The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-14
the lame where the stake was life' Tho

the zane where the stake was life? Tho
bows grave eyes glowed with a clear light.
and as the impetuous strain sank TO
silence. he drew the harp from Edwy's
arm.
"Methink5 your songs ring not true,
fair harper. There be blacker traitors
han he who Stays even u friend
And with a mournful yet steadfast o
he gave III song his answer to Edwy s
challenge:
Youthful knight, I charge thee well,
Guard the banner that thou Dearest;
Though il leads TO blacklist hell.
Though DER naked swords thou farest;
Though thy life, thy friend, thy soul,
Doomed be 10 endless dole.
Edwy had lost. As the verse ended with
q trcmble, the two stood silently side by
side watching the quivering strings. The
last faint vibration died away, and with
ewes that seemed not to see, the boy
stepped forward and raised his hand i'm
periously for silence. But Edwy was be-
fore him. .
Nay, boy, there shall be no need.
saved thee nee from death; will a V
thee now from ingratitude."
SnGtching up the sill;en banner OF his
house he wound it as q shield about his
left arm, and with drawn sword he planted
his back against a friendly wall.
"Ye men of Branksome, heard ye ever
melody like this before?'
And lifting his clear voice, the battle
song Of the Tynedales rung out over the
heads Of the conquerors with defiant
br1dpocs
A Tynedale! a Typedale! and merry St. Andrew
to aid
While blood may flow or edge may bite, a Tyne
dale yields the blade!
While heart can beat or eye can see, O Tynedae
fronts the fray
a Tynedalel a Tynedale! st. Andrew wins the
day!
There was a hush like death; then the
wide hall echoed and re-echocd with a
hoarse cry of Death to the Tynedale!'
and fifty swords flashed their menace out
ffty foemen, wild with hate, leaped to
face him. Then they paused, awed by
the dauntIessness Of the proud youth,
whose cyelid never quivered. lie
would die, but not alone. A moment
and they closed upon him, while flash
ing steel on steel struck fire. A shrek,
q groan, but not from Edwy's lips; a mar
rowing circle of sword points, yet with
guard and thrust Edwy held his own. He
felt the blood flow from his breast, the
wall seemed to weaken and yield, and
gasping out "A ~Tynedalel' he sank to the
floor.
Was it the echo of his voice, or the
wild heart blood beating in his ears! His
last words were caught up and repeated:
"A Tynodale to the rescue! A T~ynedalel'
Then for Edwy came silence.
But not for the hall. Through the
portal sprang Oswald, leading the Tyne
dale men, who had waited without In the
shadows for Edwy's signal. The signal
had come, but from Osvald's hand, at the
moment when the defiance Of the minstrel
in the hall had left the door unguarded.
Hand 20 hand and knee to knee they
fought about the board; but the cry OF
Strike for Edwyr' made the Tynedales
irresistible. Tho mead had not ceased to
flow from the overturned tankards before
Tynodale tower again foated the banner
they unwound from Edwy's Inn.
Then Oswald lifted Edwy's head and
stanched the wound In his breast. The
blue eyes slowly opened.
"Edwy, lad, how is it with theei'
Edwy laughed.
II faith, Oswald, | fear me my harp
must lie idle for many a day. But is the
boy safe?-Lily A. Long in Overland
Monthly.