Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-05
CHAPTER z.
One haunts in rags, one agtters IN brocade.
Dnr

One faunts in rags, f9tters IN brocade.
Pope.
The day dawned with q drizzling rain and
sky so overcast that men pointed to it
as an omen. London had kept weary
vigil, but with the light she began to look
for tidings Of the crisis. Her citizens, the
women at the windows, the men in tower
ing groups, thought of anything but sleep
or the labor Of their calling There was no
gate which armed men did not hold: no
rampant of the walls undefended. The CITY
watched and waited for the last great scene
which should cast the usurper out or re-
ward him with kingdom. and, waiting
the message came from Southwark and
men knew that the rebels were at the gate
and said that the hour was at hand
Ihey heard the cannon and those that
were boldeSt among them began TO flock
toward London bridge as men going timid-
~ upon strange adventure. Such Of the
women as were at the lattices looked down
into those crooked streets upon a play the
Ike TO which they would never see again
while Mary reigned. No merchant thought
OF his wares today, no apprentice cried a
bargain. In the dim light as of a morn
ing of tragedies. armed men moved as spec-
ters from the shadows, faces uplffted told
the human story of fear and hope. of doubt
and desire. The shattered windows. the
barred doors, the play of light upon can
and corSelet, the whispered menaces the
rolling thunder beyond the river confirm,
ECU edcn III IT'S neasure,to the awe and Won
der. What thing then. was Detailing In
that sleepy hamlet Of Southwark? Who
We're these who had come to dethrone tho
Spaniard; these who would march into Ion
don presently? Would they enter in as ma
"a uders for pnlage and raDine; wonId they
come as disciples of the old land which
lived uy1Spoken In the peoples hearts3 Must
blood be shed today where Yesterday men
TESTED for very joy of life2 None could an
sWer such question; none might prophesv
horseman would draw rein to cry "tbe
bridge Is down; Wyatt comes I'M" but ere
MS words were twice repeated another
would follow him with reassurauces '.T,ba
day IS ours; the bridge is held. Cod save
Queen Mary" And in the gloom the naIr
would be engulfed, both he that told of de-
feat and he that spoke of victory
London, then, knew little of that which
6efell; nor was the pleasant hamlet of
southwark much wiser. Out of the night
with scarce cry of warning. this ragged
army had ridden. BY many lanes and al
leys, from the open fields, without order or
corselets were of mud, whose arms were
yesterday in byre and stable It pressed on
at dawn in all the savage delight Of that
uncontested pilgrimage. Dumb serfs hut a
low the peasants marched as very yaliants
OF war. Never in all their lives, perhaps
had the most part Of them set eyes on any
city or known other hamlet but that in
which their poor fortunes lay. And now AT
some call beyond their reason but appeal-
Ing to human necessity OF which they
were unconscious, they had cast the old
habit OF life behind them, and taken up this
parrot cry, "A Wyattl A wyattpi What
food for philosophy, the scholars said: What
dirge of death the prophets cried Yet
each could welcome the dreary cavalcade
with smiling face and ready tribute It
were dangerous for a man to declare him.
self upon such day.
Regard the faces closely and you shall