Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall

come from my cousin, Lady Crawford. After our greeting, Dorothy came

hesitancy in the girl's manner which puzzled me. She did not look at me when Dorothy placed her hand in mine, but kept her eyes cast down, the long, black lashes resting upon the fair curves of her cheek like a shadow on the snow. She

it. When I caught Dorothy's unspoken word I led Lady

six years because of the love that existed between her and Dorothy. A strong man instinctively longs to cherish that which needs his strength, and perhaps it was the girl's helplessness that first appealed to me. Perhaps it was her rare, peculiar beauty, speaking eloquently of virtue such as I had never known, that touched me. I cannot say what the impelling cause was, but this I know: my heart went out in pity to her, and all that was good within me-good, which I had never before suspected-stirred in my soul, and my past life seemed black and barren beyond endurance. Even Dorothy's marvellous beauty lacked the subtle quality which this simple blind girl possessed. The f

nts bearing bales of rare Eastern fabrics. A visit and a dinner at the inn were little events that made a break in the monotony of life at the H

ly Catholic Faith. My religion, I may say, has always been more nominal and political than spiritual, although there ran through it a strong vein of inherited tendencies and superstitions which were highly colored by contempt for heresy and heretics. I was Catholic by habit. But if I analyzed my supposed religio

and Lady Crawford joined Madge and me near the fireplace. Soon Dorot

ad we not better order Dawson to bring out the hors

y presented a handsome figure for the eyes of an ardent girl to rest upon while he stood beneath the window, clothed in a fashionable Paris-made suit of brown, doublet, trunks, and hose. His high-topped boots were polished till they shone, and his broad-rimmed hat, of soft beaver, was surmounted by a flowing plume. Even I, who had no especial taste nor love for masculine beauty, felt my sense of the beautiful strongly moved by the attractive picture my new-found friend presented. His dress, manner, and bearing, polished by the friction of life at a luxu

Dorothy stood, and a light came to her eyes and a smile to her face which no

orn from all the feuds that had ever lived since the quarrelling race of man began

ds in his mouth, and-and blow it out again," said Dorothy, in explanation of

answered. "I would n

knew. And the sequel, so full of trouble, soon proved that I was right. After John had passed through the gate, Dorothy was willing to go home; and

rd morning he was carried from the room by his servants, the company broke up. Those who could do so reeled home; those who could not walk at all were put to bed by the retainers at Haddon Hall. I had chosen my bedroom high up in Eagle Tower. At table I had tried to remain sober. That, however, was an impossible task, for at the upper end of the hall there was a wrist-ring placed in the wainscoting at a height of ten or twelve inches above the head of an ordinary man, and if he refused to drink as much as the other guests thought he should, his wrist was fastened above his head in the ring, and the liquor which he should have poured down his throat was poured down his sleeve. Therefore to avoid this species of rustic sport

d and of English country life? I could not endure the latter, so I asked Sir George, on the pretext of ill health, to allow me to refuse invitations to other houses, and I insisted that he should give no more entertainments at Haddon Hall on my account. Sir George eagerly acquiesced in all my wishes. In truth, I was treated like an honored guest and a

months of Octo

ved my wisdom in seeking a home at Haddon Hall, and s

ing Mary as only a plain, envious woman can hate one who is transcendently beautiful, had, upon different pretexts, se

ere hatching thick and fast to liberate Mary from Lochleven; and many such plots, undoubtedly, had

eyn, was illegitimate, and that being true, Mary was next in line of descent. The Catholics of England took that stand, and Mary's beauty and powers of fascination had won for her frien

may know some of the many imperative reasons why I desired to please and conciliate my cousin. In addition to those reasons, I soon grew to love Sir George, not only because of his kindness to me, but because he was a lovable man. He was generous, just, and frank, and although at times he was violent almost to the point of temporary madness, his heart was usually

ccurred within the walls of Haddon, chief of

ry her became personal, in addition to the mercenary motives with which I had originally started. But I quickly recognized the fact that the girl was beyond my reach. I knew I could not win her love, even though I had a thousand years to try for it; and I woul

n be done with so much "I" and "me," and you shall have Dor

er's sleep, imparts its soft restfulness to man, as if it were a lotus feast. Dorothy was ostentatiously busy with her household matters, and was consulting with butler, cook, and s

with me for a walk this b

ckly fading away, "but I-I cannot walk in unfamiliar places. I should fail. You would

