Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 182: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

UNTO THE FOURTH GENERATION, “T believe you speak truly. Do you remember what the Bard of Avon said?” ‘’ He said so many things, that I can- not now recall the one you mean.” _ Vaughan took her hand, and in his low, strong voice repeated : “To thine own heart be true, And it must follow as the night the day Thou canst not then be false to any man.” There was a silence as though nature held her breath to listen, and presently he added: “Jean, if in the time to come, Ra- venscroft and I be no longer here to urge our suits will you remember this?” She looked up then, without a touch of coquetry, for as she placed her hand in his, there rose before her the remem- brance of another face and she an- swered : “ Aye, Richard, always! ” And she did. She remembered in the months that followed; in the years to come; she remembered when, a lit- tle later, with blades in hand, they came to say good by. “And so King George has changed his policy,” Sir Peyton said. “ His men have met with defeat in the North but I wager me, they look for no such re- sistance in the South. Ah! Vaughan, we will teach these renegades a lesson they will not soon forget. They shall learn that the wealthy Virginia planter can wield his sword as well as did the men who took Louisburg from the French.” And’ Vaughan raising his blade until it glistened in the summer sunshine an- swered : é¢ Aye! 93 And Jean, standing with them in the garden amid her flowers, threw back her head and echoed: cé Aye! 93 Vaughan walked towards his horse, standing half hidden in the rose bushes, and began to tighten the girth. He knew Ravenscroft would thank him for this brief moment—he wondered if the , — 86“. —__- girl did! Of her, he was not quite so sure, Ah! it was this doubt that made him strong as him of the lion heart—this doubt that made him paltry weak at times and that now caused his hands to tremble at their task. Ravenscroft looked at his companion appealingly. “ Jean,” he said, “ answer me truly— is it Vaughan or me you care for?” She courtesied low in mock solem- nity and she smiled the old beguiling smile. His man’s wit was not keen enough to see the tears it hid. You flatter both yourself and Sir Richard Vaughan,” she said. “Jean,” he cried, passionately, “trifle not at such a time. I know right well that it is one of us, but on my oath I cannot learn which is the fa- vored man. Think not I speak for my- self. Say but the name and if ’tis Vaughan’s, I bless him in his wooing.” “To thine own heart be true,” she heard again in fancy, and hearing, turned to Ravenscroft and smiled. The smile was full of trust and hope now and though she said no word he gathered it to himself and treasured it. Vaughan, emerging from the rose bushes, came toward them, and the girl, as if fearing she had said too much to Ravenscroft in that one look, went to meet him gladly. A flower in parting,” she said, and he stooped from his horse’s back that she might fasten a bit of rosemary on his coat. They left her in the glory of the sun- set, standing by the old gate post, shad- ing her eyes with her hand. They left her a tall, quaint, slender figure, and a hit of maiden’s pride was shining in her hair. Vaughan saw it and he saw, too, that Ravenscroft wore on his coat a flower as bravely as did ever knight of old. With a lover’s quick intuition he read the silent language written thereon— and reading understood. After the turn in the road was past, ECORRIC OO© 173 SS) eo