The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-02-08

have neither the strength of limb to
walk thither nor to sit my horse. If
you loved me. you would take Of the
nightshade in the forest and mix me
draught which should end all this.
"pThat would /, and speedily - said
the Friar, ''if the hand of death were
indeed upon you, but it is not So. Hap
PLY, in the letting of blood alone
would you find relief, and were l a
surgeon we would make trial of it.
Say, Little John, are we already so
sunken and enfeebled that We cannot
bear our master to the priOry of Kirk
lees in order that he may march back
again with his arrows in his belt and
ourselves behind him, as in the old
times?n
at shall be done" salG Little John.
And Robin, lying with his eyes closed,
said no word for or against.
So that night litter was made ready
aud Robin was laid upon it, with his
head on pile of rushes and his body
covered with the skins of wolves, for
his natural heat had gone, and even in
the day, when the sun was warm, he
shivered. And every one of bis men
went with him. For, by reason Of the
activity Of the new sheriff, the danger
of the journey was great, aud it was
needful to have scouts out far ahead to
ha snre that all xvas clear
Even so, and though they journeyed
only by night, not once or twice was
the alarm given, and only by long
detour did the band get through 10
safety. And when they drew near to
the priory Of Kirklees it was agreed
that Little John and the Friar alone
should bear the litter TO the gate.
he would have strength enough him
self 10 enter the presence Of the prior
ess. But lest he should be recognized
and some harm should befall him, he
carried his horn hidden under his
cloak One blast upon 1t would bring
the whole Of his men to his succor.
The prioress' lodge at Kirklees was
not one OF the buildings that surround
ed the cloister court 1t 5tood apart on
the right hand side. having walled
garden.
Aud there in the heat Of the day the
prioress walked. holding an illumi-
mated book in her hands. She went
slowly up ani down the straight gravel
walk under the trees. The hands that
held the book were white and very
thin; the face still kept somewhat Of
its old beauty, but changed. There
had been a long struggle aud the enc
my was vaDguished. but he was not
dead and might yet arise again.
As she walked there one Of her
maidens brought her word that a
traveller, sore spent, had been brought
TO the porter's lodge and from thence
had been carried into the guest hall,
aud he begged the priOress would 20 to
him and work cure spon him. that
his strength might return and he
might go on his way.
Even Is she entered the guest hall
she knew who it was that lay there,
and yet not by one sign did she betray
that she knew it.
Robin lay with closed eyes and was
breathing heavily. He was conscious
vaguely of women's voices speaking
near him. Then his position was
changed somewhat. Through eyes
that slowly opened he saw the CLINT Of
sunlight fall on polished brass and on
snowy napkin. He felt that some
one was rolling back the loose sleeve
Of his tunic. Then he caught the
sound Of footsteps passing away in the
distance. There was deep silence,
and when he opened his eyes all had
gone save the prioress, who looked at
him intentIy.
'Do you know me?'; she said.
AYE" said Robin feebly. II pray
you TO open my vein and lst blood that
may recover me from the sudden
weakness which has fallen upon me-"
She bent down be ide him and said
no word. He felt the sharp prick IN
the flesh of his barred arm, aud then It
seemed TO him that he fell into de-
lightful sleep.
His sleep was full Of the happiest
dreams, melting vaguely into one
another. Aud they were all dreams Of
things that were past and over, as
th h)ugh the sleeping braiu knew un-
consciously that afterward there would
be nothing.
Maid Marian stood by him, young
and beautiful, ia the days Of h-r will
ful youth, and whatsoever she bade
him do for her be did, though he
knew that il was to his ruin aud IN
doing.
He rode his great white horse through
the forest on a very bright aRd sunny
morning. All the birds were singing
together and feeling of wellbeing was
deep in his heart.
His men were beside him, talking
and laughing loudly. Suddenly, out
from their ambush sprane the sheriff
men, and Robin and his band fell up
on them. That, too, passed.
And nov it was clear moonlight
night, and Maid Marian stood by the
ruined ehspel and looked at him visit
fully with that gentleness in her eyes
which came to her when st last she
loved
And now again, by night, he swan
the cold waters Of the moat at the
Baron de Trsiley's castle, and the bar
on's arehers shot afar or wide Of him.
Now he was with the kings army.
The thought had come TO him that since
Maid Marian was dead naught else mat
tered, and he swore aud rayed and
drank and went forth on some erraud
that was thought to mean certain death,
and returned from il unscathed-
And, lastly, he was back again IN the
forest, and down the moonlit road came
the torches with the funeral procession.
His lips moved even in the swOon in
which he lay.
"a bad omen, he whispered.
But in all these changing dreams
there was cne that never appeared TO