THE NOBLE MILKMAID.

Lake County Press, Issue 979, 12 September 1901, Page 7

THE NOBLE MILKMAID.

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o 'gfe _ A& '■ V KAT H A XIIX K iV N AX. e ‘Tiie Handsome Brandons,’ etc. When my Lord Castletowers married milkmaid There were many to say that ; ll would come of it. My lord, though not yet thirty, was of his nature grave and reverend, out of spirit and touch, indeed, with the Court, where Ids office kept him. and, as the courtiers esteemed it. something of a shadow upon their laughter. Not that he stond alone as austere in that which Mr John Dryden has called "a lubric cm! adulterate age." Even at the Court lie found frifends of his own way of thinking, as, for instance, the late sainted Mrs Godolphin, who with her husband and Mr Evelyn were chief among 1113- lord’s intimates. He had been rusticating in Devon when he found the milkmaid. She was. indeed, as sweet a one as ever milked syllabubs in a silver dish. A woman more comely, more innocent, I have not known. To see hei in that licentious Court was to smell the sweet breath of kine in a summer dawning, and to have the dews of it plash about your feet. Tho worldly-wise whispered that my lord was mad to have brought her to Court. The vicious leered as she went by. a soft wonder of rose and white, in her coming-to-Court gown of white velve .aid roses. Sir Peter Lely would have painted her modest among his wanton dames, in her childish bodice, which showed only a line of white neck and shoulder, but before she could sit to him the calamity befell. lam ; of my lord’s own county, a Barron of Banondyke, and my lord lias ever taken notice of me, and even admitted me to intimacy, so that I may pretend to a knowledge of his noble mind. Therefore I read my lord’s bringing his bride to Court as due to a noble faith and simple confidence which experience in this most evil of schools had not withered. For be sure he had not wed my lady because she was sweet as posies and like in the body to a meadow dower come alive, but because behind the beauty of her person he discovered a soul as fragrant and lovely. And at first the discretion of his ladv seemed to warrant what the}- called the indiscretion of my lord. Mistress Godolphin was not then at Court, having retired with her husband to their seat in the Kingdom of Cornwall, else perhaps this trouble had not befallen. But my lad}- attached herself at first coming to the Court to the Queen’s person, who, though not ’beautiful to look upon, was of so royal a heart that she could never envy one of her subjects that beauty which she herself did not possess. Indeed, sh • seemed to love the Lady Castletowers, and in a sense the simplicity of the one consorted with that of the other. And presently the Lady Castletowers became Woman of the Bedchamber, and could soothe the Queen to sleep with her country ditties when the Royal head achA with the burden of its Crown and its wifehood. It were not well to play fast and loose with the honor of the Earl of Castletowers, yet there were those that did essay it out of the courage of hell, laying siege to that innocent lady, whose innocence, which they hoped to be her pitfall, was yet her defender. For how much evil must have passed her by, and ieft her unscathed ! Yet was she merry, poor lady, and loved to laugh as much as any child; and afterwards that same merriment was made Vo appear against her.

Now,. the Earl of Castletowers was sent into France on privy business for the King, and the time of his absence was chosen for that attempt upon the honor and happiness of his lady, the instigator of which is yet unknown to any but the Judgment of God. The occasion was that of a masked ball given in honor of the Queen's name-day, and Castletowers, ere he set out, had conveyed to his lady his wishes that she should not attend it. " For it is not becoming,” he said, “ that a lady without the protection of her husband should go ruffling in among masquers, to whom, alas! the honor of the husband is but a jest, and the wife a scoff. Bide, therefore, dear heart, at our lodging, so that I shall be assured of your safety, and shall dream of you asleep in moonlight with the smile upon your tace which the last thought of me hath left there.” When it was known that by Her Majesty’s permission the Lady Castletowers would not attend the bail, there were many who strove to change her. Even the King himself rallied her, declaring that her husband’s uxorious jealousy would rob the ball of its fairest mask. She laughed with her liquid eyes and her scarlet lips, and met the Fling’s gaze as frankly as any • boy might have done. But it was no* use'to tiy to win her from her purpose of being absent from the Name-night Ball.

