The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-07
CHAPTER I.
By the Waters of Death Creek.


From the sea-wall on the coast of
Essex, Rosamund looked out across
the ocean eastwards. To right and
left, but little behind her, like guards
attending the person of their sovereign
stood her cousins, the twin brethren
Goodwin and Wulf, tall and shapely
men. Goodwin was still as a statue,
his hands folded over the hilt of the
long scabbarded sword, of which the
point was set on the ground before
him. but Wulf. his brother, moved rest
lessly and at length yawned aloud
They were beautiful to look at, all
three of them, as they appeared in
the splendour of their youth and
health. The imperial Rosamund, dark
haired and eyed ivory skinned and
slender WASTED, a posy of marsh
Mawers in her hand; the pale, stately
Goodwin, with his dreaming face; and
the bold-fronted, blue-eyed warrior,
Wulf, Saxon to his finger-tips. not
withstanding his fathers Norman
blood.
At the sound Of that justified yawn,
Rosamund turned her head with the
slow grace which marked her every
movement.
Would you sleep already, Wulf, and
the sun not yet DOWN." she asked in
her rich, low voice. which, perhaps
because of its foreign accent, seemed
quite different to that of any other
woman.
II think So Rosamund," he answered.
ut would serve to pass the time, and
now that you have finished gathering
those yellow flowers which we rode so
far to seek. the time-is somewhat
long"
shame on you. wulf," she said,
smiling. Look upon yonder sea and
sky, at that sheet of bloom all gold
and purple"
IT have looked for hard on half an
hour. Cousin Rosamund; also at your
back and at Godwin's left arm and
side-face: till in truth 1 thought my
self kneeling in Stangate Priory star
ing at my fathers effigy upon his tomb,
while Prior John battered the Mass.
Whv. If you stood it on its feet, it is
Goodwin, the same crossed hands rest
ing on the sword. the same cold, silent
face staring at the sky"
Goodwin as Goodwin will no doubt one
day be, or so he hopes-that is, If the
saints give him grace to do such deeds
as did our sire" interrupted his brotn-
er.
wulf looked at him, and a curious
flash of inspiration shone in his blue
eyes.
mo, think not" he answered: 1.-THE
deeds you may do. and greater, but
surely you will lie wrapped not in a
shirt of mail but with a monks cowl
at the last-unless a woman robs you
of it and the quickest road to heaven.
Tell me now. what are you thinking of.
you two-for / have been wondering in
my dull way, and am curious to learn
how far l stand from truth? Rosa
mund, speak first. Nay not all the
truth--a maids thoughts are her own
but just the cream of II. that which
rises to the tor and can be skinned. 3"
Rosamund sighed.
az was thinking of the East,
where the sun shines ever and the seas
are blue as my girdle stones, and men
arc full of strange learning"
And women are mems slaves!" in
terrupted Wulf "Still IL Is natural
that you should think of the East who
have that blood In your veins. and high
blood, II all tales be true. Say, Prin-
cess"-and he bowed the knee to her
with an affectation of mockery which
could not hide his earnest reverence
Say. Princess, my cousin. grand
daughter OF Ayoub and niece OF the
mighty monarch, Yusuf Salah-ed-din
do you wish to leave this pale land and
visit YOUR donlnions in Egypt and In
Syria?'
She listened. and at his words her
eyes seemed 10 take fire, the stately
form 20 erect itself, the breast 20 heave,
and the thin nostrils 20 grow wider as
though they scented some sweet, re-
menbered perfume. Indeed, at that
moment. standing there on the promon-
tory above the seas, Rosamund looked
a very queen.
Presently she answered him with an
other question.
And how would they greet me there,
Wulf. who am a Norman darcy and
a Christian maidT
The first they would forgive you,
since that blood n none 90 III either,