Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-08

standeth open, the woods are full OF mine
enemies-go."
TIE spirit with which these words were
uttered, the looks with which they were
accompanied, staggered Dick; and yet he
could not but observe that he had got NO
answer.
81 desire nothing more earnestly, Sir
Daniel, than to believe you," he replied.
"Assure me ye are free from this"
"Will ye take my word Of honour,
Dick2" inquired the knight.
"That would l." answered the lad.
~ give it yeu," returned Sir Daniel.
upon my word of honour, upon the
eternal welfare Of my spirit, and as l
shall answer for my deeds hereafter,
had no hand nor portion in your fathers
death"
He extended his hand, and Dick took
1t eagerly. Neither OF them observed the
priest, who, at the pronunciation Of that
solemn and false oa:h, had half arisen
from his seat In an agony Of horror and
remorse.
"Ah," cried Dick, Eye must find 1t In
your great-heartedness to pardon me! 1
wss churl, indeed, to doubt Of you.
But ye have nv hand upon it; 1 will
doubt no more"
"Nay, Dick" replied Sir Daniel, "y'
are forgiven. Ye know not the world
and lis oalumnious nature"
az was the more to blame" added
| Dick, "in thst the rogues pointed, not
directly st yourself, but st Sir Oliver"
As he spoke, he turned towards the
priest, and paused in the middle of the
last word. This tall, ruddJ, corpulent,
high-stepplng man had fallen, you might
say, TO pieces; his colour YVES gone, his
limbs were relaxed, his lips stammered
prayers, and now, when Dicks eyes were
fixed upon him suddenly, he cried out
aloud, like some wild animal, and buried
| his face in his hands.
Sir Daniel was by him in two strides,
ani shock him fleIcely by the shoulder.
At the same moment Dicks susplc ons
reswekened.
May" ne said, "Sir Oliver may swesr
also. Twas him they accused"
"He shall swear" said the knight.
Sir Oliver speecnlessly waved his arms.
GAY, by the mass bu. ye shall swear"
cried Sir Daniel, beside himself with
fury. Here upon this book, ye shall
swear" he continued, picking up the
brevihry, which had fallen to the ground.
"What! ye make me doubt you! Swear,
l say; sWear!"
But the priest was still incapable Of
speech. His terror of Sir Daniel, his
terror OF perjury, risen to about an equal
| height, strangled him.
And just then, through the high,
stained-glsss window OF the hall, q black
arrow crashed, and struck and stuck
quiyering IN the midst of the long tab G.
Sir Oliver, with g loud scream, fell
tainting on the PUSHES; while the knight,
followed by Dick, dashed into the court
snd up the nearest corkscreW stair to the
battlements. The sentIies were al on the
alert. The sun shown quietly On green
lawns, dotted with trees, Snd on the
wooded hills Of the forest which enclosed
the view. There was no sign OF be-
sieger.
"Wnence came that shot?" asked the
knight.
"From youder clump, Sir Daniel" re-
turned sentinel.
The knight stood little, muslng. Then
he turned to Dick. "Dick," he sid,
"keep me an eye upon these men; leave
you in charge here. AS for the priest, he
shall clear himself, or [ will know the
reason wy. 1 do almost begin to share
in your suspicious. He shall swear,
trust ne, or we shall prove him guilty"
Dick answered somewhat coldly, and
the knight, giving him piercing glance,
hurriedly returned to the hall. His first
glance WAS for the arrow. 1t was the
first Of these missiles he had seeo, and as
ne turned 1t to and fro the dsrk hue of it
touched him with some fear. Again
there was some writing-one word
| nEarthed.n
SAY" he broke out, "they know am
home, then. Esrthedi Ay, but there is
not dog smopg them fit to dig me out"
Sir Oliver had come to himself and now
scrambled to his feet.
"Alack. Sir Dsniel!" he moaned, "Y'
ave sworn dread oath; y are doomed
to the end of time"
"AY," returned the knight, 81 have
sworn an oath, indeed, thou chucklehead ;
out thyself shalt swesC q greater. 1t
shall be On the blessed cross of Holy
wood. Lock to 1t: get the words ready.
1t shall be sworn tonight "
snow, may heaven tighten you," re-
pied the priest; "may heaven incline
your heart from this inlquity."
"Look you, my good father" said Sir
Daniel, "if y are for piety, say no
more; ye begin lste, that is sill. But il y
| 5JS III 6Uy sGuSS USui upuu WlSUClu, near
me. This lad beginneth to iTk me Ike 6
wasp. have need tor him, for l
would sell his marriage. But 1 tell you,
in ell plainnesS, that il he continues to
weary NE he shall go join his father. l
give orders now to cnange him to the
! chamber seeVe the chapel. II ye can
swear Yonr innocency with good,
solid oath ana an assured countenance,
it is we'll; the lad will be at peace little,
and will spare him. II that ye STAN
mer or blench, or anyways boggle at the
swearing, he will not believe you, and
by the mass, he shall die. There is for
your thinking on"
"The chamber above the chapel!"
gssped the priest.
"Ttat same" replied the knight. $50
If ye desire to save him, save him; and if
ye desire Iot, prithee, go to, and let me
be ct peace! For an l had been hasty
man, would already have put my SWORD
through you, for your iptolersble COW
srdice and folly. Have you chosen7
S,5l"
~ have Chosen" said the priest
"Eeaven pardon me, will do evil for
good. l will swear for the lads sake"
$50 Is it besti" said Sir Daniel. "Sand
for him then, speedily. Ye shall see him
alone. Yet snail have an eye on you. l
shall be here in the panel room"
The knight raised the arras and let It