Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-11

gathering at the spot which for the hour
was the designated rendezvous of capricious
fashion. No matter If the tower at the
drinking curb was crowded, so that inmates
of the coaches could not find way among
the others. There was at least magic in
the morning. even If one might not drink at
the chalybeate spring. Cheeks did indeed
grow rosy, and eyes frightened under the
challenge not only of the dawn, but of the
ardent eyes that gaZed impertinentiy bold
or reproachfully imporing.
Far-reaching was the line of the gentllty,
to whose TANKS chung the rabble of trade
Back upon the white road came yet other
carriages, saluted by those departing Low
hedges of English green reached out into
the distance, blending ultimately at the edge
of the pleasant sky. Merry enough it was,
and gladstone, this spring day; for be sure
the really i'll did not brave the long morn
ing ride to test the virtue of the waters of
Sadler's Wells. 1t was for the most part
the young, the lively. the full-blooded, per-
haps the wearied. but none the less the
vital and stirring natures which met in the
decreed assemblage.
Back of Sadler's little court the country
came creeping close up to the town. There
were fields not so far away on these long
highways. Wandering and rambling roads
ran off to the westward and to the north,
leading toward the straight old Roman road
" hfch once upon time ran down to Lon
don town. Ill-kept enough were some of
the lanes. with their hedges and shrubs
overhanging the highways If such the paths
could be called which came braiding down
toward the south. One needed not to go far
outward beyond Sadler's Wells of a night
time to find adventure, or to lose purse.
1t was on one of these less crowded high
ways that there was this morning enacted A
curious little drama. The sun was still
young and not too strong for comfort and
as 1t rose back of the square of Sadler's It
cast shadow from hedge which ran an
Cling toward the southeast. Its rays there
fore. did not disturb the slumbers of two
young men who were lying beneath the
shelter of the hedge. Strange enough must
nave been the conclusions of the sun could
1t have looked over the barrier and peered
into the faces of these youths Evidently
they were of good breeding and some sta
ton, albeit their garb was not of the latest
fashion. The gray hose and the clumsy
shoes plainly bespoke some northern resi-
dence. The wig of each lacked the latest
turn. perhaps the collar of the coat was not
all 1t should have been. There was but one
coat visible, for the other, rolled up as
pillow, served to support the heads of both
The elder of the two was the one who had
sacrificed his covering. The other was more
restless in his attitude, and though thus
the warmer for a coat, was more in need
OF comfort. A white bandage covered his
wrist. and the linen was stained red. Yet
the two slept on, we'll into the morn. well
into the rout of Sadler's Wells. Evidently
they were weary.
The elder man was the taller of the two;
might even in that posture have been seen
to own figure of great strength and beau
ty. His face. bold of outline with we'll
curved. wide jaw and strong cheek bones,
was shaded by the tangled mat of his wig,
tousled in his sleep. His hands. long and
graceful lay idly at his side. though one
rested lightly on the hit of the sword
which lay near him. The ruff1es of his
shirt were torn. and. indeed, had almost
disappeared BY study one might have rec
ognized them in the bandage about the hand
of the other. Somewhat dishevcled was this
youth yet his young. strong body, slender
and shapely, seemed even in its rest strange
ly full of power and confidence.
The younger man was in some fashion an
epitome of the other, and 1t had needed
little argument to show the two were BROTH
ers. But why should two brothers, we'll
clad and apparently well-to-do, probably
brothers from country far to the north,
be thus lying like common vagabonds be-
meath an English hedge?
Far down the roadway there rose cloud
Of dust which came steadily nearer fol-
lowing the only vehicle in sight. probably
the only one which had passed that morn
ing. AS this little dust cloud came slowly
nearer it might have been seen to rise from
the wheels of a richly-built and well-ap.
pointed coach. Four dark horses obeyed
the reins handled by a soIemn-visaged
lackey on the box. and there was a goodly
footman at the back. Within the coach
were two passengers such as might have
Set SdQleT wells by the ears. Iney sat
on the same seat, as equals. and their heads
lay close together, as confidantes. The
tongues of both ran fast and free. Long
gloves covered the arms of these beauties.
and their costumes showed them to be of
station. The crinoline Of the two filled all
the body of the ample coach from seat to
seat, and the folds Of their figured muslins.
flowing out over this ample outline, gave
to the face of each daintiness Of con-
tour and feature which was not ill-relieved
by the high head-dress of ribbons and be-
powdered hair. OF the two ladies' one. even
In despite Of her crinoline, might have been
seen to be of noble and queenly figure: the
towering head-dress did not fully disguise
the wealth of red-bronze hair Tall and
well-rounded, vigorous and young, not vet
twenty, adored by many suitors, the Lady
Catharine Knollys had rarely looked better
than she did this morning as she drove out
to Sadler's, for Providence alone knew what
fault of a superb vital energy Her ewes
sparkled as she spoke, and every gesture
betokened rather the grand young creature
that she was than the valetudinarian going
forth for healing. Her cheek, turned now
and again, showed a clear-cut and untouch-
ed soundness that meant naught but health.
1t showed also the one blemish upon a
beauty which was toasted in the court as
faultless. Upon the left cheek there was a
mouche, excessive in its size Strangers
might have commented on it Really IL