Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-06-07
THE
LADY MAUD
By John Dickinson Sherman.
Copyrighted by Daily Story Pub. Coz

TT WAS nigh dusk, and 1 had
lighted me a candle that I might
better see to my work, in the
gloomy old library, when the furious
ringing of the castle bell fell upon
mine ears. Twas a sound not often
heard, and meant instant attend
ance of all within hearing to the
great hall. Quick as I was there
were others before me. Sir John
Newcome himself stood upon the
raised dias with his daughter, Lady
Maud, and the principal retainers of
his household. The hall filled fast,
but faster still flew the news from
mouth to mouth. Twas a scene to
stir the blood-the men flushed and
excited, the women pale and anx-
ious. The great hall hummed with
the stir of it. Then Sir John
stepped forward and silence fell up
on all.
"Men of Avon castle!" he cried,
and his voice rang high and clear.
''The king-God bless his ma esty-
hath raised the royal standard at
Nottingham and war is declared.
BY ST. George! IT'S not needful
here, 1 know, but I have called you
all together that we may take re-
newed oath of fealty. If any have in
mind to swear with faint heart or
to do with a slack hand, let them be-
ware. For the quarrel with parlia-
ment is to the death, and I have set
my hand to the work.
Perchance there is truth in the tel
epathy of which the sages speak
for as his eye passed slowly over the
hall, Sir John singled me out, though
I stood back in the crowd, and called
me by name, saying:
what of thee, Master Librarian!
Art thou for the king?''
All my thoughts were in a turmoil
pulse futter in my cheek as every
eye was fastened on my face. On
the instant l was minded to speak
out boldly, but my eye fell upon
Lady Maud, and L answered, soberly:
ST pray thee, Sir John, let me still
remain a man of peace among my
books"
>'Ha, hal Ho, hot" rang out a
mocl1ing laugh from the dias. IT
was the voice of young Lord Clarin-
ford, the nephew of Sir John. ]
could have struck him across his
laughing lips, for I had seen his
ways with Lady Maud. "a man OF
peace!" he went on. ''Yea, verify, as
our Roundhead friends are wont tc
say. This morn, Sir John, I CHANGED
upon the smithy somewhat suddenly
and 10! our man of peace was deer
in fence with the master armore1
himself, and as 1 entered the stout
smiths sword few clear across the
smithy as if propelled by a catapult
HAT" cried Sir John, looking al
me steadfastly. "Three years hast
seen thee grit with steel" And the1
he asked me, sharp and stern: evil
take the oath, Master Guy North
ridge?"
''Sir Guy Northridge, and it please
you, Sir John Newcome," cried, cast
. ing prudence to the winds. ''For, lool
you, am that Lord Rivenoak whom
the Stuart drove to librarians hire
And then, while all men breathed hare
in wonder, went on:
"Take the oath fealty? Nay, not !
Not a straw care for the question o.
the kings prerogative. But the Stuar
treachery repaid the devotion of m!
house with beggary and the Stuarr
blood is faithless still. And so I an
for parliament and with my father
sword I will win back mine own o,
die"
Sitting on the rough wooden bencl
of the castle strongroom I went owe
for the hundredth time the bewiIder
ing change in affairs. 1t was midnigh
and my candle fiickered low. My frs
fury had worn itself out, but my hear
was still hot within me. First tn
scene in the great hall-Sir john
stern face as he ordered me taken int
custody, saying: "The king shall dea
with all traitors"-the young lord
triumphant sneer as I was Led away
the wonder in Lady Maud's eyes as
proclaimed myself-Ah, but was Their