Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-07-21

NEW STORY ny CHARLES READE.
Thomas Erpingham was knighled hy
Henry the Fourth for good and valiant SER
vice.
This Sir Thomas Erpingham, knight of
the garter, afterwards fought by the side of
Henry the Fifth in the French wars, and
was made warden of the Cinque Ports, but
retired to Norwich. his native place. He
married beautiful, pious lady, and afler
a turbulent clreer and the horrors of war,
desired TO end his days in charity. Being
wealthy and Of one mind, he and Lady Err
bingham built IA goodly church in the city,
and also erected and endowed a religious
house for twelve monks and prior close to
the knights house, and parted only by n
high wall.
But though the retired soldier wished 10
be at peace with all men, two of his friars
were of another mind. Friar John and
Friar Richard hated each other, and could
by no means be reconciled neither had
ever good word for rother and at last
Frlar John gave Friar Richard a fair ex-
cuse for his invectives. Lady Erpingham
came over 20 mathis in the convent, and
Friar John would always await Aer COM
ing and attend her through the cloister
with ducks and cringes and open adula-
tions, whereat she smiled, being in truth,
most innocent lady, affable TO all, aud
slow to think i'll of any man.
But Richard denounced John as licen-
tious monk, and some watched and whis-
pered; others rebuked Richard, for il was
against the monastic rule TO put an i'll con-
struction where The matter might re inno-
cent.
But Richard stood his ground, and, un-
fortunately Richard was right; misunder-
standing the lady's courtesy and charity,
Brother John thought his fawning advances
were encouraged, and this bred in him
such impudence that one day he sent her
fulsome love letter, and had the hardihood
to beg for private interview.
The lady, when she opened this letter,
could hardly believe her senses and, at
last, as gentlewOmen will be both unsuspi-
clous and suspicious in the wrong place,
she made up her mind that the poor good,
ridiculous friar could never have been so
wicked as to write this; nay, but it was
her husbands DOING and trial of her vir-
tue. He was older than herself, and great
love is often tainted with jealousy.
This brought tears into her eyes, to think
she should be doubted; but soon anger
dried them, aud she took occasion TO put
the letter into Sir Richards hand, and fix
ed her eyes on him so keenly that if there
had been flaw in his conjugal armor, no
doubt those eyes had pierced it.
The knight read the letter aud turned
black and white with rage his eyes spark
led with fury and he looked so fearful that
the lady was very sorry she had shown him
the letter, and begged him not to take
madman's folly to heart.
"Not take it TO heart I" said he. "What /!
these beggarly shavelings that I have
housed and fed, and so lessened my estate
and thine-they shall corrupt thee and rob
me of my one earthly treasured Sit thou
down and write"
"Wrlte-R -Richard-whatH alto whom?"
"Do as l bid thee, dame," said he sternly,
"and no more words"
Those were days when husbands COM
manded and wives obeyed so she sal down,
trembling, and took the pen.
Then he made her write letter back to
the friar and say she compassioned his
love, and her husband was to ride toward
London that night, and her servant, on
whom she could depend, should admit him
TO her by a side door of the house.
Friar John, at the appointed time, took
care TO be in thetown-for he knew the lay
brother. who kept the gate OF the prlory,