The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-28
Continued from last Sundays News.
CHAPTER III.
THE KNIGHTING OF THE BRETH-
rem.

CHAPTER III.
THE KNIGHTING OF THE BRETH-
rem.
Another month had gone by, and
though Goodwin was still somewhat
weak and suffered from headache at
times, the brethren had recovered
from their wounds. On the last day
Of November, about o'clock in the
afternoon, great procession might
have been seen vending it's way from
the old Hall at Steeple. In it were
many knights fully armed, before
whom were borne their banners. These
went first. Then came old Sir Andrew
DARCY, also fully armed, attended by
squires and retainers. He was accom-
panied by his lovely daughter, the
Lady Rosamund, clad in beautiful ap-
parel under her cloak of fur, who rode
upon his right hand on that same
horse that had swum Death creek.
Next appeared the brethren, modestlv
arrayed as simple gentlemen, followed
each Of them by his squire, scions of
the noble houses of Salcote and of
Dengie. After them rode yet more
knights, squires, tenants of various
degrees, servants, and, lastly, a great
number of peasantry and Vileins, who
walked and ran with their women folk
and children.
Following the road through the viii
lage, the procession turned to the left
at the great arch which marked the
boundary of the monks lands, and
headed for Stangate Abbey, some two
miles away, by the path that ran be-
tween the arabic land and the salt
marshes. which are flooded at high
tide. At length they came to the stone
gate of the abbey, that gave the place
it's name Of Stangate. Here they were
met by a company of the Cluniac
monks who dWelt in this wild and
lonely place upon the waters edge,
headed by their prior, John. a descend
ant of the founder, Radulf Fitz Brien.
He was a venerable, white-haired
man, clad in his wide-sleeved black
robe, and preceded by a priest carry
ing a silver cross. Now the process
sion separated, Goodwin and Wulf, with
certain of the knights and their es-
quires, being led to the Priory, while
the main body of it entered the church,
or stood about outside it's door
Arrived in the house, the two knights
elect were taken to room where their
hair was cut and their chins were
shaved by a barber who awaited them.
Then, under the guidance of two old
knights named Sir Anthony de Man
deville and Sir Roger de Merci, they
were conducted to baths surrounded
by rich cloths. Into these, having been
undressed by the squires, they entered
and bathed themselves, while Sir An
thony and Sir Roger spoke to them
through the cloths of the high duties
of their vocation, ending by pouring
water over them, and signing their
bare bodies with the sign of the Cross.
Next they were dressed again, and pre-
ceded by MINISTRIES, led to the church,
at the porch of which they and their
sQuires we're given wine to drink.
Here, in presence of all the company,
they were clothed first in white tunics,
to signify the whiteness of their hearts;
next in red robes. symbolical of the
blood they might be called upon to
shed for Christ. and lastly, in long
black cloalxs, emblens of the death that
must be endured by all. This done,
their armor was brought and piled be-
fore them upon the steps of the altar,
and the congregation departed home
ward leaving them with their esquires
and the priest to spend the long winter
night 'in prisons and prayers"
Long, indeed. it was, in that lone
some, holy place, lit only by a lamp
which swung before the altar. Wulf
prayed and prayed until he could pray
no more. then fell into half dream
full state that was haunted by the face
of Rosamund. where even her face
should have been forgotten. Goodwin,
his elbow resting against the tomb
that hid his fathers heart, prayed also,
until even his earnestness was outworn,
and he began to wonder about many
things. That dream of his, for in
stance, in his sickness, when he had
seemed to be dead, and what might be
the true duty of man. To be brave and
upright? Surely. To fight for the
Cross of Christ against the Saracen."
Surely, If the chance came his way.
What more? To abandon the world
and to spend his life muttering pray
ers like those priests in the darkness
behind him? Could that be needful or
of service to God or man? To man per-
maps, because such folk tended the
sick and fed the poor But to God?
was he not sent into the world to bear
his part in the world-to live his full
life? This would mean half-life-one
into which no woman could enter, to
which no child might be added, since
TO monks and even to certain brother
hoods, all these things, which nature
decreed and Heaven had sanctified,
were deadly sin.
1t would mean, for instance, that he
must think no more of Rosamund
Gould he do this for the sake of the
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