The man or men who planned this wickedness truly feared neither God nor man, nor did thev spare to bring the King's majesty within their machinations, counting, no doubt, that the King in the result would forgive them. On the day of the ball there came to the King's hand a letter purporting to be from the Lady Castletowers. appointing a tryst with him atthe ball. "Your Majesty shall know me by the knot of cherrycolored ribbon worn upon my mask, the which I dare not remove for fear of my lord's anger," the letter said. The same evening was conveyed a letter to Lady Castletowers. purporting to come from her lord; but all this we knew too late. "I am returned," he said, "but being much concerned with affairs of His Majesty, I shall look for you at the Palace. I shall wear the dress of Henry of Valois, by which you will know me, since we are to go masked till midnight. As for you. sweetheart, wear the knot of cherrycolored ribbon that shall remind me of that day we met first in Devon pastures." My lady, therefore, as I learnt afterwards from her waiting woman. Mistress; Phoebe, with much joy busked herself bravely for the ball, putting upon her a gown of pink silk with a domino of like color, and 4 mask of black velvet, and. as Mistress oebe told me. could not forbear from des and singing while she robed her. because her separation from her lord was come to an end. I was looking from the gallery upon the hall, with its gay and splendid masks, all moving stately to the music of a minuet, when a hand was laid upon my arm—a hand. I daresay, whiter than any there, though it had once known bow to milk cows and gather the butter from the churn. " Harry, Master Harry Barron," whispered a voice which J had known all the world over for its honest and rusticity. "You here, my lady?" I cried, doffing my page's cap of velvet, for I was in character as a page of Catherine de Medicis. " 1 thought vou would not honor the ball." "1 am appointed to meet my lord here, she answered. "Give me your attendance. I am come alone, and would not draw notice on my sudden change of plans.*' " But your ladyships lord is in Paris." "Nay, he returns tonight." "There is no knowledge of it in the Palace."

" Tush, Master Harry. A page, however pretty, does not know everything. 1 have my ' lord’s letter writ by his own band, and appointing a meeting here, in ifiv bosom. You "ill fiance with me?" She put her pretty head to one side with a gay ami innocent blandishment which 1 would have known the world over for my lady’s way. “ 1 am too honored.” "So shall we come upon my lord. How else should I find him in such a multitude? Your hand. Master Harry." 1 gave her my hand to lead her to the dancing floor. “What mask docs my lord wear?" I asked. "He will have three golden lilies upon bis surcoat for the badge of Henry of Valois.” “Strange I" I said, half to myself, “i have seen such a mask, but the figure and the bearing I should have thought to belong to His Majesty, whose whim is for this night till midnight strikes to lose himself among his subjects." “ He and my lord are much of a height and bearing,” she said. "Conic, clear chi li. find my lord for me. We have not been so long separated since we were wed." She almost ran before me as wc went down the stairs, and I followed with a misgiving. for why should my lord ret urn in this skulkaway fashion? V, as not someone practising upon her innocence? We had taken but a few steps in the pavane—an ancient dance, but newly brought back to fashion —when 1 felt her hand close upon mine, and following the eager flight of her eyes I saw the A amis Iking standing a little apart in (he shadow of the balcony watching us. She could scarce endure, that I saw plainly, to finish the figure, but she remained till it was done. Then we turned towards the mask, who stepped a pace to meet us. Truly now, looking upon him closer, he might as well be my Lord Castletowers as the or his Grace of Rochester as either, for since the mask went under the chin there was nothing but the curling htir and the figure to betray the wearer, unlike my lady’s mask,, which but hid her eyes and' forehead, whom all tho world might know by her milky throat and chin, her scarlet mouth and cheeks of damask. With a bow to me the mask took the lady’s hand, and led her away. And yet—and yet, I watched them fearfully, with I know not what premonition of ill. There in the shadow of the gallery ail was quiet, and those who were not dancing were watching the pavane. But my eyes followed the Valois King and his companion. 1 saw the cavalier lift a portion of the tapestry, behind which a door must have lain, though I had known it not, and swiftly motion the lady to enter. She passed within —even as she went I noticed her upward joyful glance at him —he followed, and the tapestry fell behind them. Then a sort of distraction came upon me. If this were not my lord, and my lady were in peril, because of some of the evil and shameless chicanery of courtiers, why was I standing here, while my sword was at my side, and my will ready to do battle for my holy’s honor? Maskers rallied me as they passed by. but I stood like a stock or a stone, biting at mv nails, and in the sorest trouble of spirit. But suddenly I saw coming through the crowd a. form that made my heart lea]). How had it been possible for me to take the Valois King for the Earl of Castletowers? Here was, that lord himself, clad plainly, with a little mask of velvet, and sc; nning the mad crowd, as though he would wrest their secrets from the mask. As l.e came near me I plucked at his sleeve. "My lord," I cried. "Ah, Harry Barron. You are here. I am seeking my countess. 1 arrived at my lodgings an hour agone, and heard she attended the Queen’s Masque. Have you seen aught of her?” "I have seen her. my lord." I said trembling, but ere 1 could explain further 1 heard a shriek from the hidden room. " She is here." I cried, “and in peril I doubt not.”