ady Madge. I should enjo

grow weary, and, I confess, a little sad sitting alone when Dorothy cannot be with me. Aunt Dorothy, now that she has her

erness of my desire, and unconsciously endeavoring to ke

," she said. "I will go to my

te, expressive hands in front of her. It was pitiful and beautiful to se

a touch of the mother instinct in him; but, alas I only a touch. Ah, wondrous and glorious womanhood! If you had naught but the mother

y rooms, which are also Dorothy's. When Dorothy changes the position of a piece of furniture in the Hall, she leads me to it several times that I may learn just where it is. A long time ago she changed the position of a chair and did not tell me. I fell against it

ho could laugh while I ran my sword through a man's heart, could

en we came to the foot of the great sta

d and called laughingly to me while I stood at the bottom of the steps, "I kno

I answered aloud. Then I said to myself, "That girl will le

There is but one subtle elixir that can do it-love; and I

auty of Dorothy could not compare with this girl's fair, pale loveliness. It seemed to be almost a profanation for me to admire the sweet oval of her face. Upon her alabaster skin, the black eyebrows, the long lashes, the faint blue veins and the curving red lips stood in exquisite relief. While she

waiting?" she asked fro

e foot of the st

he came near me. "Pardon me; it was a slip of the tongue. I hear 'Cous

'Cousin Malcolm' always. I like the

, "I will call you 'Cousin Malcolm,' and you may ca

I answered, as I opened the door and we walked ou

ct; we are progressing famously," sh

the blind can la

and smile as they softly sang their song of welcome to the fair kindred spirit who had come to visit them. If we wandered from the banks for but a moment, the waters seemed to struggle and turn in their course until they were again by her

en below the terrace at the corner postern. We remained for an hour resting upon

njoyed this walk, nor how thankful I

r by replying, for I l

e that pleasure. Walking is too slow for Dorothy. She is so strong and

I resp

. She is mettlesome and fiery, but full of affection. She often kisses Dorothy. Mare and rider are finely mated. Dorothy is the most perfect woman, and Dolcy

s if the blessed light of day were in her eyes. It was in her

ld an exquisite tinge of color, and her form had a new grace from the strength she had acquired in exercise. We had grown to be dear friends, and the touch of her hand was a pleasure for which I wa

a hot punch before retiring for the night. I drank a moderate bowl and sat in a large chair before the fire, sm

en's officers arrested another of Mary Stuart's damned French friends at Der

e a friend of mine." My remark was intended to remi

I meant to speak ill only of Mary's meddlesome friends, who are doi

, for which I cannot sufficiently thank you, my life here would probably be of short duration. After my misfortunes in Scotland, I know not what I should have done had it not been for your generous welcome. I lost all in Scotland, a

is my great gain. I am growing old, and if you, who have seen so much of the gay world, will be co

tell," I said, careful not to

the feud in good hands. Would that I were young again only for a day that I might call that scoundrel Rutland and his imp of a son to account in the only manner

hen sober could not have spoken in

lying to my cousin's rema

me as that which I have at Haddon Hall. When I met Dorothy at the inn, I knew at once by her k

e subject upon several previous occasions, but Sir George was continually tr

y beautiful? Do you really think so, Malcolm?" said the

was, I did not want her for my wife, and I could not have had her even were I dying for love. The more I learned of Dorothy and myself during the autumn through which I had just pas

s and looking at his feet between his hands, "in all your travels and cou

ely. She was dearer to him than all his horses, cattle, halls, and estates put together, and he loved even them to excess. He loved all that he possessed; whatever was his was the best of the sort. Such a love is apt to grow up in the breasts of men who have descended from a long line of proprietary ancestors, and with all its materialism it has in

oman more beautiful tha

e whose beauty may even be comp

continued Sir George; "

I answered, not know

King of the Peak,' you know, and there are not three est

I answered, "and I rejoi

hese days-all, all," continued my

s from his bowl of toddy, he cleared his throat and said, "So Dor

ing up to. Realizing that in spite of me he would now speak his

d and would-be benefactor said: "You may remember a little conversation between us wh

ed not pretend th

member," I

this time?" asked Sir George. "Dorothy

to marry you should take her to London court, where she can make her choice from among the nobles of our land. There is not a marriageable duke or earl in England who would not e

for wishing that you should marry Dorothy. I want my estates to remain in the Vernon name, and one day you or your children will make my house and my name nobl

