The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-31

"The gentleman forgets that the
king is the fountain of all law" said
Lord Rippingdale obliquely to the
king.
"We will make one new statute for
this stubborn knight" said Charles;
"eyen a writ OF outlawry. His estates
shall be confiscate to the crown. Go
seek a king and country better suited
TO your tastes, our rebel knight of En-
derby"
81 am still an Enderby of Enderby,
and man of Lincolnshire, your maj
esty," said the squire, as the king rode
towards Boston church, where present
" he should pray after this fashion with
his subjects there assembled:
"Afost heartily we beseech Thee with
Thy favor TO behold our most gracious
sovereign King Charles. Endue him
plenteously with Heavenly gifts; grant
him in health and wealth long to live;
strengthen him that he may vanquish
and overcome all his enemies; and,
finally, after this life, he may attain
everlasting Joy and felicity"
With a heavy heart Enderby turned
homewards; that is, towards Mable-
thrope upon the coast, which lies be-
tween Saltfleet Haven and Skeg-
ness, two ports that are places OF
mark in the history Of the kingdom, as
all the world knows.
He had never been SO vexed In his life.
1t was not so much anger against the
L.. &c., Ia lal ,,raat ravarapca Tor tho
monarchy of England; butagainstLord
Rippingdale his mind was violent.
Yeors before. in a quarrel between the
Earl of LINDSEY and Lord Rippingdale,
upon public matter which parliament
settled afterwards, he had sided with
the Earl of Lindsey. The two earls had
been reconcilcd afterwards, but Lord
Rippingdale had never forgiven End
erby.
In Enderby's brain ideas worked
somewhat heavily; but to-day his
slumberous strength was infused
with spirit of action and the warmth
of q pervasive idea. There was mo
darkness In his thoughts, but his pulse
beat heavily and he could feel the veins
throbbing under his ear impetuously.
Once OF twice as he rode on In the
declining afternoon he muttered
to himself. Now It was; MY
Lord Rippingdale, indeed!" or "Not
even for a king!" or "Sir John
Enderby, forsooth! Sir John Enderby,
forsoothl" Once again he spoke, REIN
ing in his horse beside n tall 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 MI hon
est gentleman 10 do right before all
men. When have seen my sin, oh.
Lord. have repented! Now have
come upon perilous times, the pitfalls
are set for my feet. Oh, Lord, establish
me in true strength! Not for my sake
do ask that Thou wilt be with me and
Thy wisdom comfort me, but for the
sake of my good children. Wilt Thou
spare my life in these troubles until
they be well formed; till the lad
have the bones of man, and the girl
the wise thought of q woman--for she
hath no mother to shield and teach her.
And If this be wrong prayer, oh, God,
forgive 1t: for am but 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 were shut, and hc did not notice
the strange and grotesque figure that
suddenly appeared from among the low
bushes by the fen near by.
1t was an odd creature perched upon
stilts; one of those persons called the
stilt-walkers. They were no friends of
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 Witham, and
from Boston Deep down to Market
Deeping and over 10 tho sea. Since
these fens were drained one might
travel from Market Deeplng to The
Wolds without wetting foot.
"Aw'l trooble thee moment, mais-
ter" said the peasant. "a stilt-walker
beant nowt l. the woorld. Howsome'er,
awe woord TO speak 4 thy ear"
Enderby reincd In his horse, and with
a nod of complaisnnce (for he was
man ever kind to the poor, and patient
with those who Jared III in the world)
he waited for the other TO speak.
''Thoo'rt the great Enderby of En-
derby, malster," said the peasant, duck
fng his head and then putting on his
cap; "aw've known thee sin tha vast
no bigger nor a bit grass'opper 4 the
field. Wilt thu ride long, Sir John
Enderby, and aw'll walk aside thee, ma
gray nag with thy sorrel" He plancaa
uown humorousIy 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
stork.
"Why do you dub me knight?" he
asked. his eyes searching the face of