Then 1 lifted the tapestry as i had seen him of Valois do. and came upon a Tittle dark passage. My lord followed, me, a.ml wt plunged in through the dark to where wc could see on the floor a line of light as from below a. door. I was there first, and shuck upon the door, but my lord overtaking me. flung it back and entered. The little room was gaily lit. In llie centre stood a table, spread, as I saw, with a dainty supper for two. And there, at opposite sides of it, stood the King with his mask in his baud, and my lady a ho holding hers, with Iter other hand to her heart, as though she were about to faint. “Maudlin!” cried my lord, in a terrible voice. •She drew back a, few paces, staring, and white to the lips. "My Lord Castletowers,” said the King, an I 1 thought for once he did not mock. “You have a most loyal and chaste lady.” “ Loyal! ” cried Lord Castletowers, bitterly ; “to whom, may it please your Majesty? ” “Why. to her liege husband, man!" said the King. “It seemeth so, indeed, your Majesty. Tis a right-fitting place and scene in which to find an honest lady.” “She is honest, nevertheless,” said the King, stammering. At this my Lord Castletowers suddenly unbuckled his sword and filing it among the dainty dishes and the silver, where it fell clattering. “ My fathers served your Majesty's fathers,” he said, "as I have served your Majesty. Now, I am done with it.” “Castletowers," cried the King. "It was but a jest ; the lady meant no harm, nor did I. You will not leave us.” " What is ti jest to your Majesty may well mean death to any honorable man,” said my lord, drawing his wife's arm within his own. “Come, Harry Barron, find as our coach." 1 gave ;t glance at His Majesty as we went. He had cast off his sureoat and stood wearing the broad ribbon and star of the Garter. He looked troubled—lie who had made a jest of crowns and kingdoms—but 'twins known he loved the Ear! of Castletowers. We went out through the great hall, where the dancing continued merrily. No one noticed us. My lady had resumed, her mask, but noting the whitening of her cheek 1 wondered what power held her from a swoon. Certainly it was no milkmaid's heart but a royal one that carried her so proudly through the crowd of maskers, so that none guessed we were aught but of their gay company. I did not dare speak to my lord. I was but a boy. though be had honored me by bis notice. What was 1 to assure him of his lady’s honor? Cet her clear herself as well I knew she could do. Aftei 1 hail seen them depart in their coach 1 said to myself that the evil might ie-uU in good if if withdrew my lady from a Court which was no place for her. The next day about noon a message was brought, to me that my land Castletowers desired to see me at his lodgings, and proceeding thither I found my bud pacing up and down distractedly. "My lady has left me, Harry Barron,” he cried. Then he imparted to me that, the preceding night, being tilled with anger , be had so bitterly reproached her, and would listen to none of her defences, so that at length she fell into a swoon, in which condition he had

