The sun., 1891-05-17


At early dawn the country inn was all alive
for it was rare indeed that an hour OF dayligh
would bo wasted at tlms whom llghting was
90 scarce and dear. Indeed. early as 1t was
whom Dame Eliza began to stir. II seemed that
others could be enrior still. for the door was
mar, and the learned student OF Cambridge
had taken himself of. with mind which was
too intent upon the high things OF antiquity TO
stoop to con slider tho fourpence which no owei
for bod and board. 1t WAS the shril outery oil
tho landlndy whom sho found her loss and tho
clucking OF tho hens, which hal stronmed Ia
through tho opon door that lrst broke in upon
the slumbers Of the tired waytarers
Once afoot. It was not long before the conf
pnny began to disperse. A sleek mule with
rcd trappings was brought round from somo
neighboring shed for tho physic! an. and he
nmb!ed away with much dignity upon his ronl
60 SOUTHAMPTON. The tooth drawer and tho
Gleemnn called for n cup of small nle apiece
and started OF together for ningwood fair. the
old ioneleur looking very yellow tn tho eye and
swollen in tic face inter his ove--nigh. pota-
tions. The archer. however who had drunk
moro than any man in tho ROOM was as merry
- n griG. md. having kissed the matron and
chased tho maid up the ladder once more he
went out to the brook and came back with the
water dripping from his face and hair
"Holal my man Of peace" he cried to Al
leyno. whittier are you bent this morninR7"
ITO Minstsad." auoth he. my brother.
Simon Edrioson. is soomsn there. and 20 to
bide with him for while. prytlee. lot me
have my score. good dame"
'Score. indeedl" cried she. standing with
upraised hands In front OF the panel on which
Alleyno had worked the night before Say.
rather, what 1t IL that owe to thee. good
youth. Aye. this Is indeed pied merlin. and
with levoret under its claws. as am living
woman. BY tho rood OF Waltham! but thy
touch is deft and dainty
And sec tho red eye OF H." cried the maid.
Aye. md tho open beak"
And the rufIled wing" added Horde John.
by my hilt2" cried the archer. lit is tho
very bird itself"
The young clerk flushed with pleasure nt
this chorus OF praise. rude and indIscrimlnate
indeed. and yet 30 much heartier and less
gruiging than any which he had ever heard
from tho critical brother jerome. or the short
spoken Abbot Thore was, it would seem.
great kindness as we'll as great wickedness In
this world. OF which he had heard 80 little that
was good. His hostess would hear nothing OF
his paying either for bed or for board while
the archer and Horde John placed a hand
upon either shoulder and led him OF to the
board. whero some smoking flsh. q dish OF
spinach. and Jug OF milk were laid out for
their breakfast
Il should not be surprised to learn. mon
oamnrade." said tho soldier, as he hoaped q
SLIGO Of tho fish upon Alleyns's tranchoir OF
bread that you could read written things.
since You are 30 ready with your brushes and
pCmens."
1T would DO shame to tho good brothers of
Bcaulieu II l could not" he answered.. seeing
that have boen heir clerk this ten years."
The bowman looked Mt him with great re.
spect. Think OF that!" said he. And you,
with not hair to your fac0 aud a skin like
Rir!. can shoot three hundred and lftv PAGES
with my little pepper therc. and four hundred
and twenty with the great war bow; yet can
make nothing OF this nor read my own namo
II you wero to set Sam Aylward' up against
me. In the whole company there was only
one man who could rend. and he foil
down a well at the taking OF ventndour.
which proves that the thing Is not suited
to a soldier. though needful to clerk"
I can mako some show at It," said Big John.
though was scarce long enough among the
monks to catch tho whole trick oft"
Here. then. is something to try upon"
Guoth the archer pulling q square OF parch-
msnt from the inside OF his tunic. 1t was tied
securely with broad baad OF purple silk. and
firmly scaled at other end with u large red
seal. John porsd long over tho inscription
upon the hack. with his brows bent MS one who
bears up against great mental strain.
Not having read much OF late" no said. IL
am 10th to say too much about what this may
bo Some might say ono thing and some anoh-
or. Just as one bowman loves the yew. and a |
second will not shoot save with the ash. To |
mo- by tho length and the look Of 1t. I should |
Judge this TO be verse from one OF the
Psslms'
The bowman shook his heal 1T is scarce
likely" he said. that ;ir Claude Latour
shonli send me all tho way across seas with |
nousht moro weichtY than psalm verso.
Iou have clean oTershot the butts this time. |
mon camariide. Give 1t to the little one. I |
will wager my feather bed that he makes more |
sense Of
why 1t is written In the French tongue"
said Alleync. and In right clerkly hand. |
This is how 1t runs: 10 moult puissRut OF !
niouit honorable cbovn'isr. Sir Nigel Loring do
Christchurch, de son tres ldSle anis Sir Claude |
Lntour capitaino do b CompaRnis blanche.
chito!6in do Blscnr. grand seignenr de Mont |