The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-17
THE MOOR'S HEAD.


Courses are nonsensical at all times,
Thorndyke, and to talk OF them descend
ing from generation to generation--bahl
And the speaker Tipped the ashes from his
cigar and ourled his lip scornfully.
The younger man changed his easy posi-.
ton and smiled.
"Of course" said he, Except In this
single case. But because 1t is in my own
single family and because ! have the writ
ten record Of it-not relying upon old
woman tales, as you express 1t, I'm
afraid do rather put faith in that wretch
ed curse much, as l would like not to-"
Then say you are an ass. Any man
would be an ass to believe such lot of
pure
Tommy rot?" suggested Thorndyke
THAT Is what you'd like to say if you
were not SO elegant, know. So I'll say 1t
for you. Yes, 1t looks very much like
that, know, but there's no help for i'll
do believe in this particular curse, as I said
and no amount of ridicule can change it
I've tried to change my mind, but-,well,
perhaps l haven't such small change with
me- And he smiled again at the little
pleasantly
Carwin picked up the sword which lay
upon the table, and which had brought up
the whole subject, and looked at it curious
ly. 1t was heavy old weapon, with jew
eled handle and guard, and, though the
blade was rusty and nioked now, one could
see 1t had been used in more than one dead
ly conflict and had seen hard service and
years of use In the dim past 1t had be-
longed to very ancient ancestor of Thorn
dyke and had been handed down to him
with the few other family relics that his
father had managed to collect the last time
he had been abroad Beside the sword lay
yellow old paper, from which Thorndyke
had been reading when Carwin, his best
friend, dropped in for the evening,
"Then what gather from your nara.
tive" said tho latter after turning the
weapon about in his hands few moments,
sis that this is the very sword that did the
deed, Am right"
You are
And the story is that away back In
the dark ages, before people found that
killing every man who crossed you was
not the shortest way to heaven, one of your
respected forefathers'' - nodding to the
row Of dim old portraits which ran around
the co2y room above the bookshelves--
"Owned this sword and was knight
When the crusades got to BIO the fashion,
he was seized with desire to wear cross
upon his shoulder, and also cross his feet
when he was buried and girding this self
same weapon about him he gat himself
unto the wars, and, whooping 1t up as it
were, raced off like the rest OF humanity to
fight with the Saracens and have good
time generally. And as he had a daughter
IA young and pretty daughter-whom he
could not take along with the rest of his
impedimenta, he left her at home. How
do come onPh
Finely. Proceed" said Thorndyke,
twirling the sword about his head and
showing himself no mean fencer as he did
so.
Before leaving, this charmingly dull
witted NATURALIZATION me for calling
him names, Thorndyke, but he was
ohump--called all the servants up and
made them a speech, in which he told them
OF the great things he intended to do while
away and instructed them to be good boys
and girls and mind their mistress slight
est wish or prepare to hunt for other places
when lie returned from his little jaunt
Then he turned the keys over to her and
left.
when he got to the wars, he did somo
big fighting and distinguished himself, as
you, IhOrrdykc, have faculty Of doing,
and though he did not write home every
week, as you do, he picked up II young
Moor and shipped him back with lettors
and household expenses for the castle.
The Moor was u slave, of course, but
handsome follow---quiot grave and intclli-
gent--ald lie made great impression on
every one connected with the castle, the
mistress included. He got there about
Christmas timo and settled down as if he
had intended coming all his life but only
just found the opportunity. For awhile
the other servants liked him, but as soon
as they found that he was fast becoming
a favorite with the daughter of tho house,
their mistress, they yeercd round and took
to despising him in good old English fash
ion, and proceeded to make things as hot
for his Moor5hip as possible Naturally
enough this had the effect of making the
mistress like him all the more--no, did
not say all the Moor-aId to show them
she was the head Of the house she took
the Moor rs her constant attendant. He
waited upon her everywhere, excepting
in her boudUir, and was with her con.
stanty whenever she drove or walked
about the grounds Of that palatial pile
The Moor, being with her so much,
very naturally, too, foil In love with her,
and as girls then were no more proof
against the wi!cs of foreigners than they
are in this matter of fact century, she sue.
cumbcd to his dusky charms, and ono
morning bright and carly they slipped
across the green lawn and into the little
chapel in the edge of the woods, where, by
alternately brOwbcating and CajOling tho
deaf and blind parson, they were married.
Am J not interesting, old manfn
Very" said Ihorndykc, laughing at
his friend frank manner. There is add.
cd charm to the tale when It's ted by
you"
Thank you. Well, they were good
aud married, and all went woll'-
"until u year had passed." pat in
IhOrudykc.
Until year had passed. Then little
one was bOrn-a tiny, light skinned Moor,
with blue eyes like its mother and other
features copied in miniature from its proud
father OF course there was a great stir
when tic youugster camo, and the truth
Il Il nnn