Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-01-01

housed and fed, and SO lessened my es
tate and thine-they shall corrupt thee
and rob me of my one earthly treasure
Sit thou down and write"
"Write - Thomas - what?- and to
whom?"
"Do as l bid thee. DAME" said he
sternly, land 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 compassiona,ed
his love. and her husband was to ride
toward London that night, and her ser
want, on whom she could depend, should
admit him 10 her by side door OF the
house.
Frsr John at the appointed time. took
care 70 be in ,own-for he knew the lay
brother Who kept the gate Of the priory,
would not Let him out So lato. He came
% the side door, and was admitted by a
servant of Tia Knight, 3 reckless old SOL
der who cared Tor neither man nor devil.
as the ssSing is. bat only Tor his master.
this man took him into a room and left
him; then went for tie kuight-he was
not lar Of. Now, the unlucky monk,
being come 70 the conqnes OF beautiful
lady, as be ysinly though had fine linen
on. and per.umod ike q civet. The
K1iyh; smelt these perfumes and rushed
10 upon HIN with his man, like dogs upon
he oderiierous fox, aud, iH fury. with
out giving him time to call for help, or
say one prayer. sirangled him and left
him dead.
Blu, desth breeds calm; the Knighrs
rage abated that moment, and he saw be
had done a foul and remorseless deed.
He would have given half his estate to-
bring this offender back to life. Half his
estate? his whole estate. ay, and his lite
were now gone from him; they were for
feiled to the law. SO did he pass from
rage 10 remorse, and from remorse to
fear. The rough soldier. seeing him so
stricken, made light OF sll. except the
danger OF discovery. Come. noble sir, I"
said he. "let us bestir ourselves, and
take hin back to the priory, and there
besiow him; so shall We ne'er be known
in It,"
Thus urged, the Knight aroused him
self. and he and bis man brought the
body out, aid got as far Gs the wall that
did part the house from the monastery.
Here they were puzzled awhile; but The
man remembered : short ladder in the
back yard. that was high enough Tor this
job. So they set the ladder. and. with
much ado, got the body up it, and then
drew the lsGdor up, and set it again on
The other side; and SO, with Infinite
trouble. the soldier got him into the
priory.
The mex, thing was to make it appear
Friar John had died natural death. Ac-
cordingly he set him on = rickety chair
be found in the yard, balanced him, and
Lett him, mounted the wall again, and let
himself down, and then dropped into the
Knights premises.
He found the Knight walking in great
perturbation, aud they went into the
house.
Nov, good master" said the stout
solder go YOU 70 bed, and think no
more out.'
To tsd~ groauel he Kaight in ago
uy. "Wby should 10 ,hcre' cannot
s.oep. Ms.oilks shall never sleep
again"
"Tusu give me lie cellar key. good
sir. L.. claw stoup ot Canary"
LAY, w,ac," cried the Kuighti "Ior
NJ block ruus cold IA nY veins"
The servant lighted rousing tire in
tue dla.ag-hall aud warmed and spiced
soulJ generous wine, after the fashion OF
tue day; and there sat these two over the
GIe awaiting dzy light and its revelation.
But meantime The night was fruitful IN
events, The prior, informed of Friar
/ Richards uncharitable interpretations,
hat condemned him TO vigil aud prayer
on tho bare pebbles of the ysrd from mid
night unit, three OF the clock. But the
sly Richard at dusk had conveyed chair
into The yard 10 keep his knees off The
cold hard stones.
! At midnight. when he came TO his en-
forced devotions, 10 there sat figure in
the chair. He started and took it for the
prior, seated there to lecture him for lux
ury; but peeping he soon discovered 1t
was Friar John.
He walked round and round him, talk
ing at him. "Is il brother John or brother
Richard who is to keep vigil tonight?
know but one friar in all this house would
sit ar-gazing in his brothers chair, wher
that brother wants it to pray in,' &c.
Brother John vouchsafed no replyi anC
this stung his brother Richard, and be
burned tor revenge. 80 be it then.
said he; "since my place is taken, vii
tell the prior, and keep vigil some othe1
night" With this he retired, and slam
med door. But having thus disarmed
as he conceived, brother Johns suspicion
be took mn an enormous pebble, and slip