Man., was about to play her a trick.
Sir John and the peddier.
both lurking about Haddo Chas for
news Of their loves, met and. upon
n6Hfor contrasting his HOrY Cir Holm
concocted a cheme.
There was to be a great feast at
Haddon Hall, which was now crowded
with a company Of the most noble in
all the land. The King OF the Peak
had sent out invitations far aud wide,
and never was an invitation to Had