, "of course I should

why, you are only thirty-five years old-little more than a mature

rned, feeling that I was being stranded on a

from an unselfish motive. I have told you one motive, but there is another, and a little condi

" I asked, overjoyed to

his face. "I am told, Malcolm, that you have few equals in swo

swered. "I have fought successfully wi

ou, I am sure; a welcome one to any brave man." His eyes gleamed with fi

en quarrelled and fought, but, thank God, never in

seen him fight. In fact, I have never seen the fellow at all. He has lived at London court since he was a child, and has seldom, if ever, visited this part of the country. He was a page both to Edward

l Rutland and his son at the first opportunity. I care not how. The ma

se it would be to give offence beyond reparation to my only friend, and you know what that would have meant to me. My refuge was Dorothy.

ted Dorothy. Perhap

gent to her, and she is a dutiful, obedient daughter. My wish and

accept the hand of Dorothy nor of any woman un

to understand that you a

"Few men in their right mind would refuse so flattering

-night for the first time in years. The

to operate. One who hates must suffer, and Sir George for years had paid t

ence to Dorothy, and I insist that you give me time to win, if

about it in the morning, and save you the trouble

in his own way. It is not a trouble to me; it is a pleasure, and it is every woman's right to be wooed by the man who seeks

to get a man. English girls obey their parents. They know what to expect if they don't-the lash, by God and the dungeon under the keep. Your roundabout method is all right for tenants and peasants; but among people who possess estates and who control vast interests, girls are-girls are-W

pportunity," I responded; "but I warn you, Sir George, that if Do

; she will be all ri

very far from "all right" Dorothy was,

of which I spoke-the change in Doro

ed a drawing made by Dorothy of a man with a cigarro in his mouth.

smiled, and evidently was willing to talk up

ry to lead the conversation to the topic which I well knew was in her mind, if not in her heart, at all times. She would speak of our first meeting at The Peacock, and would use every artifice to induce me to bring up the subject which she

orothy?"

e cigarro," she respon

ed, "I know no

ect was

d, "He was in the villa

new who

ou know?"

. She often comes to the Hall to serve me. She

ed at a venture. The girl blushed an

hy?" I asked gently

about me in front of the farrier's shop, and one of them said something about-oh, I don't

I said, seeing that sh

at Rowsley, and-and-I can't tell you what he said, I am too full of sh

you," I said. She raised her eyes to mine

orothy. I say it aga

" said the girl. "He said that in all the world

on, Dorothy,

e had first seen me at Rowsley-that I had bewitched him and-and-Then the other gentleman s

who the gentlem

eturned

ou know w

cribed him,

describe hi

e affected her so powerfully she fell in love with him in spite of her

t, and the girl b

ly, dangerously handsome. I believe the woman does not live who could refrain from feasting her eyes on

, Dorothy!" I ex

covering her face with her hands and sighing

and the terrible loadstone! The passive see

him shod. The town well is in the middle of an open space called by the villagers "The Open," around which are clustered the half-dozen houses and shops that constitute the village. The girls were mounted, and I was standing beside them in front of the fa

r his horse to drink. I had not seen him since we parted at The Peacock, and I did not show that I recognized him. I feared to betray our friendship to the villagers. They, however, did no

was ready to mount she struck her horse

o give my mare w

a country rustic in the presence of this wonderful girl, whose knowledge of life had been acquired within the precincts of Haddon Hall. Yet the inex

ated her

n, "I-I knew what you sai

Dorothy, "I have

, dashed the water against the skirt of Doro

she laughed as she shook the garment to free it of the water. Dolcy refused to drink, and Dorothy hav

er eyes shone like red coals, and looking

not often. I mean every da

m, or not often, or every day that you come?" In her overconfidence she was chaffing him. He caught the tone, and looked quickly into the gi

"and although I must have appeared very foolish in my confus

ch of her master, against whom she well knew all the poor force she

st go.

confusion that I was the stronger. I could not stand against him f

is daughter and kill the Rutlands. I might perform the last-named feat, but dragon fighting would be mer

Dorothy, leaving Madge

ad? What have you b

a look of warning toward Madge and a glance of defiance at

I res

hy do y

sense of caution, all told him that he was walking open-eyed into trouble. He had tried to remain away from the vicinity of Haddon Hall, but, despite his self-respect and self-restraint, he had made several visits to Rowsley and to Overhaddon, and at one time had ridd

ue, as the seed to the earth, as the iron

iful pitcher went to t