Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-04-06


called The Eidceway Father Carey used
to say-"nd no better Lafinist could be
found for a score of miles round in the
time' ~ which l writc--;hat IL was made
by the Romans. 1t runs north and south
along the narrow spine. of the country,
which Is spread out on either side like a map
CT picture As you fare southwark you
STE on your right hand the green orchards
and pastures of Worcestershire stretching
rs far rs the Malvern hills. You have in
front of you Brcdon HILL which is a won
derful hill, for If a man goes down the
Avon by boat IL goes with him, now be-
lore and now behind, a whole days jour
ncy, and then stands in the same place
And on the left hand you have the great
forest of Arden and not much besides, ex-
cept ok trees. which grow well in War
wickshirc.
describe this road. firstly, because Il is
notable one and 10 years ago was the
only Queens highway, TO call a highway,
in that country. The rest were mere horse
tracks Secondly, because the chase wall
of Cotton End runs along the side of IL for
two good miles, and the Cluddes-I am
Francis Cluddc-havc lived Mt Cotton End
by the Bid2cvay time out of mind, prob
ab!y--for the name smacas of the soil
before the Romans made the road. And,
thirdly, because 40 years ago. on n driz-
cling February day in 155J-sccond year
of Mary, old religion just rc-establishcd-
number of people were collected on this
road, forming group of n score or more.
who stood in an ordered kind Of disorder
about my uncle's gates and looked all one
way, as if expecting an arrival, and an ar
rival of consequence.
First, there was my uncle Sir Anthony,
toll -. IL,
vet doublet and cloak and had put them
on with IN air of huge Importance. This
increased each time he turned, staff in
hand, and surveyed his following, and as
regularly gave place to a"Pshawi' of
roxation and pctulant glance when his eye
rested ON mo. Close beside him, looking
important, tco, but anxious and a little
frightened as well, stood good Father
Carey. The priest wore his silk cassock,
and his lips moved from time to time
without sound, as though he were trying
over Latin Grafton, which indeed was
the fact. At q mo. : respectful distance
were ranged Baldwin Moor, the steward
and n dozen servants, while still farther
away loUngcd as many raRmufins-land
less mon, who swarmcd about every gen
tleman's door in those times and took toll
of such abbey lands rs the king might
have given him. Against enc of the stone
gate pillars ] leaned myself, 10 years and
months old, and none too wise though
well grown and rs strong rs one here and
there. And pcrchcd on the top of the
twin pest, with his chin on his knees and
his hands clasped about them. was Mar
tin Luther, the fool.
Martin had chosen this elevated position
partly out Of curiosity and partly perhaps
under a strong sense Of duty. He knew
\
needs look funny up there. His nose was
red, and his eyes Were running and his
teeth chattering, and he did look funny.
But rs he felt the cold most his patience
failed first. The steady, silent drizzlc, the
mist creeping about the the stems of the
oak trees. the lcaden sky, proved too much
for him in the end. "A watched pct mover
boilsr' he grumbled.
'-Silcncc, sirrah"' commanded my uncle
angrily. This is 10 time for your fool
ing. Have care how You talk in the
same breath of pots and my lord bishop"
'Sancte ccclosir, Father Carey broke
out, turning Up his eyes in Kind of &C.
stasy, as though he were knee TO knee with
tho prclatc-''to dcfcnsorem inclytum
atque ardcntem''-
my own wit.
1t was an i'll hammered word, but I was
cold and pccvish. 1 had been forced to
this function against my will. had never
seen the guess whom we were expecting,
and who was no other than the queen 5
chancellor, Stephen Gardiner, but l dis
liked him as if 1 had. In truth, he was
related to us in n peculiar fashion, which
my uncle and naturally looked at from
different standpoints.
Sir Anthony viewed with complacence
if not with pride. any connection with the
powerful bishop of Winchester, for the
knight knew the world and could appre-
ciatc the value it sets on success and the
blind eyes it has for spots If they do but
spccklo the risen sun. could make no
such allowance hut, with the pride Of
youth and family, ut once dcspiscd the
grCa. bishop for his base blood and blush
ed that tho shame lay on cur side. l hated
this parade of doing hoEor to him and
would fain have hidden Mt home with Pc
tronilla, my cousin, Sir Anthcny' daugh-
ter, and awaited our guest there. The
knight, however, had not permitted this,
ard had been forced out, being in the
worst of humors.
80 said '.Pottumv" and laughed.
Silence, boy" cried Sir Anthony
forccly. He loved an orderly procession
and To arrange things decently. "Si!enccr'
dbSRs Sidbec IA -
at me and then at his followers, ''or will
warm that jacket of yours, lad! And you,
Martin Luther, see to your tongue for the
next "a hours and keep it of my lord
bishop! And, Father Carey, hold yourself
ready
For here Sir Hot Pot cometh!' cried
the undaunted Martin, skipping nimbly
down from his post of vantage, and a
dozen of London saucepans with him,
or may I never lick the inside OF one
again.
a Jest on the saucincss of London serv-
ing men was sure TO tell with the crowd.
and there was n great laugh at this, espc-
ciaily among the landlcss men, who were
on the skirts of the party and well shell
tered from Sir Anthony's eye. He glared
about him, provoked to find ut this critic
nj moment smiles where there should have
been looks of Difference, and n ring round
\ fool where he had ma-shaled n prcces
sion. Unluckily lie chose to visit his dis
pleasure upon me. You won't behave,
won't you Won puppyri he cried. Nou