The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1901-10-18

Without more ado ! stole down the
stair and stood ready in the shadows
Of the grea, hill. Yet l hung back,
to assume too much. a de-
spised guest, tolerated only because
of my errand and my wound, ! could
not be sur that my assistance was well
come till violence itself should force
me to the front.
Presently the door was iimidly
opened by old Parker. the serving
man. who alone of all the men serv-
ants had remained faithful. In swag-
gered the burly ruifan till he stood
in the center Of the great hall.
Bring hither thy mistress, thou
old dolt, and in haste; bid her delay
not an instant, Or she will fare but
the worse" stormed the brute. With
that he sent one Of his v%arlcts to the
kitchens to lay hands on what he
could and another TO the stables.
Then down the broad stairway
came Lady Fairfax and Mistress Della
Fairfax. calm and stately and proud,
the frightened maids above peering
over the balusters. Not so much as a
look did they cast on me in passing.
'Send your maids to gather up
your Jewels and plate in hot haste
and have them brought here TO me-
cried the rufion. mo words: will
not listen. Haste thee. lest worse be-
fall; thou art helpless"
AT that ! could wait no longer for
the rage that possessed me. lstepped
forward with what GOODNESS i could
muster, and thus | spoke:
"Thou art q liar. Us ever, Sir John
Ballington. These ladies are for the
present in my care. But for their
presence thou shouldst taste steel; get
thee gone. and that speedily"
The cowardly scoundrel, taken by
surprise. whitened aud cringed as
advanced, cunningly made as II to
retreat to the door and then in an
instant turned and thrust at my heart,
shouting to his man to lay on. But
| was ready. and, turning aside his
steel. | eyadod his rush and struck
down the %yarlet, giving him the steel
deep enough in the shoulder TO keel
him quiet for many a day. AT hi
masters shout in came the other Eel
low from the kitchens. sword in hand
Just az Sir John rushed again TO thu
attack with the feroci,y OF a INA,
beast. shouting vile oaths and endeay
oring TO heat down my guard with
whirlwind Of blows. Doubtless h
thought ipe some country yokcl whit
could not stand an %knsiant befor
him. one OF the hest swords in eithe
army. AZ for me. a fierce joy possesse'
me: | could have shouted for yer,
happiness was fighting for my Low
and under her eye. Yet two to one !
no child. play, and with my back I
, the wall fenced for u moment waril
till | saw my chance. Then, spring
ing out like lightning, ! got in dee
on the varlet's sword arm 30 that h
/, set up a howl aud made for the doc
! Then ! turned TO the master, ant
driving him to the center Of the hal
, thus ] spoke:
4, Nov. Sir John Darlington, thin
= hour Of rctribution hath come. Tho
de,er,est well to die; but for the pre-.
ence this hour were Thy last. An
first. for the shame thou hast done ii
army of the parliament take tho
that, 30 all men may know thee fortl
villain thou art!' So saying, | Ct
4, his left ear clean from his head. "ft
a., the insult to these gentle ladies-th
is thy punishment And with thi
: / sprang and caught hi, blade vii
: mine and sent hissteelwhirling aero
: the great hall. Well knew III.
I. death itself were not so bitter.
'" "Now, thou coward, thou disho'
) ored gentleman, thou beast in humi
, form, down on thy knees and ask pa
- don of those thou wouldst ha'
y wronged; aye. beg thou for life itse.
{ else thou diest."
y, Down went Sir John Ballington
y his knees and abiectly did he pray (
|" pardon and for life. In the end
&c bound him with his own sword b.
:, and drove him before me from t
= hall. But at the door he turned
y livid face. in which ragged all the pi
sions Of the damned, and spoke:
's "Most worshipful ladies and 10y
J., 10 your king, know ye the crop-ear
y spy We shelter? | know him by !
rouco for none other in all tnpla.