Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-20
wonder, and not very sure il he were
dres ming or awake.

! uIGs mluS 0f hWdEe.
"Ta'en my belt to herp he repeated
"Ta'en my belt to herp And the recol
Elechon of that evening in the fores
flowed back upon his mind, and be orc
more saw Mstcham's wincipg body snt
beseechirg eyes.
And then he was recalled to the dan,
gers OF the present. In the next room
he heard stir, SIS of person moving
then followed a sigh, which sounded
strangely near; and then the rustic O
skirts and tap Of feet once more begsn
As he stood hearkening he s,w the errs.
wave along the wall; there WAS the sounC
of door being opened, the hanging.
divided, and, lamp in hand, Joanna Sed
ley herself entered the apartment.
She was attired in costly stnhs of dec
and warm colours, such as befit the winter
and the snow. Upon her head her hal
had been gathered together and became
her as q crown. And she, who had
seemed so little and 80 awkward in the
attire Of Matchan, WAS now tall like 8
young willow, and swan across the fool
as though she scorned the drudgery oil
walking.
Without start, without tremor, she
raised her lamp and looked at the young
monk.
"What make ye here, good brothe1?n
she inquired. aye are doubtless ILL.,
directed. Whom do ye require2" And
she set her lamp upon the bracket.
Joanna" said Dick; and then his voice
failed him. Joanna" he begsn again,
Eye said ye loved me; and the more tool
1, but believed it,"
"Dick!" shescried. "Dick."
And then, to the wonder of the lad, this
beautiful and tall young lady made but
one step Of it, and threw her arms about
his neck and gave him hundred kisses
all in one.
"Oh, the fool fellow" she cred. "Oa,
dear Dick! Oh, il ye could see yourselfl
Alack!" sh. added, pausing, "I have
spoilt you, Dick! have knocked some
Of the paint off. But that can be mend
ed. What cannot be meuded, DIck-or
l much fear it cannotl-is my marriage
with Lord Shoreby."
SIS 1t decided, ther?n asked the lad.
"To-morrow, before noon, Dick, in the
abbey church," she answered, "John
Matchsm and Joanna Sedlay both shall
come to right miserable end. There is
no help in tears, or could weep mine
eyes out. have not spared myself to
pray, but heaven frowns on my petition.
And, dear Dick-good Dick-but that ye
can get me forth Of this house before the
morning, we must even kiss and say
goodbye"
May" said Dick, "not I; will never
say that word. IT'S like despair, but
while there's life, Joanna, there is nope.
Yet will hope. Ay, by the mass, and
triumph! Look ye, now, when ye were
but q name to me, did not follow-did
NOT rouse good me1-did l not stake my
life upon the quarrel? And now that
have seen you for what ye sre-the fair
est maid and s.ateliest Of England-think
ye would turn2 II the deep sea were
there, 1 would straight through #; If
the way were full Of lions, would scat
ter them like MICE"
"Ay," she said, drYly, eye make great
ado about sky-blue robe!"
"NsY, JOAN" protested Dick, otis
not alone the robe. But, lass, ye were
disguised. Here am disguised; and, to
the proof, do not cut figure Of fun-a
right TOOLS fgure?"
SAY, Dick, an that re dol" she an
swered, smiling.
"Well, then!" he returned, triumphant.
$50 was it with you, poor Matcham, in
the forest. In sooth, ye were 5 wench to
laugh at. But now!"
So they ran on, holding each other by
both hands, exchanging smiles and lovely
looks, and melting minutes into seconds;
and so they might have continued all
night long. BuL presently there WAS q
noise behind them; and they were aware
OF the short young lady with her finger on
ner lips. -.ss.
"Saints!" she cried, SHUT what 9 noise
ye keep! Can We not speak in compass?
And now, Joanna, my fair maid Of the
woods, what will ye give your gossip for
bringing you your sweetheart"
Joanna ran to her, by way OF answer,
and embraced her ierily.
"And you, sir" added the young lady,
"what do re give mei"
"Madam," said Dick, "I would fsin
offer to pay you in the same money"
"Come, then," said the lady, sit is per-
mitted you"
But Dick, blushing like q peony, only
kissed her hand.
"What ais ye at my face, fair slr?"
she inquired, curtseying to the very
ground; snd then, when Dick had at
length and most tepidly embraced her,
Joanna" she added, uyour sweetheart
is very backward under your eyes; bat 1
warrant you, when first we met, he WAS
more ready. an all black and blue,
wench; trust me never, il be not black
and blue! Aud now" she continued,
"have ye said your sayings? for 1 must
speedily dismiss the paladin."
But at this they both cried out that
they hsd said nothing, that the night WAS
still very young, and that they would
not be separated so early.
"And support" asked the young lady.
"Must we not 60 down to SUPERB
"Nsy, to be sure!" cried Joan. 81 had
forgotten"
"Hide me, then," said Dick, "put me
behind the arras, shut me In 8 chest, or
what ye will, so that may be here on
your return. Indeed, fair LADY," he sd-
ded, "bear this in mind, that we are sore
beseted, and may never look upon each
others face from this night forward till
we die"
At this the young lady melted; and
when, little after, the bell summoned
Sir Daniels household to the board, Dick
was planted very stfdg against the wall
st place where division in the tapes
try permitted him to breathe the more
freely, and even to see into the room.
He had not been long in this position,
when he was somewhat strangely dis
turbed. The silence, in that upper story
Of the house, was only broken by the
hlckering Of flames and the Kissing of 5
green log in the chimney; but presently,
m 4nirRDa atraiped haaripU fhara rsmn