The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-11

NA@ShAA, anu LOI d WHlle TINS WAS the
end of their asking of her in mar
riace.
The brethren left the solar side by
side as they had come into it, but
changed men in a. sense, for now their
nVes were a fire with a great pur-
pose, which bade them dare and do
and win. Yet they "a were lighter
hearted than when they entered there,
SINCE at least neither had been scorn-
ca, Whlle both had hope, and all the
future, which the young SO seldom
fear, lay before them. AS they de-
scended the steps their eyes fell upon
the ngure of a tall man clad in a pill
grlms cape and bod and ow-crowned
hat, of which the front was bent up
wards and laced, who carried in his
hand a palmer's staff, and about his
waist the scrip and water bottle.
What seek you, holy palmer?" ask
ed Goodwin, coming towards him. "a
nights loding in my uncle's house?''
The man bowed; then, fixing on him
a pair of bead-like brown eyes, which
| reminded Goodwin of some he had once
seen, he knew not when or where,
answered in the humble voice affected
by his class:
Even so, most noble knight. Shelter
Tor man and beast, for my mule is
| held without. Also word with the
lord, Sir Andrew Darcy, for whom l
have message"
"A mule?" said Wulf. 81 thought
that palmers always went afoot?"
True, Sir Knight; but, as it chances,
L nave baggage. Nay, not my own,
whose earthly gear is all upon my
back-but chest. that contains 1
know not what which l am strictly
darcy, the owner of this hall, or
| should he be dead, then to the lady
Rosamund. his daughter"
charged? BY whom?" asked Wulf
That, sir, said the palmer, bow
ing, Il will tell to Sir Andrew, who.
| understand, still lives. Have l your
leave to bring in the chest, and if so,
VIII one of your servants help me,
| for it is heavV?"
I'VE will help you" said Goodwin.
ana they went with him into the court
yard, where by the scant light of the
| stars they saw a fine mule in charge
or one of the serving men, and bound
| upon its back a lOng-shaped package
sown over with sacking. This the
palmer Embossed, and taking one end,
while Wulf, after bidding the man sta
BILE the mule, took the other, they
bore it into the hall, Goodwin going be-
fore them to summon his uncle. Pres
entity he came and the palmer bowed
low to him.
What is your name, Palmer. and
whence comes this?" asked the old
knight, looking at him keenly
My name, Sir Andrew is Nicholas
of Salisbury, and as to who sent me,
with your leave, will whisper in your
] ear" And, leaning forward, he did so.
Sir Andrew heard and staggered
back as though dart had pierced
him.
''What?" he said. Are you, holy
palmer, the messenger Of and he
stopped suddenly.
Il was his prisoner" answered the
man, land he-who at least ever keeps
his word-gave me my life-for 1 had
been condemned to die-at the price
that l brought this to you, and tool
back your answer, or hers, which ]
| have sworn to do.
Answer? To what?"
NAY, know nothing save that there
is writing in the chest. It's pur-
port I was not told. who am but a
messenger bound by oath to do certain
things. Open the chest, lord, and
meanwhile, if you have food, have
travelled far and fast
Sir Andrew went to a door, and call
ed to his men servants, whom he babe
bring meat to the palmer and stay
with him while he ate. Then he told
Goodwin and Wulf to lift the box and
| bring it to the solar, and with it ham
| mer and chiseI, in case they should be
needed, which they did, setting it upon
| the oaken table.
"Open," said Sir Andrew. So they
| ripped off the canvas, of which there
were two folds, revealing within a box
of dark, foreign looking wood bound
with iron bands. at which they la
| bored long before they could break
| them At length IF dnno
there within was another box beauti-
| fully made of polished ebony, and seal
| ed at the front and ends with strange
device. This box had lock of silver,
to which was tied a silver key.
"At least, it has not been tempered
with" said Wulf, examining the un-
| broken seals, but Sir Andrew only re-
peated:
open and be swift Here, Goodwin,
take the key, for my hand shakes with
cold"
The lock turned easily, and the seals
being broken, the lid rose upon its
] hinges, while, as it did so, a scent
of precious odors filled the place. Be-
meath, covering the contents of the
I chest, was an oblong piece of worked
! silk. and lying on 1t a parchment.
Sir Andrew broke the silk and seal
and unroled the parchment. Within
it was written over in strange char
acters Also, there was second I'M
sealed roll. written in a clerkly hand
J in Norman French, and headed
"Translation of this letter, in case the
! knight, Sir Andrew Darcy, has for
! gotten the Arabic tongue, or that his
| daughter, the lady Rosamund. has not
| yet learned the same"
] Sir Andrew glanced at both head
ings, then said;
Nay, ! have not forgotten Arabic,
who, while my lady lived, spoke little
else with her, and who taught 1t TO
our daughter. But the light is bad,
| Goodwin, you are scholarly; read me
! the French. We can compare them
| afterwards"
At this moment Rosamund entered
the solar from her chamber, and see
ing the three of them so strangely
employed. said:
us ii your will that 1 go, father"
NAY, daughter. Since you are here,
stay here. 1 think that this matter
concerns you as well as me. Read on.
Goodwin"
SO Goodwin read:
''In the name of God. the Merciful
and Compassionate /. Salah-ed-in,
Yusuf ibn Ayoub. Commander of the
Faithful, cause these words to be writ
/ ten. and seal them with my own hand,
20 the Frank lord. Sir Andrew Darcy,
/ husband Of my sister by another
mother. Slit Zobeide, the beautiful and
| faithless. on whom Allah has taken
vengeance for her sin. or IL he be dead
also, then to his daughter and hers,
my niece. and by blood a princess OF
Syria and Egypt. who among the