William Williamson

“ William's son, Peter, was born before there was any record of births. But we know that he married Leah Le Niser on January 19, 1731, and that when he died in 1760 he left his property in Bensalem Township to his elder son, Jacob. The younger son, Peter, who bore his father's name, was born on January 17, 1735, and moved to Falls Township in 1764, when he married Sarah Sotcher, granddaughter of William Penn's steward at Pennsbury. During the Revolutionary War he lived at Beverly, and among his eight children was Mahlon, the father of Isaiah. ”

“ Williamson, merchaunt, half a yere, and after that dwellinge in Cambridge by the space of half a yere, used labour by the day beryng of ale and pekynge of saffron, and sometyme going to the colleges, and gate his mete and drynke of almes; and aft that the same Sir William, with ij monks of Whitby Abbey, and one Edward Prentis, went to Rome, to thentent for to have ben made p’st, to which order he could not be admitted; and after abiding in Larkington, in the countie of Essex, used labour for his levyng wt. one Thom. Grene his broder; and after that the same Sr. Will. ”

“ He trusts me, and almost always lets me do what I like. But supposing—just supposing I changed my plans—would Mr. Winston be willing to let me keep his car longer?"
"As much longer as you choose," said I eagerly. "He doesn't want it in England till next summer. I'm certain of that."
"Well, then, I must think it over," she answered. "Oh, it would be glorious! Yet—I don't know. Anyway, we must take Lady Brighthelmston, Mr. Winston's mother, a drive on her son's car when we get to Cannes. She is staying there." ”

“ And I don't hear those Taubes now. The chances are we shall get back safe and sound, at the château to-night—in time for dinner. I wish I could decide before I meet those Americans! The sight of boys from home might make me weaken."
"Why not toss a coin?" I suggested. "But no, I forgot. You have three to decide between. Heads and tails aren't enough."
"I—almost—think Lord John is off," said she. "People might say I married him for his title."
I WORE a spade guinea in my waistcoat pocket, despite Mother's protests against hoarding gold. This I displayed under Nancy's eyes. ”

“ The car plunged boldly through the veil of deep blue shadow which hung, ghostlike, over the serpentine curves of the white road; and out of its twilight-mystery rose always the faint singing of a little river that ran beside us, under the steep gray wall of towering rock. At the top of the gorge a surprise of beauty waited for us as our way led along a sinuous road cut into the swelling mountain-side. Far off lay the sea, with an army of tremendous purple rocks hurling themselves headlong into the molten gold of the water, like a drove of mammoths. All the world was gold and royal purple. ”

“ My will is law to her, as it must be to thee if thou wilt not learn wisdom, and how to hold me by a thread of silk, a thread of thy silky hair. No one would listen to thee. Not Fafann, not the men of the Soudan. It [Pg 309] is as if we two were alone in the desert. Dost thou understand?"
"Thou hast made me understand. I will not try to run. Thou hast the power to take me, since thou hast forgotten thy bond of honour, and thou art stronger than I. Yet will I not live to be thy wife, Si Maïeddine. Wouldst thou hold a dead girl in thine arms?" ”

“ But even if you had, Lady Vale-Avon couldn't have shown such a letter to the Duke, he's too Spanish—too Moorish, I ought to say. She wouldn't have dared, as she wants him for a son-in-law.”
“That occurred to me.”
“But there aren't many other things she wouldn't dare, to get rid of such a danger as you. If she got the letter—and I'm sure she did—there was your handwriting at her mercy. Supposing she—”
“I know what's in your mind. But I don't think such things are done—out of novels.”
“Oh, aren't they; when people are clever enough? ”

“ Each one exploded in purple flame, crushed a sunship.
"Three fliers left," Bill counted, eyes on the growing blue globe before them. "Two left. Good-by, Brand." He grasped the bluff Captain's hand. "One left. Will we have time?"
He looked forward. The blue globe, with the dancing, sparkling haze of sapphire swirling about it, was swiftly expanding.
"The last one! Our turn now!"
He saw a tiny fleck of purple light dart out of the expanding azure sphere that they had hoped to ram. Then red-violet flame seemed to envelope him. He felt the floor of the bridge tremble beneath his feet. ”

