The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1898-12-15


ard Robin vas laid opoo IL sith bis hes'
a on . pile Of rashes sad be body covere'
9 9th tbs skiss OF solvss. Tor bis Dsturs
. beat hsd gone. spd even 10 the day. vbsl
J the snu vS u,rn. be stisered. Ans
every one Of tis men vent 9th him. For
BY ressoa Of the sciivity OF the nss sheriff
Q the danger Of the ioornsy VS. great. and
II vas nstdiul to hsve scouts oct iir ahead
TO Be sure iaai al was ciesr.
Even 20, aud though tsey iourneysd
Q oply by risbt. not oucs or twice wss
the alarm siyeo. and only BY . long d.
totr aid the band get through 10 safety
Aud when they drew near I, the priory oi
kitklees II vas sgreed that Little John
aud the Fnsr llOne should bear the litter
to the gate.
He would have strength enough him
cell 10 enter the presence Of the prioress
But lest he shouli bs recognized and
some harm should beisll him, be carried
bis horn hidden under bis CLOAK. One
blast upon II would bring the whole OF
his men unto his succor.
The prioress' lodge d Kirkisss vas not
one with the building that surrounded the
cloister court II stood apart on the right
hand eide, having . walled garden.
Aud there in the best Of the day the
prioress walked, holding an Illuminated
book in her hands. She vent slowly up
and down the straight gravel wslk under
the trees, The hsnds that held the book
we're white and very thin; the face still
kept somewhat OF its old besu.y, but
chsnged. There had been long ssrug
sle and the enemy was vsnquishsd, but be
was not dead and might YET arise again.
As she walked there one Of her msidens
brough. her word that . Traveller, sore
spent. bad been brought 10 the porter's
lodge and from thence had been carried
into the guest hall. and he begged the
prioress would 60 to him and work cure
upon him that bis strength might return
and he might 60 on his way.
Even as she entered the suest hall she
knew who II was that lay there, and yet
not by one sign did she betrsy that she
knew it.
Robin lay with closed eyes and breath
ing heavily. He was conscious vaguely Of
woman's voices speaking near him. Then
bis position WAS ohsoged somewh
Through eyes that slowly opened be saw
The CLINT Of sunlight fall on polished
brass and on snowy napkin. Hs felt
that some one was rolling back the loose
sleeve Of bis tunio. Then be caught the
sound Of iootsteps passing svsy 10 the
distance. There wss deep silence, and :
wben he opened bis eyes eli hsd gone :
iave the priorsss, who looked d him
ntently.
DO you know mel she said.
Aye, said Robin issbIy. l pray you 10 Il
'pen my vein and lot blood sEst ! may 70
'over me from the sudden weakness which
las fallen upon me. b
Shc bent down beside him spd said no 81
vord. He ielt the sharp prick 10 the e
lesb Of his bare arm, sad then IL seemed
o him that be fell into delightful slesp. d
His sleep was full Of the hspriest
resms. melting vaguely into one smother.
md they we're oil dreams Of things that
'ere past and over, % though the sleep m
ng brain knew unconsciously thst after n
'ard there would be nothing. q,
Msid Msrian 'tood by him, young and OF
esutiiul, in the days Of her wilIful youth. N
nd whatsoever she bsde him do for hor h,
Q did. though be knew that 1t Was to bis a,
nin and undoing.
He rode bis great white horse through h,
,e forest on . very bright and sunny
ornIng. All the birds we're singing bs
'gether and feeling Of we'll being Was N
eep in his hesrt nj
His men we're beside bin talking and
ushing loudly Suddenly ont from an
Ielr am bush sprng the sher,fl's men. and an
obin aud bis meo fell upon them. That, an
%. passed. vi
And pow 1t ives = clesr moonlight pighi, ali
ID Maid Marian stood BY the ruined Of
iapel and looked at him wistfully with az
st gentleness 10 her eyes which csms 10
II when st last che loved. vt
And now, sgsin by night. be swan the ~
I'D waters Of the most ct the Baron De ma
roileo's castle. snd the bsrons srchers il
ot sisr or vide Of him. "a.
Now be was with the kings army. The ,
onght had come to him that since Maid yer
srisn was dead nsughs else mattered, ios
d he swore and rsved end drank and us,
snt forth on some errsnd that vas bs,
ought to mean certain de,th. and re 90,
rned from it unscsthed.
And lastly be vas back sgsin Ia the po
ret, aud down the moonlit road came ! I
9 torches with the funeral procession. psI
Is lips moved even 10 the swoon 10 which |
lay. Fo
A bad omer, be whispered. are
But in oil taese cb.nsiOg dreams there car
's one that never appeared 10 him the BY,
man Of whom be bad thought 90 little, Dirt
10 nov, with WITH white face end set nv
.tt, ben, By bis tide IS he lay there no I
pscious. no,
=. sot
After tbs dresms there seemed 10 follow thil
ong wtye o' dsrkneg, snd when this I
passed aud be hsd opened bis eyes hs the
ew thst be Eas diving. bet