Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-10
The Daily Story
THE HIND s HEAD TAPEsTRY-BY CLARIssA MACKIE.
Copyrighted. Literary Bureau.

his saddle and snatched both coin and
letter. and the coach Numbered on to-
ward London.
The wedding had been set for Christ
mas evening. and the preparations for
the bridal and the Yuletide feast went
on apace. Christmas eve dawned gray
and cold Lady Rosamond crept
around in her old brown velvet gown.
sorry little figure
She wandered aimlessly from room
TO room. and then at twilight she slip
ped into warm cloak. called her wO-
man and stepped into the fast gather
ing dusk.
She walked slowly down the avenue
beneath the naked boughs of the oaks.
Near the gate n crone was gathering
fagots. her wild. gray locks stream
ing in the wind.
May your ladyship's wedding day
be bright" she cackied shrilly. with n
courtesy.
Thank you. Goody." murmured
Lady Rosamoud sadly. drawing a coin
from her pockes
AS her hand touched the wnnnsn's
she felt n firm. warm pressure that
sent the blood singing to her heart. A
glance from ardent dark eyes spar
king beneath the gray thatch OF wig
hurried the bushes back TO her pale
cheeks, and. with an apprehensive
glance at her handmade, she thrust
a twisted note into her pocket The
yawning abigail was gazing idly across
the valley and started MS her young
mistress plucked at her sleeve. The
crone had hobbled away. and the two
women walked swiftly back to the
castle.
few minutes later Lady Rosamond
was reading the folded bit OF paper
from her lovers hand. She sobbed
over the precious words of love and
hope that it contained. and her flag.
ging spirits revived with the knowl-
edge that all would be well with her.
for one unbidden guest kept watch be
yond the castle gates until the time
appointed
The next day the castle resounded
with mirth and jollity. Savory odors
crept up from the kitchens. where the
grooming spits slowly turned under
their toothsome burdens. There was
a stirring and mixing OF pasties and
from the musty cellars with certain
ancient. cobwebbed bottles. Huge ham
pers of fruit and game blocked the
passageways, and vast army of serv-
ants worked and idled, laughed and
grumbled.
The rooms were garlanded with holly
and mistletoe, and Lady Rosamond
fitted gayly among her guests and ap-
peared so happy and so gracious 10
all that Broadmeadow felt that he
might now venture within her pres.
ence. Her kindly greeting sent his
rusty old pulses beating to youths time
as he handed her to the banquet hail.
where dinner was spread at noon.
At dusk It was showing heavily. and
within doors the fun grew fast and
furious The stone paved galleries
echoed to flying feet as youth and
beauty played old games beneath the
grim portraits OF genera tons of D6ur-
leys.
Some one proposed n game at hide
and seek. and in a moment one was
blindfolded and the rest scattered here
and there over the great castle. One
by one they were discovered and
emerged from their hiding places-all
save Lady Rosa mond. The bride was
missing.
As time passed amused curiosity
gave way to anxiety. One had seen
her disappear behind the kinds head
tapestry on the staircase landing. but
diligent search revealed naught but tho
the oaken panels OF the wall. She was
not within her rooms nor anywhere
that searching eyes could discover
Reluctantly they trailed into the
great hall and told the earl. who. with
the ancient bridegroom. still drank be-
fore the fire. He swore savngeIy az
he listened. and great fear showed
Itself in his face as he limped up the
stairs followed by the company. Broad
meadow stumbled In the rear. On the
staircase landing Lord Dourley tore
aside the kinds head tapestry and mt
4 touch the oaken panels slipped aside
Ind revealed a dark opening. gap
ng Iackey stepped forward with a can
lie. and the silent company followed
heir muttering host down little wind
ng stair into the chapel, where a single
,andIe on the altar shone like star.
Near an open door that led into the
Few walk lay something white. and
'ofne one Drought 1Ortn into the can
Height a dainty lace kerchief. The
.arl burst into angry laughter as he
,aused in the doorway.
The ground before the door was
rampled. and a single ridge Of snow
Iown the path told OF the passing Of
Iorse Outside the park gates there
we're two ridges that wound away
long the highroad.
While the castle guests were noisiIy
ispersing. Lady Rosamond and plain
robert Southley were quietly married
y the waiting clergyman.
Then they mounted their sturdy
ags and resumed the journey TO Lon
on. The clouds broke away. and in
be glow OF the Christmas stars
tretched a long, broken track Of snow.