Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-11
CHAPTER III.
ST. BRIDES CROSS.

81 Z. B.lde'5 Gross sLccC llttle Way
g back from Shoreby, On the skirts OF
u Tuustsil Forest. Two roads met;
one from Hollywood scross the for
A est; one, tnst roEd from Risingham
~ down which we saw the wrecks Of
Lauc6s risn army fleeing IN disorder.
Here the two j lined issue and went on
| together down ne hill to Snoreby; and a
little uock from ne point CT Junction, >. the
summit Ct q little knoll was crowned by
the sncient snd wesiher- beaten cross.
q re, thap, shout IN the morning,
| Dick arrived. 1t was IS Geld as ever; the
earth WAS al gray and silver win the
h0sr-iT0st, Sn3 the day began TO break in
the east with many c0iors Of purple ana
Grange.
Dck set him down upon the lowest
step cf yhe cross, wrapped himself wei!
ia MS tabard, and locked Vigilant!y upon
| Ill SIDES. He hsd not long to wait.
Down the road from Hollywood q gentle
man in very rich and bright srmou', and
wearing over that suruoGt Of the rarest
| furs, came pacing On a splendid charger.
Twenty yards behind him followed g
| clump of Isncss; but these nSlted IS
scor as they came in view of the tfYsting-
place, while the gentleman IN the fur sur
coat continued to advance alone.
His VISOR wss raised, and showed
countenance OF great command and
dignity, answersble to the richness Of
| ais attire and arms. And it was with
some confusion Of manner that Dick
arose from the cross and stepped down
the bank to meet his prisoner.
"I thank you, my Lord, for your ex-
actitude," he said, louting very low.
"Will it please your lordsh!p to set foot
to earth?"
"Are ye here alone, young MANI" in
CURED the other.
az was not so simple" answered Dick;
"and, to be plaia with your lordsaip, the
woods upon either hand of this cross lie
full CT mine honest fellows lying on their
weapons"
"Y' ave done wisely" said the lord.
sit ple1seth me the rather, since last
night We Tough. foelhardily, end more like
blind lunatic than any Christian WEI
rior But it becomes not me to complain
that had the undsrmost-" VS.
eye had the undermost indeed, my
lord, since ye so FELL" returned Dick,
"but had the waves nos hoipen me, twas
that should have hsd the worst. Ye
were pleased to make me yours with sew
eral dagger marks, which l still carry.
And in fine, my lord, methinks 1 had ell
the danger, as we'll IS oil the profit, OF
that little blind mans medley on the
beach"
cay, ere sbrewd enough to make light
Ct il, fsee," returned the stranger.
"Nay, my lord, not shrewd," replied
Dick, Sin that shoot st no advantage to
myself. But when, by the light Of this
new day, see how stout knight hath
Welded, not to my arms slone, but to
| fortune, and the darkness, and the SURF
snd how easily the battle had gone other
wise, with q soldier so unlried aud rustic
rs myselt-think it not strange, my lord,
II feel confounded with my victory"
aye speak Well" said the stranger.
"Your manner"
"My name, ami like you, is Shelton"
answered Dick.
"Men call me the Lord Foxham," added
the other.
"Then my lord, and under your good
favour, ye are guardian to the sweetest
maid in England," replied Dick: sand
fer your ransom, and the ransom OF such
So were taken with you On the beach,
there will be no uncertainty Of terms.
prsy you, my lord, Of your good will and
charity, yield me the hand Of my mistress,
josh Sedley; and take We, upon the other
part, your liberty, the liberty OF these
your followers, snd (f We will have IT.
my gratitude and service till die"
"But are ye not ward to Sir Danieli
Methought, il y are Harry Shelton's son.
that hsd heard it so reported" said
Lord Foxhsm.
"Wiu it please you, my lord, to alighti
would fain tell you fully who am, how
situate, and why go bold in my demands.
Beseech you, NY lord, take place upon
these steps, hear me to full end, and
Judge me with allowance"
And so saying, Dick emit hand to
Lord Foxham to dismount; led him ur
The knoll to the crose; installed him In
the place where he hsd himself been sit
ting; and standing respectfully before his
noble prisoner, related the story Of his
fortunes up to the events OF the evening
before.
Lord Foxham listened grsYely, an6
when Dick had done, "Master Shelton, d
he said, "ye are q most fortunate unfor-
tunate yourg gentleman, but what fol.
tune y ave had, that We have amply mer
tied; and what untortune, ye have
noways deserved. Be of good
cheer; for ye have made
fsieDd who is devoid neither of power
nor favor. For yourself-although it fits
not for person Of your birth to herd
with outlaws, must own ye are both
brave snd honorable; very dangerous in
battle, right courteous in peace; a youth
of excellent disposition and brave bearing.
For your estates, ye shsu never see them
till the world shall change again; so long
ss lancaster hath the strong hand, so
long shsll Sir Daniel enjoy them for his
own. For my ward, 1t is another matter
l had promised her before to gentleman,
q kinsman OF my house, one Hsmley; the
promise is old"
'"Aye, my Lord, and now Sir Daniel
hath promised her to my Lord Shoreby,"
interrupted Dick. Sand his promise, for
sll it is but young, Is still the likeIier to
be made good"
"Tis the plain truth" returned his
Lordship. "And considering, moreover,
that am your prisoner, upon no bet Ell
composition than my bare life, and over
and above that, that the maiden Is I'M
happily in other hands, / will so far con-
sent. Aid me with your good fel.
lows"-
"My lord" cried Dick, "they are these
same outlaws that ye blame me for con-
] sorting with"
"Ycung S1ei'or. y. thnm he Whist the7
wiz, ihes can light" returned Lord Fox