The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-18

''MOte CAUTIOUSLY, my lord, or lie may take the
alarm and evade Us In the crowd"
Lord noger gave few orders to his followers, who
imme late dispersed In various directions though
all gradually converged towards tle boon be.ole
wncl Mortimer Clair and his two companions were
standing.
CHAPTER H.
THE CLUB or ThE PRINTER.
After leaving the vcillty OF the s0rceress Mortimer
cngng to his right, had direct his steps towards
one Of tue gates Of the ncosute intending TO hasten
Tney nad reached the gate when Flaydilla cried
out
"Brother, we are going home and have no flowers
''True my little pet" replied Mortimer" and that
must not be. hardly think That The sorceress VIII
people have surrounded her. We VIII 60 back ami
mortimer" whispered Lauretta, in an anxious
lngr'
HCould you speak to me, Lauretta and ask me
"lhank you, dear Mortimer. But do not look
around yet, for am sure we are followed"
"By two young gentlemen dressed as m ummers."
"If they aie dressed Us muin.ners how do you
know That they are gentlemen young or oldY' asked
back"
'oh, they twice stopped at the booth where you
found me, and asked 70 purchase MOVERS, Offering
five times the price stated II would permit tnem
" KISS me-o
.'lhe rude scoundrels p' reclaimed Mortimer, flush
aIhey 70 * ms to be like these bold girls In the
other booths Mortner-an 1t was base and crae n
that Old woman TO expose modest Rrl TO such
Insults tremb.e lest you, Mo- timer. think less Of
me now.'
"Say no more OF that, Lauretta,n interrupted Nor
timer, quickly. "My faith IN your purity Is I'M
| SHAKEN dearest & RI, ana know you can readily ex
pam al rs sooL as we can converse IN peace. But
OF the mumlmers-n0w did you discover that they
were young genlenea? All, it Is rue,n he added,
after quick al apparently careless glnce over
SHOULDER, I've are followed b. two mulnmers,
m kpl "a yn.i
tnilk hey are not oI the rapber'
Before we give the reply OF Lauretta IL may be
well 10 state 10 the unlniorled rea ief II any are
uniformed in these days vi general education what
was meant by the term ''muinniers," word whicn
has almost gone out OF use, though common III the
time OF which We write.
On all holidays many disguised themselves in
masks and fantastic dress 3, often OF the most alb
suru and llughabe rs wcii Us OF tue most repuslve
designs and thus attlred strolled through the streets
or TESTED and danced around the market PAGES
singing ana carousing.
Bod and course numor, rude practical jokes
pleased the taste Of the age AMI the wild aud mot
Gus OF botn sexes delighted in the immunity AFFORDED
by disguise to revel unknown. Nobes anl gentry
AZ wei as the lowest ranks OF the popaace, thus
attired used their DISCUSSES as much for Lgut and
serious Intrigue as Tor sport.
These maskers were termed '.mummers'' In the
days Of Richard ILL.,, and two of tnen evident
| ly following Mortimer Clair and his Al panIons,
whether through harm ess curiosity or wicked inlen-
ton could not DE told.
lou see that there are two OF themr replied Lall-
retta. one IN u blue dress trimmed with silver
lace, and the other IN green and gold. Both wear
similar masks but he In green and gold the chief
1 believe they are young n0be5-at least enc or
them-and tue 0tler Il or the gentry. FIRST the
ter.al OF Their dress ~ new aad very costly, their
voices smooth, and their language, til Juyn vui-
gar IN meaning, correct and 20 sned In utterance.
noticed, too, that both wore golden spurs, aud
one inferior to that of knight is permitted to wear
diem. Even you, Mortiner, tnolgl Of the gentry no
doubt cannot wear gol leu sputs.n
Mortimer smiled at TINS remark, and then suddenly
..some day may wear them with hereditary right
as wei rs these two gay gallants al present what
right nave TO wear lien Won with M sword"
lie paused moment as N Ia dJubt, and then
taking PAR OF golden spurs from his bose. IA
stopped ana Duckied the n upon mis- lis.
