Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1900 — THE JEWELLED TALISMAN PURITAN AND CAVALIER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE JEWELLED TALISMAN PURITAN AND CAVALIER

CHAPTER I. A boa*, propelled by it» only occupant, was fast nearing the shore of a small bay of the Atlantic, Indenting the New England const. The air was fresh, just breaking the surfiice of the water into ripples, which, Catching the brilliunee of the slant sunbeams, shone like burnished silver. On a broad, smooth rock, round which was thrown many a wreath of toweled Mildred I Mercs, who appeared to bo waiting for the, boat to reach the shore. Though twenty-eight years old, her beauty, instead of fading, had only ripened into fuller splendor. As she stood with her small French hood ulioved back from her brow,)from beneath which fell a profusion of golden curls, forming a rich contrast with n crimson mantle thrown carelessly over her shoulders, there was something so graceful und picturesque in her whole appearance, ns to force an involuntary exclamation of surprise from the rough though honestlooking man in the boat. "If »ho is handsome, 1 don’t like her," said he, in half-uttered accents. “Talk of black eyes sparklin' and flashin’. If I ever bad the fortune to see real liglitnin’ in a woman's eyes, ’twas in Mildred I lucres’, and they are blue as a summer sky. Beshrew me, if I could ever like the girl, and if 1‘ could have my wish, she would be on her way back to Old England in the first ship that stalls,. 1 had thoughts of aruuuiu' my boat ashore, but now I’ll keep on a little further.” At this moment, Mildred Davitswaved her handkerchief, ~~v — “I'll make believe I don’t see her," said he; and he pulled still harder for the place where he intended to land. “Silas —Silas Watkins!” said she, in clear and resonant tones. "Did you speak?” said he, suspending his oars and looking around. “I did, and as you very well know what I said, I shall not repeat it.” "How should I know, when the wind carried■ your voice right from me?” said he, at the same time slowly heading the boat towards the rock on which she stood.

"Ply your oars a little more briskly, worthy Silas. The sun is getting low, and the wind begins to be chill." "It will lie for m.v own convenience as much us for hers." said Silas, in a suppresses! voice, and in a few minutes the keel of the boat grated on the smooth, hard liencli. Mildrcd-sprang Hghtly iiitn it, and then drew her mantle more closely around her, "I want to go to Mr. Walworth’s,” she •aid, “and the sooner we reach there the better I shall like it.” As she spoke, she tossed towards him a piece of silver. At first he spurned it with his foot, but the next moment he picked it up. "After all,” lie thought, “it may ns well go to buy me a new jacket which I need, ns finery which she lias more of than she knows what to do with.” The moment Mildred had seated herself Silas pulled vigorously towards the headland. It had originally been covered with a heavy growth of forest trees, a grove of oaks and maples were still standing, having been spared as a shelter to a dwelling house and the out buildings. The house, its high, peaked gables presenting angles so numerous as to cut the wind in its eye from whatever point of compass it should chalice to blow, though onlytwo stories, covered so largo a apace as to render it sufl'u-iently commodious for the proprietor and his family, and for the entertainment of many a traveler, at a time when there wore few wayside. Inns. The absence of all architectural embellishment evinced the severe taste, or principles,, of the owner; for Mr. Walworth, in common with other Puritans of his time, looked upon the adornment of his habitat ion. no loss than of his |vrson, as one of those vanities in which It would be sinful to indulge. “Do you expect me to wait for you and take you back?" said Silas. "No; 1 shall spend the night with Alice Dale.” “She would have me think, I suppose," thought Silas, "that it is Alice Dale she la going to see. She can't deceive me. Clarence Hnrlcigh is the lodestone that draws In*- up to Mr. Walworth’s so often. I wish he could see her with my eyes. I do declare, 1 would about us lieve put my hand into a nest of svr|>ents as among those curls of hors that fall over iter shoulders and glisten so like gold on her red mantle. They do look beautiful, though, as true as my name is Silas Watkins." Meanwhile Mildred sat looking listlessly towards the shore. Suddenly her gaze became fixed and eager. Unconsciously •he l>ont forward, while her fingers were •trained with so nervous a grasp over the edge of the boat that the blood grew purple under the nails. She had caught eight of a young man. she felt certain was Clarence llarleigh, with some one standing near him. who, she was no less sure, was Alice Dale. Without knowing it, the cold, keen light Silas, had spoken to himself about glittered m her eyes, and her lips were drawn in, and so firmly compressed that they looked no thicker than a scarlet line. "Silas," said she, “turn the boat into the stream. I see Alice Dale yonder, not far from the shore, and will join her und walk with her up to the house.” With the full strength of his strong, sinewy arms, be bent to the our*. The boat flew like a sea gull to the mouth of the river. During only the few seconds the wind had increased almost to n hurricane, while a dark, wild-looking cloud bad spread itself over the whole of the wewtern heavens. They were noon so near the mouth of the river ns to feel the force of the swift, opposing current. Hilaa, without speaking, continued to pull steadily at the oars. “Stop, Silas—stop!" exclaimed Mildred, for she could non' see that the entrance •f the river was covered with a sheet of foam, while the vexed waves dashed wildly against a large sharp-created rock