left her to her woman. But when he rose in the morning he had found his lady gone, and Phoebe, who was a wench of her own county, lied with her. "I remember now," lie said, “that site did several times cry out piteously that she ought not to have married me to my hindrance. And now that my jealous madness ; lias died down 1 do truly believe her inno- | cent." "Why," said I. "did die not show you i yi ur own letter? " : "What letter?" cried he. “I writ ! none." i " She carried ii in her bosom," I said. I “and. it did appoint a meeting with you at ! the Masque.” Then ha to;e his hair and cried out upon himself. And presently, at my instigation, lie went to my lady’s chamber, and searching in her ball gown found the letter as she had said. But there were no tidings of the countess, nor were to be for many a heavy month. That day the King commanded the Karl to liis presence, and when my lord was I come, I knew later, lie laid bare to him that however the fault was in him the lady j was innocent.

" She did indeed cry lustily upon you, Jock, and did so belabor me with reproaches that mine ears sting still as though her pretty hands had boxed them. It was Castletowers she looked to see. not Charles Stuart. There was knavery at work here, for look yon what message was conveyed to me. purporting to come from her.” Then he tossed my lord the note saying she would he at the ball, and my lord produced the false note written from him to her. And tho King, who for all his jesting, had a lively sense of his majestic state, swore that whosoever had mocked him should not go unpunished. “ Kay,” said my Lord Castletowers, “ for 1 shall kill him." " And liee into France, Jock," said the King. “Nay. that must not be so, for we cannot afford to lose so true a. friend, and full of wisdom where no wisdom is.” But what we could not come at, though the trick lay bare, was whether those knaves had known that, my Lord Castletowers would return, whether they had designed so to part a pair of true lovers, or whether it had been a chance matter, and they had believed, as such rogues well might, that Lady Castletowers would he quick to embrace the part they had thrust upon her. " I am sick of courts, Harry,” said my lord. “ And would to God that while yet mv gentle Maudlin were mine I had chosen the country life, with her, far away from the machinations and villainy I see about me here."

