Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-20
CHAPTER /.

sOunties of Warwick and Worcester th FRO
Is a road very famous in those parts and
called tho Ridgeway. Father Carey used
to sny-and no better Lntinist could be
found for q score of miles round IN tho
times of which write-that it was made
by the Romans. It runs north and south
along tho narrow spine of tho country,
which is spread out on either side like map
or picture. AS you faro southwark you
sec on your right hand the green orchards
and pastures of Worcestershire stretching
as far us the Malvern hills. You have in
front of you Rredon hill, which Is won
derful hill, for II . man goes down the
Avon by boat 1T goes with him, now be-
fore and now behind, whole days jour.
ney, and then stands in the snme place.
And on the left hand you have the great
forest of Arden and not much besides, ex-
cept oak trees, which grow well in War
Ewickshire.
Ilescribc this road, firstly, because It 10
notable one and 40 years ago was the
only Queen IS highway, to call highway,
In that country. The rest were mere horse
tracks Secondly, because the chase wall
OF Cotton End runs along the side Of 1t for
two good miles, and tho Cluddes-I am
Francis Cludde-h nve lived ut Cotton End
by the Ridgoway time out of mind, prob
ably-for tho nnme smacks OF the soil
before the Romans made the road. And,
thirdly, because 40 years ago, on driz-
cling February day in 1555-second year
Of Mary, old religion just re-cstablished-
q number OF people were collected on this
road, forming group OF score or more,
who stood in an ordered kind of disorder
about my uncle's gates and looked all one
why, as II expecting an arrival, and an ar
rival of consequences.
First, there was my uncle Sir Anthony,
tall and lean. He wore his best block vel
vet donblet and cloak and had put them
on with an air Of huge Importance. This
increased each time ho turned, stuff in
hand, and surveyed his following, and as
regularly gave place to q Fshawl" Of
vexAtion and petulant glance when his eye
rested on me Close beside him, looking
Important, too, but anxious and . little
frightened as well, stood good Father
Carey. The priest wore his silk cassock,
and his lips moved from time to time
without sound, MS though he were trying
over q Latin Grafton, which indeed was
tho fact. Att moro respectful distance
were ranged Baldwin Moor, the steward,
and dozen servants, wbilc still farther
away loungcd Us many ragmuff1ns-land-
less mon. who swnrmed about every gem
tleman's door In those times and took toll
Of such abbey lands as the king might
have given him. Against QUO Of the stone
gate pillars leaned myself, 10 years and
8 months old, and mono too wise, though
well grown and as strong as ono hero and
there. And perched on tho top OF the
twin post, With his chin on his knecs and
his hands clnspcd about them. was Mar
tin Luther, the fool. So
Martin had chosen this elevated position
partly out Of curiosity and partly perhaps
under q strong sense OF duty. He knew
thnt, whether he would or no, he must
needs look funny up there. His nose was
red, and his eyes were running and his
teeth cliattering, and he did look funny.
But as he felt the cold most his patience
failed first Tho steady, silent drizzle, the
mist creeping about the the stems OF the
oak trees, the leaden sky, proved too much
for him In the end. |" A watched pot never
iboilsr' he grnmbled.
"Silence, sirralil' commanded my uncle
angrily. "This'is no timo for your fool
ing. Have care how you talk In the
Same breath of pots and my lord bishop. :"
..Sancte ecclcsiR," Father Carey broke
out, turning up his eyes in kind OF &C.
stasy, as though he were knee to knee with
the prelntc.sto defensorem inclytum
atqre nrdentem -
: Pottun!o cried ], laughing loudly at
my own wit.
twas an Ill hammered word, but was
cold and peevish. had been forced to
this function against my will. had never
seen tho guest whom we werc expecting,
and who WINS no other than the queens
chancellor Stephen Gardiner, hut dis
liked him as II had. In truth, he was
related to us in peculiar fashion, which
my uncle and naturally looked at from
different standpoints
Sir Anthony viewed with completeness,
II not with pride, any connection with the
powerful bishop of Winchester, for the
knight know the world and could appre-
ciata the ynluc it sets on success and tho
blind eyes it has for spots il they do but
speckle the risen sun. could make no
such allowance, but, with the pride Of
youth and family, at once despised the
great bishop for his base blood and blush
ed that the shame lay on our side. hated
this parade of doing honor to him and
would fain have hidden at. home with Pc.
tronilla, my cousin, Sir Anthony g daugh-
tor, and awaited our guest there. The
knight, however, had not permitted this,
aud 1 had been forced out, being In the
worst of hEmors.
So said :. PottumI' and laughed.
.sSilence, boy!n cried Sir Anthony
flercely. He loved an orderly procession
and toarrange things deoently. fSilence!W
he repeated, darling an angry glance first
at me and then at his followers, or Twill
warm that jacket of yours, ladl And you,
Martin Luther, see to your tongue for tho
next "a hours aud keep 1t off my lord
bishop! And, Father Carey, hold yourself
ready
s.For here Sir Hot Pot comethl' cried
the undaunted Martin, skipping nimbly
down from his post of vintage, and q
dozen OF London saucepans with him,
or mny never lick the inside Of one
again!"
"A jest on tho sauciness of London serv-
ing men was sure to tell with the crowd.
and there was q great laugh at this, espe-
oially among the landless men, who were
on the skirts of the party and we'll shell
tered from Sir Anthony's eye. He glared
about him, provoked to find ut this critic
al moment smiles here there should have
been looks of Difference, and q ring round
a fool where he had marshuled n process
sion. Unluckily he chose to visit his dis
pleasure upon me. You won't behave,
won't you, you puppy!" he cried You
won t, won't you!'i and stepping forward
would have mndo me rub myself II 1t had