West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-07-12


strained his iron muscles against the
cords till he felt them slip and yield. no
one needed. The youth with his harp
was more diverting than the impassive
prisoner, whom their savage gibes moved
not.
"a song a songl After the battle
cry, the madrigal." )"
Edwy's fingers had been strayIng over
the strings of the harp, waking those
low, soft murmurs that musicians love.
Now. with free hand, he struck the
ringing chords, and no one save Oswald
heard aught but careless melody in the
young voice that filed the hall
As Edwy finished the song, he lifted
his eyes and sluarely encountered an in
tent gaze, which he seemed to have felt
before he turned. He saw a mere boy.
whose fair, floating hair and gravely
sweet face made him seem as apart from
these da.S-yisagod men of blood rs a
saint stepped down from the stained
windows of some cathedral
Once before that boyish face with its
halo OF golden hair had held Edwy's eye,
and with a lightning flash of memory
that earlier meeting was recalled. IL
was lonely spot on the mountain side,
and the fearless boy, with failing
strength, was holding at bay an antlered
stag. Had Edwy's trusty spear swerved
then or fingered, no morrow had ever
smiled on the brave hunter. Now in
the deep look, more potent than speech.
that held their eyes locked for q moment
ere they swerved aside, Edwy read that
he was known
His fingers trembled as he struck slow
fragments of music from the obedient
strings, and there was ringing in his
ears that sounded like the battle-cry of
the Branksomes. Then the blood sur0ed
back to his heart. and he lifted his daunt-
less Tynedale face to his foes. Trapped
and at their mercy he knew himself, but
at least he could show them how the
! Iynedales were wont to die. The LIQUID
/ drops OF music shivered into n sharp si-
lence as his hand forsOok the strings TO
rest lightly on the short sword at his belt,
while his naughty glance swept the hall.
But there was no answer TO his silent
challenge, and now in the averted face of
the boy he read not the triumph OF an
enemy, but the grieved perplexity Of a
child.
Edwy understood That the boy re-
membered his benefactor's face was
proved past doubt in that first long gaze,
and now his troubled silence revealed
AidN uC inc DenG-
faction also. But silence wac hard
for Edwy's beating heart to bear, and
striking the chords sharply, he gave to
measured music the tumnltuous words
that throbbed in his brain. The carouse
about the board was somewhat hushed,
but Edwy sang only for the boy, whose
dropping eyes could not bear the stead
fast gaze he bent upon them.
Lone is the mountain path,
Dark is the glen,
Fierce is the antlered stag,
Halter OF men.
Hapless the hunter now,
Lacking his spear,
Woe 10 the hunter lad,
Death draweth near.
Long may the maiden wait.
Sitting her means;
In the loan mountain glen
Whiten his bones"
The boy shuddered and met Edwy's
look pleadiDgly. Ono word from those
beardless lips and the minstrel had sung
his last strain, but the word was not
spoken Edwy read the conflicting
emotions that held him passive, and
with that sense OF power that is the wine
OF strong souls, he knew his own dom
inatiOn over the heart he had preserved
In one fierce moment he grasped the
full strength OF life The little band
waiting his signal without. the walls
that even now echoed to the laughter Of
the foes of his house, all rested on his
power TO hold and control the will of the
child who now raised questioning
ewes 10 his, as asking counsel.
The battle courage flushed his dark
check as he once more touched his harp.
lie must sing, as he had fought, for his
life and the honor Of Tynedalc.
Faithless are lovers, but lovers are manyf
Maldens are cruel, but hearts heal amain (.
hankless are beggars, who take the drink
penny,
Few hold remembrance while ono moon
may wane.
Chiefest in infamy whom may we calll
migrate OF ingrates and king Of them all q
Who but the traitor 10 friend and TO honors
Who but the bastard that, drunken with
strife
Strikes at the bosom that succorod and saved
Offers him death who hath rendered him
life3
Dead in dishouor or living in shame.
Bards shall remember the dastardiy
name"
Edwy ceased. Had he lost or won i'm
the game where the stake was ife2 The
tv1a y biHfo Eyes NiOWCu WlLN clear
light, and as tho impetuous strain sank
to silence, he drew the harp from Edwy's
arm.
''Methinks your songs ring not true.
fair harper. There be blackcr traitors
than he who slays even "a frieud.n
And with a mournfu yet stoadfast
look he gave in song his answer to
Edwy's challongo
Youthful knight ] charge thee well
Guard the banner that thou bearost,
Though it leads % biackest hell
Though Ger naked swords thou farcsf.
Though Thy life, thy friend. thy soui
Doomed be to endless dole
Edwy had lost As the verse ended
with trombe The two stood silently
side by side, watching tn qmverinQ
strings. Tho last faint vibration died
away, and with eyes that seemed not TO
sec, The boy stepped forward and raised
his hand lmpofiously for silence. But
Edwy was before him
''Nay, boy, there shall be no need.
saved thee once from death. i viii save
thee now from ingratitudc"
suatching up the silkon banner of HE
house he wound it as q shield about his