Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-12-14
Castletreo of the family. My heart rose

, The captain looked mp proudly. "Can
| earn our bread, my lord2 Is there
work for Inc to do2"
The baron, who was slightly the
elder Of the two, took his hand
"Therc is work, my friend, for a true
gentleman with true sword in the
hodse Of LISTENS. Will you swear to be
loyal to this family until this family
or some member of it is disloyal to
you ?"
81 swear it on my honor" said the
captain.
l slipped out and getting his surren-
dered sword from my room returned
and placed it in his hands.
Not this sword, - he said. 81 will
purchase u new one from the house of
lssteus. " And he broke the 1.-THE blade
across his knee and handed me back
the two pieces.
at was not the sword I used in the
service of my old king Neither will |
use it in the service of my new lord,
the Baron LISTENS" he said, smiling
sadly.
And thus the house Of listens was
increased, AID life seemed to be mer.
rier and more worth the trouble inside
the gray old walls.
The captain knew great deal about
farming and even more about weapons
and the drilling Of men, Soon all the
people on the estate including old Red
landing looked up to him with love
and respect, and some of them whis-
Il . l,..t L. -, 1.
OVID country.
/ Blithely like red petals blowing from
BUSH went the days through May
and June. The brigands lay close in
their mountain businesses, evidently
crushed by our brave defense, the
slaughter ut the gates and the hanging
Of the captives.
The peasants returned to their work,
the foIesters and keepers to the woods,
the plowmen and sewers to the fields
and the young grain was green over
the uplands. Captain Castletree was
everywhere. For three days he tramped
about in the forests with a squad Of
axnen marking the lumber to be cut
for building and where the undorhrush
wondered if he ever thought Of the
LISTENS fagot he had tried So heartily
to use over my head.
There was a second ditch 10 be run
through the swamp, and the captain
marked the best course for it. and even
helped at the blasting ont of rocks with
his own hands And yet finer and
prouder gentleman could not be found
IL WassmarE, where it il said the mo-
Lility cannot bend to pick mp their
gloves should they happen to fall.
1t did not take me many weeks g
discover that | was deeply in love with
Mistress Castletree Her other name
was Marion, which both Harry and
thought very pretty. My brother made
verses about it and read them to us on
tie south terrace. Sometimes my heart
achCd that |, too, could not write dane
ing rhymes 30 bring smiles TO her lips.
| looked at Harry through IA green light
and said all manner CT unpleasant thing,
to him, and for answer he would only
eye me and smile.
one day ] caught him by the shout
der-we were alone-and cried, "Dc
you love her, viscount?'
At first | thought he was about t.
say mol" but his face changed ant
he cried; "Fie, fie, my dear cadet
And what if ] doY'
eyes, poor cadet" I Kissed ooh
hut the cadet aas sword, and by al
the oeyils Il is not an easy one TO sc
beyond 80 With horror at my words
turned away. Quick as flash he wa
at NY shoulder.
Don't worry. old fire eater" h
said, laughing; there is some one il
Blatenhurg you know" And then h
broke off and began to sing. | rushe
) after him and craved pardon humhl
, for my hasty words, We went ont to
gathcr and found Marion on the soutI
terrace looking out across the vale.
with dreamtul eyes.
Harry had slip Of paper in hi
, hand.
Listen to Darts first poem, h
t said the while | stared at him speech
less
He read:
sweet of the golden hair
Here to your feet | bring
Sword and heart and hand.
Trucr than heart Of king.
, know that the sword is leak
, Zen till this life is done
Know that my heart is thine,
Sweetest Maid Marion"
Hero the viscount turned and fled