The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-01
BY Thames Water.

Thames Water runneth high this year."
said old Perkins. the royal groom. as he
leaned against the parapet OF the palace
wall and looked down upon the flashing
river as It lowed past palace and city,
eastward TO the sea Jay, that doth Il /;
high and swift indeed" Dame Sowerby an
Bwered. as she, too, watched the loud and
angry stream. Men say" continued the
groom, that IL hath not touched so high
n mark since the days, now twelve months
gone. when Kett the tanner led his rascal
rout in low revolt against our sweet young
king on Moursboid Heath
at may be 30" responded Dame Sow
erby, Though l mind the worry more than
the water mark"-for Dame Sowerby was
body woman 10 young King Edwards
sister, the Lady Elizabeth. Lady Sey-
mour. I remember we'll, sought to fright
me with tales OF how the rascal tanners
men had sworn 20 make their bastard
leader brace OF hawking gloves from
the fair skin OF my sweet princess. AS II
they dared indeedi" she concluded indig-
nantly.
"'Twas base threat. truly" said the
royal groom, "and baser still II seemeth
when we look upon her pretty self. See
where she comes now down the palace
steps, as trim and sweet a maiden as any
in merry England" and as he spoke, down
the broad stairway came a laughing group
OF young folks. and among them "A fair
faced girl of sweet sixteen the Lady Eli
zabeth, Princess Of England, fresh from
her hours OF tsudy with her wise old tn
tor, Master Roger Aschanl "Oh, good
Dame Sowerby." she cried. hating at her
body-woman's side whose pony Is II
that fretteth and fumeth so by the cause
way CATER"
"'Tis our lord the Kings new hobby,
Saiadin, your Grace" responded the
Dame, brought here for his Majesty's
inspection, and but barely broken, so say
eth Master Perkins. the groom" "Ah,
but he's beauty, is he not. DameY"
the girl exclaimed; how ] would like TO
ride him onoel do believe ] can"
THE saints forbid" exclaimed the
startled Dame Sowerby. Thou ride Sala-
din? Why. my gracious lady, 'twould be
thy certain deathl'
did / not ride my brothers courser,
Black Richard?" asked the Princess,
proudly. "Ay. that ddst thou" said Per-
klns. the groom; "but-Heaven save your
ladyship !-Black Richard hath seen both
trail and service, and this young hobby,
Saladin, scarce knoweth whip or spur"
"And surely such horse-work passeth
iady's skill, Princess, and so young a
maid as thou would not dare 20 try the
feat
Thus spoke Mistress Varney. very SUI
perior young lady OF fifteen. But II was
an injudicious speech.
''Not darei Not dare to ride Saladini"
broke out the young princess hotly
"Who sayeth dare not. TO the daughter
of my father2" And the spirit OF her i'm
perious father. King Henry the Eighth.
OF England famed in the maiden's eyes.
"Thou shalt eat thy words. Mistress Var
ney ere thou sleep this night" and before
the startled group could fathom her in
tent, the Princess Elizabeth, with fore.
shadOwing OF that same determination
that marked her later years as Englands
maiden queen, burst past them all. and
with scarce a stop ieaped lightly from the
mounting block 10 the dappled hobby's
back, and seized the bride rain.
Saladin. already FESTIVE under the hated
curb. with q shiver or surprise as ne
felt this light but sudden weight add
cd TO the saddle that crossed his back.
tossed his head angrily. and tearing
his bride free from Diccon, the horse
boy. sent that astonished young ser
vitor SPRAYING 10 the ground. and.
wheeling quickly, dashed through the
gate and down the causeway by Thames
Water
4 cry OF horror broke from the terror
stricken throng, and no man knew what
70 do. Then through the causeway gate
OF the palace raced lord and lady, BOY ana
girl, groom. servant and retainer, titled
with dread and doubt. while the plucky
princess cast backward a look. half
fear. half triumph as stin firm IN the
saddle she sped on i'm her mad ride
And now though Saiadin had. as we FAY
taken the bit in hts teeth, sharp rug
at the bride threw his head around ana
suddenly he wheeled and galloped back
again straight through the cansaway
gate. scattering man and maid as ne
New past them all. In through the gate
he dashed. but. maddened by the shouts
and BY the persistence with whicn MS
light but provoking burden stuck 10 his
back. he SHE'D 70 the left. ana with a
sudden sad mighty bound he cleared