The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-21
continued from last Sundays News.
CHAPTER II.
SIR ANDREW DARCY.

borne to ana FRO through the black
ness, stretched upon a couch of ebony.
There were bright watchers by his
couch also, watchers twain, and he
knew them for his guardian angels,
given him at birth. Moreover, now and
again presences would come and ask
questions of the watchers who sat at
his head and foot. One asked:
Has this soul sinned?" And the an
gel at his head answered:
1T has sinned"
Again the voice asked: Did it die
shriven of it's sins?"
The angel answered: 1T died I'M
shriven, red sword aloft, fighting a
good fight"
Fighting for the Cross of Christ ?"
Nay; fighting for a woman"
Alas! poor soul, sinful and unshriv-
en-, who died fighting for a womans
love. How shall such a one find mer-
Cyl" walled the questioning voice,
growing ever fainter, till it was lost
far. far away.
rlow came another visitor. 1t was
his father-the warrior sire whom he
had never seen, who fell in Syria. He
knew him well, for the face was the
face carven on the tomb of Stangate
Church, and he wore the blood-red
cross upon his mail, and the Darcy
Deaths hand was on his shield, and
in his hand shone a naked sword.
rs this the soul of my SOM" he
asked of the white-robed watchers.
And how died he2"
Then the angel at his foot answered:
HE died, red sword aloft, fighting a
good fight"
Fighting for the Cross of Christi"
Nay; fighting for woman"
Fighting for a womans love who
should have fallen in the holy War?
Alas! poor son; alas! poor son! Alas!
that we must part again forever!"
and his voice too passed away.
Lo! a. Glory advanced through the
blackness, and the angels at head and
foot stood up and saluted with their
flaming spears.
How died this child of Christi" ask
ed a voice, speaking out of the Glory.
a low and awful voice.
He died by the sword" answered
the angel.
by the sword of the children of the
enemy, fighting in the war of Heav-
en?"
And the angels were silent.
What has Heaven to do with him,
if he fought not for Heaven" asked
the voice again.
Let him be spared" pleaded the
guardians, WHO was young anu brave,
and knew not. Send him back to
earth, there to retrieve his sins and be
our charge once more"
so be it, said the voice. Knight,
live on, but live as a knight of Heav-
en- if thou would'st win Heaven"
Must he then put the woman from
him?" asked the angels.
1T was not said" answered the voice
speaking from the Glory. And all the
wild vision vanished.
Then a space of oblivion, and God
win awoke to hear other voices around
him, voices human, well-beloved re-
membered; and to see a face bending
over him-a face most human, most
well-beloved, most remembered-that
of his cousin, the Lady Rosamund. He
babbled some questions, but they
brought him food, and told him to
sleep, so he slept. Thus it went on,
waking and sleep, sleep and waking,
until at length one morning he woke
up truly in the little room that opened
out of the solar or sitting place of the
Hall of Steeple, where he and Wulf
had slept since their uncle took them
TO his home as infants. More, on the
trestle bed opposite to him, his leg
and arm bandaged, and a crutch by
his side, sat Wulf himself, somewhat
paler and thinner than of yore, but
the same jovial, careless, yet at times
ierce-faced Wulf.
DO l still dream, my brother, or is
it you indeed?"
A happy smile spread upon the face
of Wulf, for now he knew that God
win was himself again.
Me sure enough" he answered.
'Dream-folks don't have lame legs;
they are the gifts of swords and men,"
And Rosamund? What of Rosa
mund? Did the grey horse swim the
creek, and how came we here? Tell
me quick-I faint for news!"
Herself shall tell you" And hob
bling to the curtained door, he called,
"Rosamund, my-nay, our-Lady Rosa
mund, Goodwin is himself again. Hear
you, Goodwin is himself again, and
would speak with you'll"
There was a swift rustic of robes
and a sound of quick feet among the
PUSHES that strewed the floor, and then
-Rosamund herself, lovely as ever, but
all her stateliness forgotten in joy. She
saw him, the gaunt Goodwin sitting up
upon the pallet, his grey eyes shining
IN the white and sunken face. For
Godwin's eyes were grey, while Wulf's
We're blue, which was the only differ
ence between them whereof a stranger
would take note, although in truth
Wulf's lips were fuller than Goodwin 3,
and his chin more marked also he
was larger man. she saw hln1, ana
with little cry of delight ran and cast
her arms about him, and kissed him on
the brow
Be careful" said Wulf roughly,
turning his head aside, COR Rosamund,
you viii loose the bandages, and bring
MS trouble back again; he has had
enough of blood-letting."
Then / will kiss him on the hand
tne hand that saved me- she said, and
dld so. More, she pressed that poor,
pale hand against her heart.
Mine had something to do with
mat business. also. but / don't remem-
per that you kissed 1t, Rosamund.
wen, / will kiss him too, and oh! God
De praised, and the holy Virgin. and
the holy Peter, and the holy Chad, and
all the other holy dead folk whose
names / can't recall, who between
them, with the help of Rosaniund here.
ana the prayers of the Prior John and
brethren at Strangate; and of Mat
thew' the village priest. have given you
pack TO us, my brother, my most be-
ioVed brother" And he hoped to the
bedside, and threw his long sinewy
arms about Goodwin and embraced him
again and again.
Be careful" said Rosamund drily,"
or, Wulf, you will disturb the BAN
dages, and he has had enough of
olood-letting."
Then before he could answer. which
ne seemed minded to do, there came
The sound Of a slow step. and swinging
the curtain aside. a tall and notebook
ing knight entered the little place. The