The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-04
THE BRETHREN
A Romance of the Crusades
BY H. RIDER HAGGARD.

O~N>SSSSSSSSSSS
Yes sir: the two of US"
Then Sir Andrew, who seldom laugh
ed, laughed outright.
Truly" he said, "of all the strange
things l have known, this is the
one wife between them"
1t seems strange, sir: but listen
TO our tale and you will understand. ="
So he listened while they told him
all that had passed between them
and Of the solemn oath which they
had sworn.
Noble in this as in other things"
commented Sir Andrew, when they
had done; but l fear that one of
you will find that vow hard to keep.
by all the saints, nephews, you were
rlght when you said that you asked
great boon. Do you know, although
nave told you nothing of it, that, not
to speak of the knave Lozelle, al
ready two of the greatest men in this
land have sought my daughter Rosa
mund in marriage"
1T may well be So" said Wulf.
1t is so, and now I will tell you
why one or other of 1.-The pair is not
her husband, which in some ways |
would he were. A simple reason. I
asked her, and she had no mind to
either, and as her mother married
when her heart was, so l have sworn
that the daughter should do, or not
at all-for better a nunnery than a
loveless bridal. Now let us see what
you have to give. You are of good
blood that of Uluin by your mother.
and mine, also on one side her own
AS squires to your sponsors of yes
terday, the knights Sir Anthony de
Vaudeville and Sir Roger de Merci.
you bore you bravely in the Scottish
war; indeed, your liege King Henry
remembered it, and that is why he
granted my prayer so readily. Since
then, although you loved the life lit
tie, because 1 asked it of you, you
have rested here at home with me.
and done no feats of arms. save that
great one of two months gone which
made you knights, and, in truth, gives
you some claim on Rosamund
For the rest, your father being
the younger son, your lands are small.
and you have no other gear. Outside
the borders of this shire you are un.
known men, with all your deeds to
do-for reckon not those Scottish
battles when you were but boys. And
she whom you ask is one of the fair
est and noblest and most learned la
dies in this land, for I. who have
some skill in such things. have taught
her myself from childhood. More
over as ! have no other heir, she will
De wealthy. Well, what more have
you to offer for all this?''
ourselves" answered Wulf boldly.
we are true knights of whom YOU
know the best and worst, and we love
her. We learned it for once and for all
on Death Creek quay, for till then she
was our sister and no more"
"Ay,' added Goodwin, when she
swore herself to us and blessed us,
then light broke on both "
Stand up" said Sir Andrew, land
let me look at you"
So they stood side by side in the full
light of the blazing fire, for little other
came through those narrow windows.
Proper men; proper men," said the
old knight; land as like to one another
as two grains of wheat from the same
sample. Six feet high, each of you,
and broadchested, though Wulf is
larger made and the stronger of the
two. Brown and waving-haire both.
save for that line of white where the
sword hit yours, Godwin-Godwin with
grey eyes that dream and Wulf with
the blue eyes that shine like swords.
All! your grandsire had eyes like that
Wulf; and l have been told that when
he leapt from the tower to the wall at
the taking of Jerusalem, the Paynims
did not love the light that shone in
them-nor. in faith, did l. his son, when
he was angry. Proper men, the pair
of you; but Wulf most warrior-like,
and Sir Goodwin most courtly."
Now which do you think would
please a woman most?"
That, sir, depends upon the wom-
an" answered Goodwin. And straight
way his eyes began to dream.
That sir, we seek to learn before
the day is out. if you give us leave"
added Wulf; though, if you would
know l think my chance poor one..''
"Ah, well; it is a very pretty riddle.
But l do not envy her who has it's an
swering, for it might we'll trouble a
maids mind, neither is it certain when
all is done that she will guess best for
her own peace Would it not be wiser,
then, that 1 should forbid them to ask
this riddle?" he added, as though to
himself and fell thinking while they
trembled, seeing that he was minded
to refuse their suit.
At length, he looked up again and
said: May. let it go as God Wills, Who
holds the future in his hand. Nephews.
because you are good knights and true,
either of whom would ward her we'll
and she may need warding-because
you are my only brothers sons. whom /
have promised to care for and most of
all because l love you both with an
equal love, have your wish. and go try
your fortunes at the hands of my
daughter Rosamund in the fashion you
have agreed. Goodwin. the elder. first,
as is his right; then Wulf, Nay, no
thanks; but go swiftly for l whose
hours are short, wish to learn the an
swer to this riddle"
So they bowed and went. walking side
by side. At the door of the hall, Wulf |
stopped and said:
she is in the church Seek her there. |
and-oh! 1 would that l could wish |
you good fortune: but, Goodwin. I can
not. I fear me that this may be the |
edge of that shadow of woman's love |
whereof you spoke. falling cold upon |
my heart"
There is no shadow: there is light, |
now and always, as we have sworn |
that il should be-" answered Goodwin. |
CHAPTER FOUR.
THE LETTTR OF SALADIN.
It was past three i'm the afternoon.
and snow clouds were fast covering
,n the last grey bleam of the De-