The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-10-19

ly sending Sir Dinar to his ruin.
So all that day they rode, two and
two. in the strait alley that she had
pointed out, and by her entertainments
she made the winter trees to move with
them, serried close ON either hand. SO
that, though the four knights wist moth
ing Of it, they advanced not o furlong
for all their haste. But toward nightfalI
there appeared close ahead q blaze of
windows lit and then o tall castle with
dim towers soaring mp and shaking to
the din of minstrelsy. And finding o
great company about the doors they lit
down from their horses and stepped into
the great hall, Sir Dinar leading them.
For awhile their eyes were dazed, seeing
that sconces fiared in every window,
and the place was full of knights and
damsels brightly clad, and the floor
shone.o But while they were yet blink
ing a band Of maidens came and IN
buckled their arms and cast a shining
cloak upon each, which was hardly done
when o lady came toward them out of
the throng, and though she was truly
the Queen Morgan le Fay they knew
her not at all, for by her necromancy
she had altered her c~ountenance.
"Come, dance, " said she, ''for in an
instant the musicians will begin"
Now the other three knights tarried
awhile, being weary, but Sir Dinar STEP
ped forward and caught the hand of a
damsel, and she, al she gave it. laughed
in his eyes. She was dressed all in scar
let, with scarlet shoes, and the hair lay
ON her shoulders like FURNISHED gold.
AS Sir Dinar set his arm around her
with a crash the merry band began, and
floating out with him into the dance,
her red shoes twinkling and her tossed
hair shaking spices under his nostrils,
she leaned back q little in his arms and
laughed again
1t happened that Sir Galhaltin, lean
ing by the doorway, heard the laugh
and saw her feet twinkle like blood red
moths, and he called to Sir Dinar. But
Sir Dinar heard nothing, nor did any Of
the dancers turn their heads, though he
called again more loudly. Then Sir Sen
trail and Sir Ozanna also began to call,
fearing they knew not what for their
comrade. But the guests still drifted by
az they were ghosts, and Sir Dinar, with
the red blood showing beneath the down
ON his cheeks, smiled and whirled with
the oma upon his arm.
By and by his breath came shortly,
and he would have rested, but she de-
MED him.
For a moment" he said, because
I have ridden far today"
But she hung the more heavily upon
his arm, and still the music went on.
And now, gazing upon her, he was
frightened, for it seemed she was grow
ing older under his eyes, with deep lines
sinking into her face, and the flesh of
her neck and bosom shriveling up SO
that the skin hung loose and gathered
in wrinkles. And now he heard the
voices of his companions calling about
the door and would have cast off the
sorceress and run to them. But when he
tried, his arm was welded around her
waist, nor could he stay his feet.
The three knights now, seeing sweat
upon his face, and the looks he cast To-
ward them, would have broken in and
freed him, but they, too, were by en-
chantment held there in the doorway.
So, with their eyes starting, they must
needs stay there and watch it all, and
while they stood the boards became as
molten brass under Sir Dinar's feet, and
the bag slowly witheredin his embrace,
and still the music played, and the 9th
er dancers cast him never a look as he
whirled round and round again. But at
length, with never a stay in the music,
his partners feet trailed heavily, and
bending forward she shook her white
locks clear of her gaunt eyes, and laugh
ed a third time, bringing her lips close
to his. And the poison Of death was in
her lips as she kissed him upon the
mouth. With that kiss there was a
crash, the lights went. out, and the
music died away in a wall, and the
three knights by the door were caught
away suddenly and stunned by a great
wind.
Awaking. they found themselves ly-
ing In the glade where they had come
upon the three red pavilions. Their
horses were cropping at the turf beside
them, and Sir Dinar's horse stood in
sight a little way off. But Sir Dinal
himself was deep in the forest, twirl.
ing and spinning among the rotten
leaves, and on his arm hung a corrupt,
ing corpse. For a whole day they sought
him and found him not flor he heard
nothing of their shoutsl, and toward
evening mounted and rode forward aft
err the ~Sancgrael, on which quest they
died, all three, each in his turn.
But Sir Dinar remained and twirlec
and skipped till the body he held was {
skeleton. and still he twirled till il
dropped away pieoemeal, and yet agar
till it was but a stain of dust on hi!
ragged sleeve. But before this his hail
was white and his face wizened will
age.
But or a day q knight in white armo'
came riding through the forest, lean
ing somewhat heavily ON his saddle bow
40 he rode, and was aware Of III old de
crepit man that ran toward him, jiggini
and capering as III for gladness, ye
~~~~-LA Ls~~ 49, A. ~@g~m~mwN mw~l lnnHns