Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-06-12

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Oozewood that he had followed ON the
Saturday previous, reckoning no doubt
that Saturday night would as before be
time for finding Sir John with his
sister again.
He delayed to reach the place till Just
before sunset. His sister was walking in
the meadows at the foot of the garden,
with nursemaid who carried the baby,
and she looked up pensively when he
approached. Anxiety as to her position
had already told upon her once rosy
cheeks and lucid eyes. But concern for
herself and child was displaced for the
moment by her regard of Rogers worn
and haggard face.
"Why, you are sick, Roger You are
tired Where have you been these many
days? Why not keep me company bit?
My husband is much away. And we
have hardly spoken at all of dear father
and of your voyage to the New Land.
Why did you go away so suddenly?
There is a spare chamber at my lodg-
ing.
Come indoors" he said. "We'll
talk now-talk a good deal. AS for
him." nodding to the child, "better
heave him into the river. Better for him
and youP
She forced laugh, as if she tried to
see good joke in the remark, and they
went silently indoors.
"A miserable holel" said Roger,
looking around the room.
NAY, but tits very prettyw
mot after what I've seen. Did he
marry zee at church in orderly fashion,
"He did sure-at our church at Ha-
venpool. "
but in privy way?"
Aye, because of his friends 1t was
at night time.
"Edy, We fond one, for all that he's
not thy husbandl TIL 'rt not his wife,
and the child is a bastard. He has n
wife and children of his own rank, and
bearing his name, and that's Sir John
Horseleigh of Clyfton Horseleigh and
not plain Jack, as you think him, and
your lawful husband. The sacrament of
marriage is no safeguard nowadays.
The kings new made headship of the
church hath led men to practice these
tricks lightly"
| Dilt utll tuIutu Wnllb. mat , uOl
true, Roger!" she said. "You are in
liquor, my brother, and you know not
what You say. Your seafaring years
have taught you bad things.
"Edith-I've seen them. Wife and
family-alL How canst'-
They were sitting in the gathered
darkness, and at that moment steps
were heard without "Go out this
way, she said. lit is my husband He
must not see thee in this mood. Get
away till tomorrow, Roger, as you care
for me.
She pushed her brother through a
door leading to the back stairs, and al
most as soon as it was closed her visitor
entered. Roger, however, did not re.
treat down the stairs. He stood and
looked through the bobbin hole. If the
visitor turned ont to be Sir John, he
had determined to confront him.
1t was the knight She had struck q
light on his entry, and he kissed the
child, and took Edith teuAlerly by the
shoulders, looking into her face.
Something's gone awry wi my
dear, he said. "What is it? What e thC
mattery"
"Oh, Jack" she cried. II lave
heard such fearsome rumor What
doth it mean? He who told the is my
best friend. He must be deceived But
who deceived him, and why? Jack,
was told that you had wife living
when you married me, and have hel
still"
"A wife? Him."
Eyes, and children. Say no, say no r.
"My God! l have no lawful wife but
you, and as for children, many or few,
they are all bastards, save this one
alonel
And that you be Sir John Horse
leigh of Clyfton?'
II mid be- have never said so tc
'ee -
But Sir John is known to have 6
lady. and issue of herr'
The knight looked down. How did
Thy mind get filled with such as this?''
he asked.
lone Of my kindred came"
"A traitor! Why should he mar our
life? All, you said you had brother al
sea Where is he now?"
"Herel' said stern voice behind
him. And fiinging open the door Roger
faced the intruder. Liar" he said
"to call myself her husbandW
Sir John fired up, and made a rush
at the sailor, who seized him by thu
collar, and in the wrestle they both fell
Roger under But in a few seconds HI
contriyed to extricate his right arm
and drawing from his belt knife which
he wore attached TO cord round hi
neck he opened it with his teeth anC
struck it into the breast of Sir JOIN
stretched above him. Edith had during
these moments run into the next room
to place the child in safety, and whel
she came back the knight was relaxing
his hold ON Rogers throat. He ROLLED
over upon his back and groaned.
The only witness of the scene, say,
the three concerned, was the nursemaid
who had brought in the child on its ia
theirs arrival. She stated afterwarC
that nobody suspected Sir John had re
ceived his death wound. Yet it was SO
though he did not die for long while
meaning thereby an hour or two; tina
Mistress Edith continually endeavore,
to stanch the blood, calling her brothe
Roger wretch and ordering him to ge
himself gone. On which order he acted
after gloomy pause, by opening tn
} window and letting himself down b.