The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-03-13
CHAPTER IV-CONTINUED.

her in the matter of marriage. mere
lived in Sir Johns neighborhood in his
strong castle at Sturmere certain MD
dle-aged knight of proves and renown
who had set his eyes and his heart on
the mettlesome Clara and liked the
lass none the less for her intractable
spirit.
ellis name was Richard Rainham.
He was not of gentle birth by the
mothers side at least, but he had
Joined a band of free companions IN
Aquitaine and had prospered In the
French wars and received knighthood
from the Black Prince on the field OF
Poictiers. There have been many COM
plants against him by neighbors and
travellers, but he is too sturdy and val
liable knight to be lightly called in
question and it is his boast to have
grown so fat under the curses of the
church tina, he can hardly turn In his
saddle. lie has indeed the look and
strength of bull, such neck and
back, such brawny shoulder and
dewlap.
"Niy pretty Clara loathed the match
and the maker of it, but what could the
poor damsel do? She was all alone; she
had no counsellor; she had kept Ralph
at distance and made him fear to
speak to her, she wa s too proud to speak
to him. She knew her adversary to be
apiteful and unrelenting as only spite
full woman can be; and seeing that es-
cape was hopeless, she did not wait to
be reduced to submission by bread and
water, imprisonment and stripes.
Pride counselled her not to endure the
indignity of a contest with my Lady
Cayendish. Let the brute marry me
at his peril, she said to herself; and
fortified by this resolution, to the adj
miration of all, and not the least of my
lady, she agreed sweetly without a
murmur.
"But if Sir Richard had seen how
her eyes flashed and every limb quiv-
cred when she was alone, or if he had
heard the oath she took on her breviary
and her dagger, even his headstrong
folly might have hesitated to take such
a viper to his bosom. But not soul
at Cavendish Hall was in her conf
dence, not sign betrayed her deadly
hatred and secret resolution
1.-The wedding day drew near, and Sir
John spared no cost. for his ward had
riches IN abundance. He Toasted the
bridegroom for three days before the
ceremony. The cooks had sweltered in
the kitchen for weeks before, and the
tables were a rare sight, such trees and
castles, birds and beasts of sweet stuff,
such fiagons of wine, such lines of pages
and yeomen bearing dishes fit for an
emperor, the minstrels blowing all the
time from the .gallery-it was like"
The canon's recollections were too
much for him. He buried his head in
the three-hooped pot.
"There was hawking party in the
morning, and sports in the tilting-yard
at midday after dinner, and juggling
and dancing in the hall after supper by
vagabonds who had gathered from far
and near, and had no reason to repent
their coming.
"What happened in the tilting-yard
did not improve Sir Richards temper.
Either his horse swerved as he ran at
the quintain, or he hit the board clum-
silly, or something went wrong that l
cannot explain to you; anyhow, the
bag of sandswung round before he was
clear, and caught him such whack on
the back that he was almost thrown
from the saddle. Ralph Hardelot,
when it came to his turn, was more
fortunate or more skilful.
whether by good fortune or by skill
this Ralph struck the board to shivers,
and rode lightly and safely on. Sir
Richard would fain have had wrest-
ling bout, but Sir John, seeing the
temper he was in, forbade it.
''At supper my wilful mink Clara
smiled so openly on her young favorite
that the bridegroom was beside himself
with fury; but he tried to swallow his
rage and swallowed much liquor, and
laughed loudly, and Dragged of his ex-
PLOTS, and, withal, made a brave show
as one who knew how to be master
when the time came. But to have seen
her cool, provoking face, YOU would have
said the knight had never undertaken q
more perilous adventure.
Swine and anger seemed to have be.
reft Sir Richard of his wits, and he did
his diligence to make himself despicabls
and ridiculous. After supper the hall
Was cleared for the antics of juggleri
and hired dancers. A tumbling weneh
with large, shapely limbs and hideous
face, SO charmed the good knight
fancy that, to the deep disgust of the
ladies, he ieered at her, and held will
ainous language to her, calling her NJ
TO him to drink her health and give he