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

The new sheriff was u younger and
more vigorous man, and Robin Hood
preferred foe of courage and resource.
To outwit the old dotard who had re-
Gently died had ever been sufficiently
easy. The newcomer was more worthy
of his steel.
Many a time and oft Robin and his
men Were only saved by their knowl-
edge of the Sherwood caves; none
other held that secret. Indeed, the
fear of these secret caves was wide
spread throughout the neighborhood,
and many an old wife's story told of
the sure and horrible death that await
ed any man who entered them without
having clue.
Gradually, as time wore on, those OF
the old band who Were still left rallied
about their leader In spite OF the
sheriff their numbers Increased, and
from their marauding expeditions they
seldom came back empty-handed.
Children in Nottingham said that
when they grew up they also would
live in the forest like Robin Hood, and
eat Of the kings venison and be served
with cups and plates Of GOLD and have
many to follow them.
But Robin had not forgotten the III
omen. Outwardly his mirth was as
boisterous as ever. He played rough
jests with his own men OF with travel
ers who fell into his hands. II was
not enough that he should take their
treasure be must also send them on
their way in some ridiculous and fan
tsstic attire or position, even as, many
years before, he had sent the old sheriff
back into Nottingham with his hands
and feet tied and his face to his horses
tail.
His presence Of mind in the moment
of peril was as great as it had ever
been. One never found him al loss,
nor did ne seem to be thinking of any
thing beyond the present moment
Yet if by chance any spoke 10 him OF
what he should do in years to come,
his answer was always:
"There are no years to come This
year ends all
Almost unconseiously his two most
able and faithful followers-Little John
and the Friar-came to have the same
mind on this matter. They had no
doubt that the end would come, but
only Of the manner of its coming.
They knew now that they went in
greater peril than ever before, and
| their terror was lest Robin should be
taken by the sheriff Had they spoken
TO him of il he might have laughed at
their fears. Every night and day he
kept his dagger by his side, and his
mind was fixed that he would never be
taken alive. AS il was, every morning
they asked themselves, "Will it be to-
day ?" and every night that they slept
in the open, shall we be taken while
We sleep?p
The autumn came, and already the
trees Of the forest were changing color.
Now and again a party of young no
bles would come down to the river
with hawk on fist. Sometimes in the
early morning the horn would sound
the prize, but ere forester or keeper
could reach the spot the fat buck had
been borne away. The berries were
ripening on the brambles and wood
was being gathered against the coming
winter.
A rich knight, bearing great treasure
in his train, passed through the forest
unseathed-sye, even without sight Of
Robin and his men. Others followed,
aud were also left unmolested. 1t
would, indeed, have been said that
Robin, as was his wont at times, had
left Sherwood and was hunting else
where bat for the shriIl call Of the horn
in the early morning and for the miss
ing deer.
1t was as though 50 long as they
could wrest q scsnt livelihood from the
vert and venison Of the forest they
were content to give up their war on
men.
And this was because Robin lay sick
10 the caves, every day saying. TO
tnorr0w it will be well with me and We
will take the road again, and some
travelling prelste shall pay for his
sins.n And when the morrow came,
always bis weakness returned 1t was
as if the life died slowly out OF him, as
the flame dies slowly in the lamp when
the oil is nearly finished. The Friar
had used such skill in herbs as he had,
but 10 10 purpose. One day he said to
Robin:
Have you heard aught of the prior
ess Of Kirklees-she that was daughter
Of the old sherifT'
MANY years ago." said Robin, half
dreamily, "she came to the forest by
night. She would have the feather Of
the golden eagle that wore in my cap
-doubtiess a wager, and one that 1
was willing enough that she should
win. She was slip Of girl then.
and, to my thinking, rocked little for
the religious life. But with women
he broke of, gasping for breath. and
then resumed with fury:
"a curse upon me that ] can neither
live nor die, and lie thus betwixt and
between. What Of the prioress? How
should she harm me OF help me?"
"Her fame is great in these parts, y
said the E'riar, ''and daily grows great
er. In surgery and physics she has
such knowledge As God seldom gives
to man. The lame so there and cast
sway their crutcbes, aud the blind see,
and the old become young again.
There is not house in Nottingham or
Mansfield where they shall not tell
-. .,,,r..., -~roaf sfofr of the ronfls.rs