Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-02-17

As the man fell his two comrades
dropped back and had an instant to
look around.
Presently, recovering something of
their lost courage, the two men again
approached, but this time with less
fury and more method. For some mo-
ments there was the ring of steel
against steel as we struck and par
ried, neither being able to obtain the
mastery, while ever and anon, at q
fiercer blow, bright sparks shot forth
from the meeting blades.
AT length, with a swift and sudden
upward stroke, deprived my oppo-
nent of his weapon. 1t flew from his
hand and fell with clink and a jangle
upon the stone floor.
1t seemed, however, that the blow
was likely to cost me dear, for in
striking stumbled over the body of
the fallen trooper, and in trice the
Sergeant was upon me with flashing
sword. Instead of death thrust,
however, most astonishing and some
what ludiorous thing came to pass, for
l found most useful ally in the
brave lady who had displayed SO much
interest in the struggle. She seized
the pot that was seething on the fire,
and with quick movement poured
the whole OF the scalding contents
into the face of the Sergeant.
He turned on his heel and, followed
by the disarmed trooper, went rapidly
from the house, using as he did SO
many ungodly words, such as I trow
he had never found in his prayer
book.
"Sir, pray you lose not a moment,
but depart forthwith, for I fear me
yon Sergeant will most surely re-
turn"
"Nay, fair lady," I answered, "1
depart not alone for, if mistake not, ,
this same fellow went off in worse
humor at thy greeting than at mine. "
"Most valiant gentleman" she said,
81 will tell you who l am and whence
l come, and why you find me here. ]
am the daughter of the Earl of Nor.
vale, whose purpose 1t was to give me
in marriage to certain courtier of the
King, o man l had never seen, and who
I did not doubt was devotedly solely
to puffs and frills aud such things as
are beseeming only to women that
kind Of man, indeed, which in my in-
justice | did at first conceive you
yourself to be. ! lsft his roof to seek
that OF my mothers sister, who lives
on the border Of the County Worcess
ter, until such time as his humor
should have changed. Then the trou.
bles broke out in this quarter, so my
good mother lent me this PEASANTS
dress, that might be the less easily
recognized, and here for six days I
have abided.
"You have told me much, madam,
and yet not that which 7 most desire
to learn. Your father being the Earl
of Morvale, have I the privilege OF ad-
dressing Lady Constance Temple?"
She inclined her head to signify as
sent.
"It is then possible ;hat the courtier
of whom you speak is Sir Lionel Nor
daunt?"
"You have again guessed rightly" "
said the lady. gazing at me in some
astonishment.
"For the moment we must max @
your safety our chief concern. The
castle of Morvale lies from here not
six leagues distant. The night is fine,
and by pressing forward without de-
Law we should reach IL before the dawn
Shall we go thither?"
"But the courtier, sirrah?" ex-
claimed the lady. My father will
surely still seek to force this marriage
upon me.
"As to that" I replied, "you need
apprehend no further embarrassment,
and for this reason, that the unwilling
cause of all your troubles stands be-
tore you" made her low bow.
When at last she looked up she was
smiling through her bushes.
"Yet ] fear, SIR" she said, with q
comical look, THAT the Earl will still
refuse to relinG Guish his desire"
"And you, madam" 1 answered,
"you can refuse"
"But, sirrah"-she looked at me
with n merry twinkle in her eyes, and
yet with passing sweetness-'I am a
dutiful daughter"
took her tiny hand in mind, and,
bending low before her, kissed it,
Black and White.
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