Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-26
Gales a1ro Sketfkes.
A YORKSHIRE LOVE LEGESD.

4
Some 300 years ago . very poor man
kept shop underneath the Minister tow
ers: His business was as poor as he was
he had already five children, and one
morning his wife gave birth to sixth. a
fine little girl. The poor father sighed
he took the child in the shop and laid it
upon the counter. Then he fairly broke
down and sobbed over his new possession.
Now. the shop was an open one, and a
knight who happened to be Kidding by
stopped his horse when he saw the poor
mans distress.
What ais you, friend ?'' be asked.
Alas" said the father, ..Ihave already
five young ones, and know not how to find
food for them, and 10, my wife has but
now given me another. would that it
had not come into this suffering world"
Il win see what will happen to her."
the knight said for he was . sorcerer. and
always carried his great Book of Fate at
his saddle-bow.
The poor man gazed at him as he read.
All at once he saw the knight turn pale,
his hair bristle on his head, but he spoke
with smiling face to the distressed iath-
err:
BE consoled. friend; have no daugh-
ter, and if you will give me your unwel-
come infant. / will adopt it and make it
heir to my possessions.
The fathers delight was great; he load
ed the knight with thanks, and placed the
baby in his arms. The knight spurred his
horse and rode swiftly to the banks of the
Ouse at some distance from the city. Here
he dismounted and flung the infant into
the middle of the river. tor in the Book of
Fate he had read this newborn babe was
destined to marry his only son.
Then be rode away rejoicing. But the
river was more compassionate than the
knight. It washed the baby ashore and a
fisherman hearing its cries carried it home
to his cottage.
Fifteen years after the knight with many
of his friends came riding along the banks
of the Ouse, and stopped at The fisher
mans cottage to buy fish. A young
girl came TO the door, and the knight and
! all his friends were startled by her won
derful beauty. Her manner. too was so
Isweet and gracious that they went on
4 their way they continued to praise her
and her loveliness, till the knight said
with laugh
IL will search my book and see which
is to be the fisher-m aiden's husband"
But his laughter ceased and his face
grew white when he read that this was
the maiden he had flung into the stream
long ago.
He soon made an excuse to leave his
friends. and. going back to the cottage,
asked the fisherman if he would allow his
daughter to carry a message from him to
his brother, a noble knight who lived at
Scarborough.
The fisherman consented, and then the
knight wrote a letter. and sealing it gave
it to the girl. She put the letter into her
purse and started at once on her journey.
When night tell. she went to little inn.
where, she asked for bed, and slept
soundly. Now it happened tina, a thief
found his way into the inn that night, and
providing about he came into the maiden's
room and saw her purse lying on the Ia |
BILE. In it he found the letter which he |
opened and read
Dear brother-Take the bearer and
put her to death Immediately"
The thief turned his lantern on the face |
of the sleeper, and seeing how young and |
beautiful she was he felt compassion
''She deserves better tate." he said. |
and she shall have it," Then he wrote o
note in the handwriting of the knight |
Dear brother-Take the bearer and
marry her at once to my SON." He then
sealed the letter and placed it in the girls
purse instead of the other.
Next morning the girl walked early and
hurried on to Scarborough. The knights
brother received her kindly, but when he
had read the letter he embraced her, and
went to seek his nephew, who happened
to be on visit to his castle. As soon as
the youth beheld the maiden he became
enamored of her, and desired to be welded
next day F.; and the marriage was celebra-
ted with much splendor, the bride looking
more beautiful than ever in her wedding
garments.
After day or two the knight told his
nephew that he must 60 to New York to
seek the knight. his father, and tell him
that he had obeyed his commands. The
young husband was unwilling to leave hi $
| wife; however he departsd with many
promises OF a speedy return.
He had not been gone long when his
father arrived-they had missed each 9TH
er on the road-and when the York
knight learned what had happened he was
almost mad with rage. He asked his
daughter to come with him outside
Tue castie, tnen, seiztnS ner by the nalr,
he dragged her to the seashore. and drew
a dagger. She fell on her knees.
Spare my life." she said. land tell
me how | have angered youp"
At this he told her history. and babe
her prepare for death; but at last her
tears. and entreaties so tar softened him
that he sheathed his dagger; then. pluck
ing gold ring from his finger. he flung
| it into the sea.
"Swear to me-" he said, that you will
not come into my sight or that of my son
till that ring is on your finger, and will
spare your life."
She swore. and then she fled in wild
terror. till she found herself in strange
place. obliged to beg for food.
Aqlast after long wanderings, she be-
came cook to nobleman.
One day, as she looked out of the win
dow at the guests arriving for banquet,
she saw her cruel enemy and his son, her
dearly beloved husband. She drew back
hastily, and then she trembled so that she
could hardly cook dinner. Just before it