Smyrna times., 1888-07-25

eyes locked for Il 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 a ringing in his
ears that sounded like the battle cry of
the Branksomes Then the blood surged
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
Tynedales were wont to die. The
liquid drops of music shivered
into sharp silence 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- |
membercd his benefactor's face was |
proved past doubt in that first long |
gaze, and now his troubled silence |
revealed that he remembered the |
benefaction also. But silence was hard |
for Edwy's beating heart to bear, and |
striking the chords sharply, he gave to
measured music the tumultuous words |
about the board was somewhat hushed, |
but Edwy sang only for the boy, whose |
dropping eyes could not bear the steadfast |
gaze he bent upon them.
Lone is the mountain path,
Darl; is the glen,
Fierce is the antlered stag,
liater of men.
uapless the hunter low,
Lacking his spear,
Woe to the hunter lad,
Death draweth near
Long may the maiden wait
Sitting her moans;
In the mountain glen
Whiten his bones
The boy shuddered and met Edwy's
look pleadingly. One word from those
beardlcss lips and the minstrel had sung
his last strain, but the word was not
spoken. Edwy read the conflicting emo
tions that held him passive, and with
that sense of power that is the wine Of
strong souls, he knew his own domination
over the heart he had preserved.
Armed men ringed him in, sleeping,
drinking or shouting fragments of merry
song, but he who reused them from their
careless mood would find that he had
wakened the sleeping cobra. Those
ing out at Il word. In their midst
sat the boy, with whom he dare not
speak-his judge-looling into eyes the
Branksome men had good reason to fear,
and meeting the glance of his savior.
And here stood he, Edwy, the heir of
Tynedale, with no hand raised against
him, yet face to face with death. They
were no strangers. Oft had they meas
ured strength with strength before, where
steel flashed keen between them, or the
precipice waited hungrily for q needless
step, but never yet had they met i'll the
breath of a song.
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 ques-
tiOning eyes to his, as asking counsel.
The battle courage flushed his dark cheek
as lie once more touched his harp. He
must sing, as he had fought, for his life
and the honor Of Tynedale.
Faithless are lovers. but lovers are many;
M2ideuS are cruel, but hearts heal amain;
Thankless are beggaTs who take the drink penny,
Few hold remembrance while one moon may
Chiefest in infamy whom may we call?
Migrate of ingrates and king Of them all?
Who but the traitor to friend and to honorY
! Who but the bastard that, drunken with strife,
Strikes at the bosom that succored and saved him,
oilers him death who hath rendered him LIEF
Dead in dishonor Of living in shame,
Bards shall remember the dastardly name
Edwy ceased. Had he lost or won in
tho game where the stake was life? The
boys grave eyes glowed with q clear light,
nnd as the impetuOus strain sank to
silence, he drew the harp from Edwy's
arm.
''Methinks your songs ring not true,
fair harper. There be blacker traitors
than he who Stays even a friend"
And with q mournful yet steadfast look
he gave in song his answer to Edwy's
challenge:
Youthful knight, charge thee WELL
Guard the banner that thou Dearest;
Though it leads to blackest hell,i
Though DER naked swords thou farest;
Though thy life, thy friend, thy soul,
Doomed be to endless dole.
Edwy had lost. As the verse ended with
q tremble, the two stood silently side by
side watching the quivering strings. The
last faint vibration died away, and with
eyes 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 once from death; 1 will save
! thee now from ingratitude."
, Snatching up the silken banner of his
house he wound it as shield about his
i left arm, and with drawn sword he planted
his back against a friendly wall.
: eye men of BranksOme, heard ye evel
melody like this before?
| Ar,I l. Al l.
song of the Tynedales rung out over the
: heads of the conquerors with defiant
. boldness.
A Tynedalei Tynedalel and merry st. Andrew
to add
, While blood may flow or edge may bite, a Tyne
! dale wields the bladel
\ While heart can beet or eye can see, a Tynedal
fronts the frayl
A Tynedalel a Tynedalel St. Andrew wins tn
dayl
There was hush like death; then tn
wide hall echoed and re-echoed with
hOarse cry of death to the Tynedalel
and fifty swords flashed their menace, out
!. fifty foemen, wild with hate leaped t.
face him. Then they paused, awed b
the dauntlessness of the proud youth
whose eyelid never qUivered H
would die but not alone. A momen
and they closed upon him, while fash
ing steel on steel struck fire. A shrieb
,; groan, but not from Edwy's lips; nai
rowing circle Of sword points, yet wit
guard and thrust Edwy held his own. II
felt the blood flow from his breast, tn
1t wall seemed to weaken and yield, an
gasping out "A Tynedalel" he sank to th
floor
, Was it the echo Of his voice, or til
wild heart blood beating in his ears? III
Q last words were caught up and repeated
s. "a Tynedale to the rescued A Tynedale
l. Then for Edwy came silence.
9, But not for the hall Through I'll
g portal sprang Oswald, leading the Tyn
n dale men, who had waited without in IL
II shadows for Edwy's signal The sign
" had come, but from Oswald's hand, at Il
W moment when the defiance of the minstr
In the hall had left the door unguarded.
ID Hand to hand and. knee to knee the