BY MRS. CAROLINE ORNE.

which, standing out boldly from the shore, projected far into the stream. "It is too late now,” said he, in answer to this earnestly uttered command; and a-s he spoke, the keel of the boat grated luirshly against the point of a sunken rock. A gus tot wind, stronger and fiercer than any which had preceded it, lifted the boat from the waves and -hurled it against .the rock, as Silas was making an effort to sweep round its base at a safe distance, ns if it had been no heavier than the foam bubbles that were dancing around them. A wild, piercing shriek mingled with the hollow voice of the wind, and then a face, white as the foam which the next moment was drifting ewer it, was seen amid tliu floating fragments of the boat, Silas, by the aid of one of the oars, succeeded in obtaining a precarious footing on the partially submerged rocks, round which the tide, lashed into fury, was foaming and raging. A corner of the mantle worn by Mildred was all that now could he seen above the eddying waves. This, with much difficulty, he succeeded in reaching, and commenced cautiously drawing it towards him. To his great joy he found that it still remained wrapped around her. A single handbreadth nearer, and those golden tresses would he within his reach. His hand was ready to grasp them, when the fastenings of the mantle gave way, causing so sudden a recoil as to precipitate him Into the boiling waves. The cold white hand of the drowning woman which touched his face as he sank beneath the. water, caused. a shiver to run through his frame, as if it had been the hand of death. The next moment the icy fingers bad clutched a portion of his garments, dragging him down and impeding his movements. lie made an effort to throw off his saturated doublet. “No, no,” said ho, shuddering, "I can’t do that. If I could only get free of this eddy which is whirling us round, I tliiuk I could savc-in)self and her, too.”. "Be.i: up a little longer; I am coming to your assistance," said a voice from the shore.

The words were instantly succeeded by a plunge, and looking in the direction whence the sounds proceeded, he saw Clarence llarleigh. It was astonishing what new life and vigor werde diffused through his frame by the prospect of assistance. A minute more, and Ila neigh had reached them. "(live her into .my care now.” said he. "You will never reach the shore, without I assist you,” said Silas. "Yes, 1 can. The distance is short. Take care of yourself.” With llarleigh’* assistance, the locked hand xvas unclosed, and the next minute, though burdened with his helpless charge, lie was vigorously breasting the waves. Silas, who could now divest himself of his heavy, saturated jacket, overtook them by the time they wore beyond deep water. “Sho must be carried to my house*,” said Silas, when they reached dry land. The house of Silas Watkins could he seen through the trees, and was only at a short distance. Mrs. Watkins, accompanied by Alice Dale, who had sought shelter there from the violence of the wind, came out to meet them, "You xxVre too late, and she is dead,” said Alice, as she saw the upturned face of Mildred. Both Silas and his wife had had some experience in such case's, and knew how t > proceed according to the most approved methods at that time known. For some time there was no sign of lif,*. They, however, did not grow remiss in their exertions, which were finally rewarded with the promise of success. Two hours afterward, when llarleigh and Aliev took leave, though weak, Mildred was in good, even high spirits, and assured them that they might expect to see lier soon at Mr. Walworth’s. The next day a young man by the name of Hilbert Falkland, who for some time had Ins'll a member of Mr. Walworth’s family, received the subjoined note from Mildred Daeres: "Early this morning 1 sent word to Alice Dale that she tuight expect to see me half on hour after sunset. I’revioun*y I l ' meeting her I’ wish to see you and li.no some conversation with you. By sitnvet. br a little before, you xvi'll find me at the place where several times we nave already met.” Mildred was punctual to the hour she had tin mod. It lacked several minutes (•f sunset when she reached a spot, carpeted with smooth, green turf, and walled in on every side by majestic oaks, from whose boughs the wild grape-vine hung In broad festoon*. Thus the house, though distant little more than a stone’s throw, was completely screened from view. "Not lieve yet?" said she, seating herself on n block of granite. 1 lie words had only time to leave her 1 ! P* wl:tn the branches of on oak veto thrust aside and a young man in a hunting dress entered the enclosure. “You allowed me to arrive here before you, Hilbert 1- ulkhtud, ’ said she, with a slight ncctnt of displeasure perceptible in her voice. “For which l would humbly sue for pardon," he replied, "if I had not already twice sought you here in vain. I had censed to expect you, when l caught n glimpse of you, just ns you entered the glade.” "I hope Clarence llarleigh didn’t see me. too.” "No fear of that. He was too deeply engaged in chatting with the fair Alice to have eyes or ears for any one else." "(Hilbert Falkland, haven’t yon the will and the means of putting an end to this?” "I certainly have the will." “And where there’s a will there's n way—so nays the old snw.” "With your aid I shall not despair of finding the meant.” "If my aid is wanting, you shall have it. Yet it appears to me that one so