And again lie cried out on his folly that he had brought his one white lamb to this smirched place, where scarce any could pass fre. j of the prevalent taint. 1 do not think my lord had forgiven His Majesty, though, since he never was one for protesting, his silence might pass. And often said he that if the Countess's fate were but known to him he would say good-bye to towns for evermore. But despite all love and money could do there were no tidings 10 be had of her or her maid Phoebe. They had not returned to their native place, that was certain : " and," said my lord, " where else could they have sunk so completely as a stone cast in the sea but in this spider's web of streets and houses?" Even then the town had travelled as far as Holborn Bars, and it seemed likely that sheep would not graze much longer at St. Martin-in-the-Fields. There were times when my lord had bitter despondencies in those days of my lady's loss, crying out that' Maudlin was dead or she would have returned to him. But then his better sense coming back, he would lemember how simple she was, and how likely it was she should believe his wrath yet endured, and in her humility hold it the best kindness she couid do him to come again no more. Then came the black and fearful visitation of the Great Plague, and the King and the Court tied away with the meanest to open country ; but my lord would not go. " Most like," he cried, "my lady is in these plague-stricken streets, and here my heart tells me I shall have news of her." And since he would stay I stayed, my lime of pageship to His Majesty having expired. The Plague lay beyond Temple Bar. and lo the eastward, and albeit the wind drove incessantly our way, it had not yet reached the rural district about Whitehall, in which our lodiings lay, nor did my lord seem to fear it. and would have none of the plaguewaters much in use, avowing that more died of fear than of the plague, which I do indeed believe to have been the truth. One night we sat late, and were about to retire to our chambers, ■when a knocking came at the door, and who should be ushered in but Lady Castletowers' woman, Phoebe, though indeed the poor wretch was so distraught that one had hardly known her for the clean and pretty maid of happier days. My lord, at seeing her, leaped to his feet, and held her tight, as though she would have escaped him; and " Where is my lady?'" he cried out in a shaking voice, so that J seemed only then to have known how he had suffered. "Oh, lord!" cried the girl, "you are to come at once, my lord. My huly lies in Stepney Green, and all around the plaguefires are burning and the dead-carts are calling. Myself have escaped the watch by miracle. My lady bids me say that you are to save your heir while he is still untainted. She thinks only on the child, dear heart, and expects nothing but the plague for herself, Lord ha' mercv!" "My heir, wench!" cried my lord. "Are you mad? There is no heir to my name." " There is as fine a. boy as ever I saw born Wednesday se'ennight. But now my lady begins to cicep back to life, and she cries that the child must be saved." " Come with me. Harry," cried my lord; "we shall save them both." We rode in a coach no further than Aidgate, and praised Heaven for the summer 1 ight's blackness that hid us from the watch. The rumble of the coach pas.sed.no doubt, for the dead carts, that were the only life in that dolorous city ; and we passed the easier because who in his senses would come entering this city of the plague however folks might flee from it? At Aidgate we drove the coach to the yard of the Mitre Inn, which its owners had deserted, and bidding the stout knave who drove us, and whom we had well plied with brandy, not to fall asleep at his post, we left bim. None questioned us as we went through the grey streets. One or two whom we met skulked away as though we carried the plague in our pockets, and »o we came to Stepney Green. Along the Green the tires wei» burning before half a dozen houses that had the plague, and very strange seemed ti"*ir reek and fume in the gentle morning ti»*H was breaking. The housese were for the most part close-shuttered. Prom one a white face looked out to see us pass. A bird twittered in the dawn. A witch cat stole by us, keeping close to the railingi, as though we made her a feared. Before a, little house, green-shuttered, its garden adorned with shells, ami a mast of a ship yjf standing to show that here some son of Neptune had designed to pass his latter days, Phoebe paused, and turned in at the little gate. Here wo were in a truce of quietness and the dawn, though before some hottsesb away on either hand

the tires of hell spluttered and fumed. She went up the stairs in the grey house, and my lord upon her heels. Into a little room, curtained with chintz, and recalling the country, we followed her. A taper burned in the room. By its light we saw the Countess of Castletowers with her young son on her breast. In a twinkling my lord had the pair in his arms. " Oh. Maudlin." he cried in a piercing voice, “so I have found you!" “Take the child,” she murmured, struggling in his arms, ‘and go quickly. Now, since my lord forgives, 1 can die in peace." "Why did yon not tell me?" he reproached her. “Because I thought 1 was like to die," she answered. “Photbe knew that she was to bring yon the child when I was dead." "Oh. Maudlin! You break my heart." he cried. "Why, you are weeping," she said in wonder. “ Did you love Maudlin after all, my lord?” But then 1 broke in, reminding him that it was growing light, and that if we were carrying the Countess it might not be easy to satisfy the watch that she was not sick with the plague. “Yes, go,” she cried; “go at once, dear heart. Already you have been here too long. If I have not the plague already is it likely that it should pass me by? Go, lest I infect you." For answer my lord kissed her, and giving the babe to Phoebe to carry, took my lady on her bed,. I assisting him. and bore her out of the house. And although we hardly hoped to escape the watch, and were ready with our swords if my lord’s purse should fail, we did. by God’s mercy, see nothing of ificm, although the road of the Whitechapel was Hooded with golden day when we again reached it. And so we came to our coach, and gained mv lord's lodgings in safety. But the very next morning wc rode out of London at daybreak, and. travelling by easy stages, reached after many days Castle Towers, my lord’s great house 111 Devon. Nor have any of ns ever returned to the Court.