The record-union., 1897-04-26

privily after the service, but he was
| gone. 'Tis almost as though he did
| avoid US of set purpose. Perchance
| he may have took offense at Dorothy S
| words of that night But l have said
nought of this to her, nor knoweth she
that l did chance to hear them.
| We We're vending US homeWards
slowly Gor my lameness) when we
heard the sound of horsemen riding
| towards US, and anon two mounted
gallants came to view. We had with
drawn into a grassy nook at one side
| of the road to give them the freer pas
| sage by duck-pond on the other, when
they did check their horses, and much
| to my disGuiet l did perceive that they
purposed some rudeness. F'or the
| times be unruly from the license of
! the court, which setteth a pestilent ex-
ample. This I say that be a loyal
Kings man to the core, and ever have
been.) They We're both bravely
dressed young bloods, and did ride very
good cattle.
How now, Father Winter?" quoth
one; 'how comest thou in company of
| Spring."
Mount up hither fair maiden quoth
the other, "and ride with us. Twill
| be the merrier.''
"Gentlen en- said I earnestly, ''will
| it please YOU go your way and let US
| take ours?'
Softly, sir" cries the elder and more
| evil looking of the two Ito my mind),
Il would fain first taste that lady's lips.
| For, Cad, sir, they tempt a man devil
| ishly''
| And he dismounted, and tossing his
| bride to his friend came towards US.
| My daughter screamed, and l did put
myself in front of her with sore mis-
| giving, for he was a strong man and
taller than l. But just as he was lay
| ing his hand on my cloak l did hear
Dorothy say very softly, THANK God!'
and who should step out of gap in
the hedge behind us but Sir Ralph
Brant. In two strides he had got one
hand on the collar and the other on
the belt of him who was molesting US,
and had swung him off his feet into the
deepest part of the duck-pond. The
other gallant waited not to see more,
but spurred away like the wind, taking
his companions horse with him.
Sir Ralph took a pistol from his gir-
die and was for aiming at him, but Do
rothy put her hand on his arm. He
turned his head towards her, and / saw
a marvellous tender look soften the
stern face as their eyes did meet.
so be it," quoth he, lowering the
weapon. yet did he richly deserve it,
We're it but for deserting his friend
yonder."
And he pointed to .ne further side
of the pond, where our fine gentleman
was now crawling out, covered with
slime and duck weed, wigless, and his
gay feathers drenched and bedraggled
with the muddy water like wet game
| cock Twas a sight none of us could
forbear to laugh at, so sorry figure
did he cut.
We did leave the fellow to find him
his trusty friend, and so on to my
house, where / did persuade Sir Ralph
| to dine with US, and were right merry
over good but simple fare, to wit, boiled
chicken and CANNON of bacon, with
| bread and fruit; and our guest did
| much praise Dorothy's conseryes.
After dinner Sir Ralph and l sat on
a bench in the garden under fine
| spreading beech tree. Twas sweet
summer weather, and we had our wine
| on a small table Dorothy being seated
on low stool at my feet sewing.
| And l, knowing Sir Ralph to be a
| man better Travelled than most, did
draw from him some account of his
| journeyings. So he did fall to talk
of them-mighty good discourse, and