The record-union., 1891-12-26


+ happiness, and JOY and / have always
I been strangers"
i Ills certain that must have been made
OF poor stuff, Tor | felt so much anxiety
Z on behalf of these two who trusted me
! that could get no sleep. Twas q sultry
night, not breath stirring. no moon. and
the stars were shining sullenly, as If
yeXed to be obliged to light the whole
/ heavens. / felt much as l do before the
advent Of the great disturbance men call
a thunderstorm; my sap coursed lam
/ guidly through my limbs, my leaves felt
gathering. / feared for myself, for tits
/ always the highest that falls, and the
J forked lightning seeks his prey relent-
lessly. But through the long night no
| thunder came, naught to break its terri
/ bic monotOny, and when the first streak
of dawn lit the heavens l was glad in
deed. There was ill-luck in the air. I
felt it, A chatterlng magpie, with its
! sheltered Dorothy, brought me disturb
ing tidings. ''They are out and about"
he said, ''all out and about, the armed
men. Let your guest be careful. If he
would but stay quiet where he is, all
might be WE'LL but she will be here soon,
and he viii go straight to his death, poor
soul 80
Twas vain that I called the magpie a
| foolish chatterer. | could not feel hope
ful for the success of this days adventure,
and despair came over me when l thought
/ that aught but success must mean death
to either or both of them. But / could
not give Sir Ralph even the smallest
! warning. Even he, who was patience
| itself, grew impatient this morning for
! the slow hours seemed to take malign
! pleasure in lingering, so that even /
! grew wroth with the order of nature
which refuses to bend to the desires of
man. The misty night had begotten
misty day, and it's gloom seemed but
/ reflex Of my foreboding fears. Sir Ralph's
spirits were the like oppressed, for he
sighed grieyously and often looked at the
| heavens to see why they frowned so
steadily at him. Alas, there were no
| pleasant spots Of blue to make bright
! patchwork with the green of my leaves,
no golden sunlight to touch my crest with
glory and crown me king. Twas as if
some dire calamity must needs belall,
the forest looked so drear and colorless.
Sir Ralph waited almost all the day,
| holding himself in readiness. Twas pitt
full to see so much hope and fear alternat-
ing on human face. At last there APP
| peared in the distance two figures, which
/ discovered to be the lady and her maid;
they were carrying the apparel in which
it was necessary Sir Ralph should dis
! gulSe himself. At sight OF his dear mis-
tress he threw off all restraint, and fling
ing himself on the green sward at her
feet, besought her passionately not to eX-
pose her dear person to such danger.
You have done SO much for me al
ready" he said. Sweetheart, let me ac-
complish my escape alone"
And would you leave me?" she asked
quite calmly.
Il would rather leave you than do you
hurt" he said gravely, with pale lips.
Nay" she cried, passionately, "you do
me but this wrong, that you cause me
continually to play the mans part. That
fhnf To
through you"
Then the tears sprang into Sir Ralph's
eyes, and he whispered humbly: ''Sweet-
heart, indeed l am not worthy of your
love-"
The manner of men and women has
always been marvel to me. That they
should love one another L can under
stand, but what need to deem themselves
unworthy of each other? Withal why
should so small a matter as a kiss be so
potent reply? Dorothy, for answer,
laid her lips upon her lovers, as if by
that means she were rendering him more
worthy; 1t seemed to me a new way OF
| bestowing knighthood
And after this episode the lady beck
oned her maid and brought Sir Ralph
some wearing apparel wherewith to dis
gulse himself, whereat he pulled wry
lace, "A Woman's clothing, my Doro-
thy" he said. Then she told him of her
plot, which necessitated his assuming
ner maids disguise, and entreated him to
do for her sake what he would not do for
his own. And ali the time that she was
begging of him to do her wiz I was dis
turbed by sounds of distant horses and
! OF mems voices coming nearer; and from
my high eminence | saw bands of men
stationed at intervals so as to surround
the forest Had the lovers not been so
| engrossed with each other they must
have heard the warning sounds A
jangle OF spurs louder than any gone be-
! fore reused her at last. She sprang to
her feet, and cried in voice Of despair so
great it must have thrilled the hardest of
hearts: Dear Lord what NOISE was
that?''
Sir Ralph FASTENED to her side to re-
assure her, but even while the words of
comfort were yet lingering on his lips,
the trampling of horses feet grew more
distinct, and mems forms began to be
dimly visible through the trees.
Then did the poor lady fall into a fit of
the most piteOuS weeping; ; 50 greatly was
| touched thereat that l trembled IN all
my branches, and my very leaves fell
from sympathy. But Sir Ralph only
drew his dear mistress close to his heart
bidding her waste no tears on him; he
eXhorted her to courage but as every
! fresh sound smote her ear she shivered
and seemed to grow more white and wan
At last shout from the soldiers appraised
them that their hiding place had been
discovered. Soon they were surrounded
by a troop of horsemen, conspicuous
amongst whom was the man who had
made such careful inspection Of the spot
before.
None burst touch Sir Ralph as he stood
calm and composed, his defiant eyes rest
ing on him who appeared to be leader
No violence seemed likely to be offered
him, seeing that he made no efforts to de-
fend himself; indeed, it seemed to me as
II there was pity in the eyes Of the man
at sight of poor, despairing Dorothy, who
leant, haIt-swooning, against her lover.
You are my prisoner" at last said he
whom we had seen before; and then dis
mounting, with a courteous air he asked
hlm to give up his sword. Then Sir
Ralph laughed, and said quietly, "That
viii | never do" wheFeat the other
seemed undecided; seeing which Dorothy
made motion to throw herself upon her
knees, but her lover restrained her.
''Sweetheart," he whispered, "you shall
not abase yourself for me,'' and was
silent. Methought he gained in size and
dignity as he look ed around upon the
number who had come to take him pris-
oner-one man against SO many. Even
they. vile rebels as they were, seemed
awed by his majestic presence and dig
said courteously, II will explain my
presence here and that of this, my most
honored mistress; and he stretched out
his hand which she took and held in hers.
so that together they faced their enemies,
chiefest of which were (as l afterward
learned) her brother. and her cousin who
would also be her lover.
This cousin of hers must have been
touched with some slight compassion, for
he answered, ''Speak, Sir Ralph; but be-
fore you say aught that could harm either
yourself or the lady we all love, listen to