“ That nature may be read in a face which retains in a surpassing degree its original sweetness and purity of expression. The marks with which the battle of business life scars most faces, can be traced in his only in the 'busy wrinkles,' not 'round' but at the corners of 'the eyes.' Intelligence of a high order, with blended firmness and gentleness, are to be read in Mr. Williamson's features, and in his expression the simplicity and modesty which have ever made distasteful to him all display, whether of the wealth he has amassed or the millions he has already bestowed in charity. ”

“ The fellow's smug face changed instantly.
"Oh, I see, sir, you are the gentleman Mr. Wildred was expecting. He–they–it is possible they will be in quite shortly. Perhaps you will walk into the room."
"The room," and with such a queer little emphasis on the former word, sounded rather odd. It was but a trifling peculiarity of expression, however, and I did not think much of it as I followed the butler along the hall, passing through a door, before which he swept the curtain aside with a flourish, and so into a passage which evidently led towards the new wing. ”

“ The three had motored from London to Hasletowers; and they smiled drily when Violet asked if they "thought there was danger of an attack on the way back."
"None whatever," replied the square-faced Combes. "We've made sure of that. There's too much at stake to run risks."
"Don't you remember I told you, Violet, what Mr. Combes said before?" Haslemere reminded his wife: "that the road between here and Christie's would swarm with plain clothes men in motors and on bicycles. If every gang of jewel-thieves in England or Europe were on this job, they'd have their trouble for their pains." ”

“ I know all she has ever thought about since she was born."
"It's a bargain then," said I. "We're friends and comrades—until Aosta. After that––"
"Each goes his own way," he finished my broken sentence; "as ships pass in the night. But this little sailing boat won't forget that the big bark came to its help, in a storm which it couldn't have weathered alone."
"Do you know," said I, as we walked on together, the muleteer and the donkey girl behind us, with the animals, "you are a very odd boy. I suppose it is being American. Are all American boys like you?" ”

“ Williamson conversed more freely than was usual with him when I was present. I noticed, as I had often done before, that, on whatever subject he spoke, his remarks, though few, were full of good sense, and indicative of close observation. The slightest deviation from honour or integrity met with his decided condemnation, while virtuous actions were as warmly approved. I could perceive, from the expression of his wife's face, and the tones of her voice when she spoke, that she not only held her husband in high estimation, but loved him with a tenderness that had grown with years. ”

“ We might as well batter at the gates of Paradise as those of the Grey Sisterhood. We would be turned away, as with a flaming sword. Trust the Head Sister for that! But we were not at the end of our resources.
That evening towards dusk, two ruddy-faced coastguards left a somewhat dilapidated car in charge of a local youth. They walked for a short distance, where a group of pines on a promontory had suggested the name "Pine Cliff." They rang a gate bell, although aware that tradesmen were the only males of the human species allowed to cross the threshold. ”

“ She is an elderly woman, experienced. The suite occupied by Her Highness will be free to-morrow."
"Oh! And had she no friends here?"
"I do not think the Princess was a lady who made friends. She was very proud and considered herself above other people. Would you like to see your room, mademoiselle? I will send some one to take you up to it. It will be on the top floor."
I was in a mood not to care if it had been on the roof, or in the cellar. I hardly knew where I was going, as a few minutes later a still younger youth piloted me across a large square hall toward a lift ”

“ Bill clutched his sleeve. "Wait! Think what you're doing, man! We're fighting to save the world. You can't run off that way! Anyhow, the sun is low. It is getting cool already. In two minutes after the sun goes down it will be cold as the devil! You'll die in the desert!"
The Prince tugged away. "Hang the world! If you knew the way I feel about Paula—Lord, what a fool I've been! To drive her to this!"
Agony was written on his dark face; he bit his thin lip until blood oozed out and mingled indistinguishably with the red grime on his face. "Anyhow, the vitomaton is finished. ”

