The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-15
CHAPTER J..
III T OF IRON.

THE ALTAR OF IRON.
And now, what Of Master Laurence. lately
clerk in the abbey OF DuIce Cor. presently in
GILES de Laval de Retz, Marshal and Chamber,
Laurence had been a month at Machecoul
and had not YET worn out his welcome. At the
was, summing himself with certain young
clerks, and choristers Of the Marshal,s PRIV
f HehTiet q a S%e ne!f 1 undsf the arfheg 81 t'f tie
pretty cl9isters. in the shady aisles Of which
the youths were seated. Henriet regarded
special approval upon the blond curIs and
pink cheeks, OF the young Scottish lad
one great central square tower and many
walls iinclosed gardens and pleasaunces. and
full chapel which had been recently finished
hy that good Catholic and reliGionary the Mar
AS yet Laurence had been able to learn moth
ing OF the maids. not even whether they were
whore: At the first mention OF maidens being
brought from Scotland, TO the castle or seen
company Of, priests and singers in the Mar
shal's chapel. 1t was the same when Laurence
spokelprivately to any OF hisnew acquaintances
No matter how brskly the con We rsatiOD had
been prospering hitherto. IL at holy mass, or
iovial supper board. Laurence 50 much as
next his heart. an Instant blight passed over
the gayety Of his companions. Fear momen-
or more often not at all.
TIE shadow Of the Lord of Machecoul lay
Clerk ,Henriet. stood a while Watching the
lads and listening to their talk behind the
tracery OF buds and flowers through which the
natural roses pushed their way and over
which the clematis tangled its twining stems.
Stand up and prove on my body that | am
a rank Irelander." Laurence was saving de-
a tls9t Il, e be ths t TGtIs az bh Large. vi. Nth c BIZ fst5 up
but / will take the lot of you with one hand
we all to a new and unkenned tune"
" 'Tis easy for YOU TO boast. Irelander;" re-
master. who had been brought specially from
Rome to teach the choir boys OF the Marshals
chap.l the latest fashions in holy song We
,ivilized., And that Indeed proves that you are
dog Of unkniehtly birth. - ~
This, rerort, sin further irritated the hot
ne "i viii 1'G fis q n Soa or any galley slave OF a
French frog with the sword or spit you upon
the rapier. | will cIeaye you with the axe.
pit with the devils sulphur. will fGht any Of
YOU or all Of you with any, WEAPONS from, a
the better man. And there You. have Lau.
renee O'Halloran az YOUR service"
newcomer" said Heurict, the confidential
CLERK, Of the Marshal, suddenly appearing in
800 " HNAAAAh HAHA 'H'
see IL you will fap your wings as boldly"
Laurence could Tot help noticing the blank
alarm which this announcement caused among
the youth with whom he had been pla'ing the
ancient game u hrag.
II was Blaist Renouf who arst recovered.
He looked across the little rose grown SPACE
Of the cloister 20 sec thar Hsnriet had turned
mis- back. and then came quickly up 70 LaG-
renee Nachim.
Listen to me" he saiL YOU are a game
lad enough, but you do not know where you
are going nor yet what may happen to you
there. We will fight you IL you come back
safe, but meantime YOU are ono Of ourselves
and We OF the choir have sworn to stand nv
one another. Can you keen a pea in your
mouth without swallowing ttlr.
WHY. u course can" said Laurence, won
dering what was 10 come NEXT II can kesna
dozen and shoot thsm through a more OF alder
tree at a Kenny without missing once, which
| wOt Is more than any Frenchman eyer"--
We'll. them WHISPERED the lad .Renuut.
breaking. in on his boast with a white counte-
nance, 'heRrken well 10 ME. When YOU en-
ter the chamber q the Marshal, out tnis in
your mouth, And IL nothing hapnens keep it
there, bur be careful neither 70 swallow il nor
vet 70 bite upon II. But IL u should chance
that either Henriet ~ Poitod or GILES de Siile
seizes hold OF your arms. bite hard upon the
pellet till you feel a bitter taste and then swal-
low. That is all. You are indeed a cock whose