West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-07-12
EDWY OF TYNEDALE.
: sroRY oE oLp rNaLANn.


II was time aud country Of arms
Nalor Was the saint by whom all swore,
and no death was feared save death on
the straw. And with valor ruled sono
When the clash OF swords was for a
moment stilled, minpesingers and min
strels sang of the sweetness of love: are
not the teuderest blossoms of the wear
those that are fostered by the snow
drift2
The Tower of TyDedale had had its
baptism of blood and consecrations of
song more frequently, it may well be.
than any other castle within the same
horizon bounds, for it stood on disputed
ground. IL was defiance IN stone flung
down by an early Tynedale, and many a
time had tho Branksome men dashed
themselves against it in vain assault.
once, indeed, the portals had traitorously
yielded, and the banner Of The hated
house OF the assailants had taunted the
scattered Tynedales from the battlements
OF their own tower. That dishonor had
been wiped out in the desperate courage
OF the recapture, but its memory reused
to new life the old family feud. which
had its birth in the buried past.
IL was the thought of that unforootten
shame that made more lofty the bearing
OF the lord Of Tyuedale as he entered
the demesne to which long absence
had made him we'll nigh stranger. The
gay laughter OF his retainers, who found
It Joy enough TO feel the shadow of
1ynedale oaks once more above them.
seemed to his ear but TO muifie the
angry mutter of defeated men. His
steed, responding to his unconscious
touch, bounded forward, and carried
him in advance of his tran to tie open
ing in the forest that commanded a dIs-
tant view of the tower.
And there the sunbeams that flashed
from spear-hoad and sparkled from the
Jcweled dresses of lady fair and gallant
knight and waiting esquire sank into
shadows amid the folds Of the Brank-
some banner, which BranksOme hands
had hung once more from the battle
ments OF Tynedale Tower. Dark and
sullen hung the silken folds heavy with
shame. And dark grew the brow Of the
lord OF 1yncdale, dark even as the
shadows OF the forest, when that mes
sage met his eye.
An indifferent forester. TO whom IL
mattered little whether the flag OF the
tower were gules or argent, told the brief
tale Of the days fOray. An attack. n
surprise, a weak defence a few hours of
desperate hand-to-hand fighting within
the old walls and then the sunset with
It's revelation; that was all.
The party campod hastily.
1--WE arc helpless" said the old lord.
bitterly, " within those walls handful
may laugh at host; without, a handful
like This would be but a dash Of summer
raindrops ON the stones. False stones.
they protect foe aud friend alikep
Jhen spoke kdwy, the heir OF Tyndale.
My lord and father, an it please YOU.
i VIII enter the tower. Ny harp will be
my passport, for q minstrel hath free
warrant TO hall and bower. Once
within, it will 20 hard but I find means
TO open the gates TO our men ere the
morning"
The Old lords eye flashed. lie felt the
feyero youth throb in his veins for a mo-
mcnti then 10 pissed, but he beheld his
own spirit kindling keen and high in the
dauntloss youth who faced him.
go, my child. The honor Of Tyne
dale is in your hands,"
So nc shortly came to pass that n gay
young minstrel boldly demanded adj
mittauce for his harp and himself at tho
gate where Edwy, Of Tyucdalc, might
not pass for his life. A rude welcome
greeted him from the hall.
Enter, thou minstrel lad Such a
day as thus hath meritod a night Of song
What ballads hast thou that are new ~
Ballads new and old in plenty TO
pleasure the lords of TyBedalo Tower"
answered Edwy calmly, resting his harp
near the board about which lounped the
dark men Of Branksome. plcdQinQ their
victory in tankards of 1ynedale ale. At
his feet, trampled and stained. lay the
siikon banner of his house, rudcly torn
from the battlemcnt. But no one saw
the fire that smouldcred under Edwy's
lowered lids.
"sing, harper, and Oswald shall dance
tho morrow"
Eawy had already noted the bound