The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-05-15

With leveled lances set, against US ride in
vain; \
Far and forgotten now is grief; no care with
Our gay gods haunt alike the sunshine and
Il. Frank Tooker in the Century.
The RED MIGHT n !! RAGLAN
Being Tale Of Master Roaer ,selby; on.s
ESQUIRE In tbs Service OF His Grace the
Marquis Of Worcester. ~,
BY ANNA robson BROWN,
Author Of "Alain of Halfdene."
Copyright, 1895, by Bachelor, johnson &
Bachelor.
PART l.
Those Of my lord marquis lluuse-
hold who like myself were noble, or at
least gentle-bort, were wont to serve
him at his meat, and to reindiii i'll at:
tendance, until my lord went into his
closet. This wis ut high iioehi there.
fore it CHANGED eftehtifiies that eeuaa=
more, Clohgh and others amoiig thy
mats were III not td iEe ffo 3st their IT,, meal neal
july eventiae;, i645; twas i1iishef !
wheh we, saw the Tables bale; aid SGT I'd
play at bowls ii tEG ibWef pleasdttlSe:
The tr8ublousneay Of ths tiiies funlofing
his .tiiajesty's defeat, kept us within
I bonds, ard the confinement which it
6echsi9n9a eaHSsd us iteaYifiess of spirit,
50 That hat tie HRot eAt bt f faa az Tath
wei 9Suld Pe i St9pf ,la4 q Il; ,aHRd %%aaI
idly kiekihg my, Pftl .SSyeek til, eIiiPP saa
turf, when one Of the pages came to the
wicket, crying that peddlers we've, Ut the
great gate with news of the war. AT
the word, we were all off, spurning the
grass with our heels, nor were we late
at the feast, for Oh near approach we
found old Cooke, the gatekeeper, two
men-at-arms, and score of idle grooms
holding parley with the chap-men
Scudamore and stood aside, hearken-
ing to the fellows tale, which, rs we
saddened to learn later on, was very
tissue of lying, but which then, as it
spoke of victory of the Kings forces,
warmed us to the heart. We of Raglan
had been perforce so we'll kept within
wall, that we were wearied out and so
buster moments. Yet even I, although
! held the fellows words in fair be-
lief: did not spare my doubts, by reason
or his vlllainous appearance and shifty
eye, and was no less inclined to credit
him for the glibness of his tale. More
over l fell to inward laughing ut the
simplicity of his audience, who stood
about with their mouths $$agape swallow
ing the tale as t'were their small beer,
and breaking in with a reverential ''ohv'
"ah!' marry now" as though the ped
dler were no less than Prince Rupert.
Cooke was such an old shrew thar /
was not loathe to behold him so gulled,
and fell to much laughter when the ped
dler was borne off to revel in the Kitchen
tower. Strangers were not readily adj
mitted to Raglan in those days, nor per
chance would this one have been, had
my Lord Charles, or my Lord of Worces-
ter Ter himself, been stirring to see him pass.
But earlier that day dispatches had been
brought in haste to the marquis; he had
at dinner shown much preoccupation of
cOuntenance, and was even now closely
comforting with my Lord Charles and
Dr. Bailey, so that twas no great won
der he was not about to behold the ped
dlers triumph
l was deeper than ever in the dumns.
and was returning slothfully to my dis
tasteful pastime when Moyle, my lords
usher, called to me that 1 was looked
Tor instantly in the closet. So thither I
turned my steps, glad of any occupation,
and tapped respectfully upon the panel.
Twas my lord himself babe me enter,
and the instant l closed the door behind
me felt a plucking ut my heart that
told me that this was no trivial errand;
that here lay my chance to make or mar
my fortunes. For my lords voice rang
deeper than with it's accustomed garrul-
GUS pipe of age, his brow was deeply
ploughed with thought, and when he
1 IKE me with his eyes twas with a
dreadful, probing gaze, as 'twere to chal-
lenge my fidelity, very different from his
usual habit of TESTING tolerance.
Mine honOred master, then gray in
years. was man of girth and great
bulk, much enfeebled by his infrmities,
50 that he rarely stood or walked about,
put sat continually in a great chair by
sat over against him, and made a suuint
at me to express reinsurance, for my
lords sternness Of visage had cast me
INTO hurried self-catechism ais to my
misdoings.
My lord began without preliminary,
hearkenlng at once to the core of the
Roger Selby," he said, folding before
him one withered hand. "Dr. Bailey
mere has given me such hopes of you,
that l have, on his advice. chosen YOU
from those of my household, for an es-
This preface SO gladdened and amazed
me that l could make him no adequate
answer beyond bowling and murmuring
my fidelity.
You are, | know, a hardy and active
youth" proceeded my lord, in the same
deepened voice. II have the assurance
of DIR. Bailey that you are faithful and
brave. That you are discreet I have
voucher y9 r. by your bearing in my house
aold. This is, above all, an opportunity
for your discretion and dispatch. If
you are content to do my bidding with
swiftness and exactitude, asking no
questions, seeking to know no more
than what is under your nose-and keep
ing close tongue in your mouth after
wards, now is your chance equally to
serve r.. M. me, your king and country"
ply: In this matter L shall move as
your lordship's hand-will you tell me
your lordship's desire?''
"You make no protestations," he
said, knitting his brows at me.
"There is no need, my lord. They
will but make my weakness apparent
should I fail your lordship, and they
'"rhen to work. pursued my lord.
in kindlier tones, as one not ill-pleased
with my reply; "hearken to me. lad
This night upon IL Of the clock I
receive q visitor, of whose coming no:
soul in Raglan must be cognizant save
Our three SELVES. IL VIII De your task
to conduct this person to me. You know
the hill beyond Raglan. village, where
the thorn hedge grows?'' -
signified assent. 49,. ~:
- "Good.' Ny lords voice grew sharp
and commanding. 'Leave Raglan when
10 o'clock has sounded, by the secret
passage in the Yellow tower. Your de-
parture must of course be swift, and
unchallenged by friend or foe Bear
a lantern with you, but take heed you
set it not alight till you are well under
the brow of the hill beyond Raglan
walls. There walt by the roadside till
you are accosted by a mounted cavalier,
to whom You shall address the words:
Whose horse ride your If he reply
The Kings, 'tise well; take you the
bride reins and slead him instanter to
the door of the pAssage, where he will
dismount Thence lead him straight
way here to me. You can use a
sword?'' I zsss.
On occasion, yes, 4 my lord, Z re-
piled, gaining mere assurance, and DR..
Bailey interposed, lauding my swords
manship with such praise rs, minding
me Of many q bygone trick on the good
man, my checks Redeemed to hear.
Then remember that on this occasion.