deeply enamored as you are with pretty Alice Dale would have a spur to his ingenuity.” “And is there no spur to the ingenuity of MjJdTcd Daeres? Ig I am enomored of the pretty Alice Dale, has not the handsome Clarence llarleigh excited your admiration?” ‘T admit that I think him a fine specimen of humanity, physically and intellectually, yet after all ” "You hesitate. Shall I finish the sentence for you?” "If you will.” “Yet after all, you would say, then, that with all his endowments’, moral, mental and personal, his fine estate over the water possesses in your estimation the greater attraction. Am I wrong?” "I may as well own that you are not, for if we are to assist each other, there should be a fair understanding between us.” "Certainly; it is nothing more than right.” "And now, as you have .undertaken to interpret my thoughts I will volunteer a similar piece of service in behalf of yourself. If it bo my wish to make the Wiltshire estate minister to my comfort and expensive tastes, so your desire to win Alice Dale for a wife would be much less ardent if she had not recently fallen heiress to those broad acres in England, to say nothing of the large tract of land in this country, of which her unde Walsworth gave her a.deed her last birthday.” “I confess that you are a good interpreter. The truth is, my father wa<suoh a flaming royalist that, in looking after the fortunes of the king, he forgot to look after his own; the upshot of which is that his only son and heir will soon be very little better than a beggar, unless these same broken fortune's can be repaired.” "And a rich heiress isn’t found every turn.” “Not in these days—at least not in England, nor among those of English descent; for, sealous and reckless of any injury to himself ns my father was in the cause of Charles II„ there were enough to keep him company.” “All we have to do, then, is to assist ench other.” “And the first step?” “It must be one that will cause jeakmsy and distrust between llarleigh and Alice.” "True, but how to take this first step,” said Falkland. “I will kelp you. You have noticed that she often wears a blue ribbon round her neck?” "Yes.” “But you may never have seen the jewel which is appended to it.” “No, I never have.” “It would not be likely to happen, for hse keeps it scrupulously concealed beneath the folds of her neckerchief.” “I suspect it is a love token from Ilarleigih.” ' “It is, and this first step we’ve been speaking of is to obtain possession of it.” "Which will be no easy matter.” “Perhaps not, but leave that to me. And noxv, if you know, tell me when Harleigh is going to embark for England?” “In the first vessel that sails from the port of Boston.” “That will be in a week or ten days.” “Yes, somewhere thereabouts.” “And yon?” “I shall remain here several weeks longer, it may be months.” "I thought of trying to obtain possession of this love token we hax-e been speaking about, to-night. On reflection, however, 1 think it will be better to do nothing about it till after llarleigh is gone. If Alice should miss it while he is here, an explanation will be sure to take place between them, which may thwart uty cunningly devised plan.” (To be continued.)