The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-31

a persuasive idea. There was no dark
ness in his thoughts. hut his pulse
beat heavily and he could feel the veins
thrObbing under his ear impetuOusly.
Once or twice as he rode on in the
declining afternoon he muttered to
himself Now i. was: My Lord Rip
pingdale. indeed" or Not even for
king" on Sir John Enderby. forsooth.
Sir John Enderby. forsooth!" Once
again he spoke. refining in his horse be-
side tai cross at four corners. near
Stickford by the East Fen. Taking off
his hat he prayed:
Thou just God. do Thou judge be-
tween my king and myself. Thou
knowest that / have striven as an hon
est gentlemen to do right before all
men. When / have seen my sin. oh.
Lord. / have repented Now I have
come uDon perilous times. the pitfalls
are set for my feet. Oh. Lord. establish
me in true strength! Not for my sake
do l ask that Thou wilt be with me and
Thy wisdom comfort me, but for the
sake of my children. wilt Thou spare
my life in these troublous times until
they be well formed till the lad have
the bones of man. and the girl the
wise thought of a woman-fOr she hath
no mother to shield and teach her And
if this be a wrong prayer. oh, God,
forgive it; for | am hut laundering
squire, whose tongue tells lamely what
his heart feels
His head was bowed over his horses
neck. his face turned to the cross. his
eyes We're shut. and he did not notice
the strange and grOtesque figure that
suddenly appeared from among the low
bushes by the fen near by.
1t was an Old creature perched upon
stills; one Of those persons called the
rti IL
| the king, nor of the earl of Lindsey. nor
Of my Lord Rippingdale. for the drain
| ing of these fens took from them their
| means of living. They were messen-
gers. postmen and carriers across the
wide stretch of country from Spilsby.
even down to the river Withan. and
from Boston Deep down to Market
Deeping and over to the sea. Since
| these fens We're drained one might
travel from Market Deeping to The
| Wolds without wetting a foot.
| "Aw'll trooble thee Il moment. mais-
| ter" said the peasant. A silt walker
beant nowt j. the woorld. HOwsome'er.
awe a woord tn speak l. thy ear
Enderby rained in his horse. and with
a nod of complaisance Uor he was a
man ever kind to the poor. and patient
with those who Jared i'll in the worldD
he waited for the other to speak
| Thoor't the great E.nderby Of En-
derby. maister." said the peasant
ducking his head and then putting on
his cap: awe known thee sin tha
vast no bigger nor IL bit srassOpper i
the field. wit tina ride long. Sir John
Enderby. and VIII walk aside thee, ma
gray nag with thy sorrel.' He glanced
down humorOusly at his own long
wooden legs.
! Enderby turned his horse round and
proceeded ON his way slowly. the old
man striding along beside him like II
stork.
| why do you dub me knight" ha
asked. his eyes searching the face oi
the old man.
| why shOuldna aw call thee knight
| II the king calls thee knight? 1t is thc
| doOty of q common man to call the.
Sir John, and tax off his hat at saying a
it," His hat came Off, and he nodded
] in such an odd way that Enderbs
burst out into good honest Taught
"Dooth tina rememba littloI Tom TOws-
by that went hOonting with thee whcr
tina vert not yet come to age?' con-
tinued the stilt walker. "DOost tina re-
| memba when. for Il Jest thee and m,
stopped the lord bishop tina own uncle
in the highway at midnight. and took
his Doorse from him. and the rich golt
| chain from his neck? And doost tina re
memba that tina would have his apror
too. for tina said that If it kept bishol
clean, Uouldna it keep highwaymcn
| clean. whose work was not so clean a.
a bishops? Sir John Endcrby. aw loov,
thee bt tier than the king, an aw loovt
thee better than. my Lord Rippingdal,
-ah.ah. there's sour heart in a good
ly body
John Enderby reined up his horse anl
looked the stilt-walker in the face.
Are you little Tom Dowsby?' sale