"Ah, then you az kn2it ~ exclaimed Lauretta,
amazed. al knew you were noD.e by nature, r.
timer; but did not know that you were a sn gnt.n
'iou will not love me less for that. I.aurerayi
.'i.oye you less, Mortimer Alas why should You
love mefn
because you are beautiful and innocent. Lau.
retta. But wnat more OF the mlmmers9'
''But tell me why You put ON tAose spurs, brother
Mortimcrr' asked Flaydilla.
80 warn those maskers that | am not TO be fol-
lowed with lnsoont curiosity. or perhaps because
they design to insult Lauretta Id my presence.n
.ihey drew of their glow al the booth" cont nued
Iaure.ta, and saw that their hands were far AM
clean and decxed with Jewe,led rings, 80 that you
that they must be al least OF the gentry. BESIDES
heard the one Ia blue anu silver call him in green
and gold SIR simon"
al i very proo.Dle that they as you suppose,
Lauretta We win pause al tns booth, and pcriiap,
they mag pass on. Sir SIMON, did you sayY'
'res, sir Simon Nagra H. thiaN,n replied Lau-
retta, and as she glanced al her lovers fac sue
".,ir simon NagramS You are surcf- asked Nor
timer, laying his nand upon the hit OF his sword.
and hating abruptly. though sill several PAGES from
the booth 10 when he had directed hi seps. "You
made mistake m the nalne Lauretiaq on are GER
tam that nc Ia green and gold was called Sir simon
NagranN
Laurrtta was surprised at his agitation as no
SPOKE Ills face was ashy pale, thougn bright red
SCOT lurnCd upon each cheek, his dark hazel ewes
cleaned anRrily and his broad white brow looked
darker, Gerces tan Lauretia had imagined the
The noble brow or Mortimer CLAIR could zoos.
INN. mn rl al -
Nasran,r replied IaGretta, decidedly. do you
know hims"
thoughts aloud, and not needing Lauretas question,
''the OF Roger simon Nagran, now called Lord
Roger he Aontiort. IL u impossible that he should
know me-. lie may not DC 50 great villain IS bis
iatJer. We will See"
They moved ON an soon stood near the flower
booth IN which two bold faced brszen look ny young
women were sealing gariands, wreaths aud bou-
quets.
me throng OF spectators aud buyers was 40 great
that Mortimer saw II would be difficult to force his
way TO the hower table unless he let ais companion
am thus he was unwilling to do.
'Let us Walt,n lac said. we have Time enough.
and beside, wish ~ zee n those two manners
tenl TO continue The annoying pursuit"
" was then that he was seen by the sorceress, IS
We have narrated.
Mortimer, however, was not looking toward sibal-
Ia, but kept his eyes fixed upon the two mummers,
who contrived 10 advance with an iilc, saunterug
pace, until they halted within few feet OF him and
mis- companions.
Their masks were plain, though OF white velvet,
eyes, these they fixed rudely upon the beautiful and
biushiDg countenance OF Lauretta.
''So.n said he In green and gold, with ight
laugh "the beauty Of the flowers mas down from her
roses 10 roam withn-here he stared at Mortimer,
aud added, .with-what shall we col this gallant, Sir
Bartonyi
"Ca him the king OF crows" replied his compan
Ion. and alluding to Mostiners black garb.
''Sir," said Mortimer. baughtily, ~ am the friend
aud protector OF tins lady a. you may learn 70 your
cost. Goyour way and we viii 90 0urs.n
'Best let him alone" whispered Sii Barton 10 his
comrade. ole II stranger to me, but he wears
spurs and u no country simpleton, as we thought.
Come, there ~ fight IN his face aud eyes.v
"lhe girl peascs me, Barton; and though she il A
prude this tall fellow shall not ruflie IL so loudly
with me- II you are afraid OF bis spurs or his eyes
you may leave" replied sir Simon, pettishiy.
"Bah Barton Woolfort fearest noihinQv said the
other. Your father buys my sword for your attend.
ance. and have drawn 1t often In your wild frolics
and Will do 30 again. sir Simon, hut warn you to
avol any man with front and air like this. Let the
girl pass; there are hundreds as fair VINO will clap
their hands with Joy to receive your notice.
mo. there fpirpr 4 n m am ffau nh,