Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-09
PART III.

own, for she had quick and sensitive |
nature and passionate intelligence and
'Tather," she said, pantingly, "the
king would make thee an outlaw, would
seize upon thy estates, because thou
wouldst not pay the price of a paltry
knighthood!" Suddenly her face
flushed, the blood came back with q
rush, and she stood upon her feet. 81
would follow thee to the worlds end
rather than that thou shoultst pay one
penny for that honor. The king
offered thee knighthood? Why, two
hundred years before the king was
born, an Enderby was promised an
earldom. Why shouldst thou take q
llnighthood now? Thou didst right,
thou didst right" Her fingers clasped
in eager emphasis.
"Dost thou not see, my child" said he,
that any hour the kings troops may
surround our house and take me pris.
oner and separate thee from ME? see
but one thing to do; even to take thee
at once from here and place thee with
thy aunt, Mistress Fallsingham, in
Shrewsbury"
Father" the girl said, thou shalt
not put me away from thee. Let the
kings men surround Enderby House,
and the soldiers and my Lord Ripping.
dale levy upon the estates of Enderby,
Neither his majesty nor my Lord Rip
pingdale dare put finger upon me-
would tear their eyes Quit"
Endcrby smiled half sadly at her, and
hnswered:
"Thc fear of a woman is one of tho
worst fears in this world. Booh!"
SO ludicrously did he initiate her own
huInor drove away the flush of anger
from her face and she sat upon his
chair-arm and said:
but we will not part; we will stand
here till the king and Lord Rippingdale
do their worst, is it not SO, father?"
He patted her head caressingly.
Thou sayest right, my lass; we will
remain at Enderby. Where is thy
brother Garrett?"
"Ile has gone over to Mablethorpe,
but will return within the hour" she
replied.
At that moment there was q sound OF
hoofs in the courtyard. Running to
rear window of the library Mistress
Felicity clapped her hands and said:
ut is he--Garrett."
Ten minutes afterwards the young
man entered. He was about two years
older than his sister; that is, seventeen.
| lie was very tall for his age, with dark
hair and pale dry face, and of dis.
tnguished bearing. Unlike his father
he was slim and gracefully built, with
no breadth or power to his shoulders,
but an athletic suppleness, and refine
ment almost womanlike. He was
tenacious, overbearing, self-willed
somewhat silent, and also somewhat
bad tempered.
There was excitement in his eye as
| he entered. lie came straight to his
! father, giving only nod to Mistress
Felicity, who twisted her head in q
his important manner.
"Booh!-my lord duke!" she said al
most under her breath.
"Well, my son." said Enderby, giving
him his hand, "your face has none sc
cheerful a look. Hast thou no welcome
for thy father"
81 am glad that you are home again
SIR" said young Enderby, more dutiful.
ly than cordially.
There was silence for moment.
"Iou do not ask my news" said his
father, cycling him debatingly.
II have your news, sir" was the young
mans half sullen reply.
His sister came near her father, where
she could look har brother straight in
the face, and her deep blue eyes fixed
upon him intently. The smile almost
faded from her lips, and her square
chin seemed suddenly to take on an ali
Of seriousness and strength.
"Well, sir?" asked his father.
"That you, sir, have refused n knight
hood of the king, that he insists upol
your keeping it, that he is about to levy
upon your estates, and that you are out
lawed from England"
And what think you about the INIT
ter?' asked his father.
II think it is a gcntleman's duty tS
take the kings gifts without question,
answered the young man.
whether the king be just or not, eh
Where would England have been, my
son, if the barons had submitted to
King John? Where would the Ender
bys have been had they not withstooo
the purposes of Queen Mary? Come
come, the king has chance to prove
himself as John Enderby has proven
himself. Midst other news heard yol
not that last night led dozen gentle
men to the rescue of the king?"
"'Iwas said in the village that hi,
majesty would remove his interdic
and plake you baron, sir, If you me
his levy for the llnighthood."
"That | shall never do! Answer me
my son, do you stand with the king OF
with your father in thisP"
II am an Enderby," answered tn,
youth. modify, land stand with thu
head of our house."
That night as candles were beinl
lighted, three score of the kings men
headed by Lord Rippingdale, placed
themselves before the house, and III
officer was sent forward to summon
forth John Enderby.
Enterby had gathered his men to
gether, aud they were posted for de
Tense at the doorways and entrances
and along the battlements. The win
dows were all heavily shattered anl
| horred