“ I don't know what will happen.”
“They can't make you marry Carmona,” I said.
“No. How could they? such things can't be done nowadays; at least, I suppose they can't; and yet, when people are strong and determined, and unscrupulous too, one never knows what they may be planning, what they may be capable of doing. Often, [pg 90] in the night, I try to think what they could do, and tell myself they could do nothing, unless I consented, which, of course, I never would. Oh, I shall be very happy and safe now. It will even be amusing, or it would be if I were sure the Duke couldn't harm you.” ”

“ I asked.
"Even Beau is powerless against her. She has hypnotized him with marrow bones."
"You 've escaped from her for the present," I suggested. "She 's on the other side of the Channel. Now is your time to be bold."
"Ah, but I can't stop out of England for ever, and I tell you she 's waiting for me at Dover. A relative (a very eccentric one, and quite different from the rest of us, or he would n't have made his home abroad) has left me a house in Italy, some sort of old castle, I believe—so unsuitable! ”

“ Each girl we passed wore a bright flower shining star-like through the black cloud of her hair. The men had discarded the fur-trimmed Louis XI caps for the broad-brimmed, grey sombreros de Cordoba, and the horses or mules were harnessed with gay splashes of red and blue colour, and bobbing tassels.
We had talked of Linares, the lead-mining town, as a halting-place for the night, as we were pledged not to track down the Lecomte; and on the outskirts of Bailen, as twilight fell, the Gloria was brought to a sudden stop in the midst of a pulsating crowd, that we might ask the way. ”

“ In spite of herself, Virginia's voice sank, and the penetrating chill of the valley crept into her spirit.
"He is worse than dead," answered Roger evasively. "By Jove! Loria is right. It is cold here. Let us turn back."
"I should like to buy that château," [Pg 15]
announced the American girl, as calmly as if she had spoken of acquiring a new brooch.
"Good gracious! What next?" exclaimed Sir Roger. "But you're not in earnest, of course."
"I am in earnest," said she. "I should love to have it. It's an ideal house, set on that great rocky hill, and ringed round with olive groves. ”

“ Almost mechanically he had reached up for the green shade, and given it a hasty pull downward.
"Hullo!" he responded in a hoarse voice, following the word with a cough. "This is a surprise, eh?"
"Yes," I replied slowly. "People do run against each other in unexpected places, don't they? ”

“ You wouldn't be independent enough."
"Invented? Then you don't mean marriage! And not even the stage. I warn you that I solemnly promised Grandmother never to go on the stage."
"I know, my child. She mentioned that to Henry—my husband—when they were discussing your future, before you both left London. My idea is much more original than marriage, or even the stage. It popped into my mind the night Mrs. Courtenaye died, while we were in a taxi between the Palazzo Ardini and this hotel. I said to myself, 'Dear Elizabeth shall be a Brightener!'"
"A Brightener?" ”

“ I was taken by surprise for the instant, and so I behaved foolishly. Girls of our race do not show their faces to men, except those of their own family; but it is a convention, not a law, made by our Prophet. We all know that; yet we yield, and most of us have no wish for a different rule. In this case, however, no harm is done. Thou art my dear Miss Luck's well-loved brother, and I trust thee, though I would not have come into this room if I had known thou wert here. ”

“ We ourselves know that we shall be doing no wrong, so our consciences are clear. I have already written to Miss Luck, saying that we may be able to call; and she has promised that her brother shall not see us. No doubt it seems stupid to her and to him, that we must not be looked on by a man; but it is our custom, and it will be respected by them.”
“Oh, let me see her letter!” cried Ourïeda, brightening. “Is there a message in it for me?”
“I wrote to her, but she sent back an answer by word of mouth. Miloud brought it,” said the elder girl. “Come! It is time now for us to start.” ”

“ The bride in her white mantilla looked down at her fan, and counted the gilded ivory sticks, when the first bull charged the first horse. She, the Queen of Spain, must not seem to flinch, though her English eyes had never seen such crimson sights as these. This was the national sport; she must learn to understand that when men yelled, and even women cried “Buena vara!” it was not with joy because a horse's side was torn, but because a picador had made the perfect thrust. She must seem to love what the people loved, if she wished them to love her ”