The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-12-28
MAID SYBIL'S LOVER.

and the inhabitants of the little village OF
Friars Holt were all assembled upon
the green watching the attempts Of some
of the younger men to send their arrows
straight to the center of the butts which
stood at one end Of the chosen place OF
recreation.
Another shaft missed the ciout, p laugh
ell an old man, as the arrow stuck culver.
ing In the turf, falling three yards short
Of the butt. THE king will never com
plain that lads of Wildwood mpke havoc
among his deer II he hears Of sdch shoot
Ing NJ this"
"Hold your pirate. Gsfer Jenkyn. said
the young man who had discharged the
last shaft. pcttishly unstringing his bow;
iii was cross wind which married my
shooting, unless, indeed, 1t was the wiz
ards wand" he added, crossing himself
devoutiy. ~ he cast glance Of scorn and
abhorrpnce ut young maiden standing
some little distance apart from the group
Of rristics, II fair haired girl of middle
height, with pair Of laughing gray eyes,
Her age could scarcely have exceeded
eighteen years, and the merry expression
of her face, HI she smiled at the woe begone
look Of the discounted bowman, had no
more wizards glamor about it than is al
ways 10 he found in the ripping laughter
of a pretty girl
Yes there she be, sure enough" NUT
tered CATER Jenkyn, with glance of ma
levolent hatred at the young girl. What
business has she down here among tlss
Even If she can't cast spells herself she can
tell all about ny to that old warlock who
lives in the ruined tower In Carnstone
Chase.
BY this time general attention was drawn
TO the beautiful intruder, and threats and
excavations were leveled at her head.
At first the girl appeared unconscious Of
her danger, but all at once stone thrown
by Il lad grazed her arm, and az she per
ceived the threatening attitude of the
crowd look of intense terror passed across
her face, and she turned to fly.
do not let the witch escape" cried an
old crone 81 lost two sweet grandchildren
last autumn; they said it was the falling
sickness, but know better; it was through
the ,lpvilments of the old wizard and his
ward
A menacing circle soon formed around the
poor girl, whose entreaties for mercy were
received with shouts of dersion, and she
would have been seriously maltreated had
not figure burst through the ranks of her
,assaiants and loudly asked meaning of
their cowardly conduct
The man who.interposed in the girls be-
half was attired in the picture que dress
OF a1forester, though he won NJ badge or
cognizance to SHOW that he VIZ Tie re
tainer OF amy noble house, and the clo6a u
which his Lincoln green doub'.t was corn
posed was of u finer character that that in
which servitors were attired.
"Hullo. my masters" cried he, stepping
between the maiden and her assailants,
"whai wit is thisp BY the bones of iona
than the Archer, call We yourselves Eng
hshnpn to behave in such mannergp
A confused chorus of explanation rose
from the little crowd, but the smiIh, who
had first suggested violent measures. strobe
to the front.
This is no business of thine, Hob of the
Butts" growled he; get We to'your own
business of stealing the kings deer. and
leave honest men to look after their own
affairs.
I'VE will have no witches or warlocks
amongst us, and this wench, who lives up
at Carnstone Chase with old Michael Rex
thorpe, shall not come down here casting
her spell over us and ours.
As he spoke he laid a rough, sinewy hand
upon the shoulder OF the shrinking girl,
but in moment staggered back under the
effects of a heavy blow dealt him by the
man called Hob of the Butts. who placing
the girls arm in his, drew her through the
crowd, not one OF which ventured to mani
fest any opposition.
Neither spoke word until they had left
Friars Holt some little distance behind
them, and then the girl said timidly:
"a thank you, fair sir, for your kindness
in rescuing me from that dreadful man. !
thought | should have died with terror
when he laid his hand on me.
The forester laughed merrily. Mat Clink
and understand each other, pretty one, y
said he. But tell me, who are you, why
did they call you witch. and want to
throw you into the ponds"
Tears started to the girls eyes. II am
called Sybil Tressider," answered she, land
am no witch, though live up in earn
stone Chase with that fearful man, Michael
Rexthorpe."
My father, Reginald Tressider, who be
lievkd that he could find the philosophers
stone, was the owner OF the house in the
Chase and Michael Rexthorpc was his trust
ed familiar and acolyte, but MY poor father
died and the fearsome man. Michael, has
| md though | am not ahsolutsiv 81 nrisnnei