Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-12
THE WHITE COMPANY
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.

a thing as woman should come between
two who are of one blood"
Simple Alleyne opened his eyes at this
little squirt of feminine bitterness.
Nay. lady" said he. that were worst
of all. What man would be SO caitiff and
thrall as to fail at your need? / have
turned my brother against me. and now.
alas, appear to have given you offense
also with my clumsy tongue. But, in
deed, lady, am torn both ways, and
can scarce grasp in my mind what 1t is
that has befallen-
Nor can / marvel at that" said she.
with a little tinkling laugh You came
romances, between dragon and dam
sci. with small time for the ask
ing of questions Come" she went on,
springing to her feet. and smoothing
through the shaw together and we may
come upon Bertrand with the horses. If
poor TrOubadour had not cast a shoe we
should not have had this trouble Nay.
speak lightly, now that all Is happily
over l am SO frightened as my brave Ro-
land See how his chest heaves, and his
dear feathers all awry-the little knight
died"
So she prattled on to her hawk, while
AHeyne walked by her side, stealing a
glance from time to time at this queenly
wandered together over the velvet turf
and on through the broad Minstead
woods. where the old lichen-d raped
beeches threw their circles of black
shadow upon the sunlit sward.
You have no wish, then, to hear my
story? said she at last.
III 1t pleases you to tell 1t me-" he
answered.
OH" she cried tossing her head, 'ff
It Is OF SO little interest to you we had
best let it bide.''
Nay. said he. eagerly. Il would fam
hear it."
You have a right to know it If you
have lost brothers favor through it,
And yet-ah. well. you are, as 1 under
stand. clerk, SO I must think of you as
one step further in ORDERS and make you
my father-confessor. Know, then, that
this man has been sutton for my hand
less as 1 think for my own sweet sake
It on his mind that he might improve his
fortunes by dipping into my fathers
strong -box-though the Virgin knows
that he would have found little enough
man, a gallant knight. and tried soldier
of the oldest blood, to whom this mans
churlish birth and low descent-oh, lack
aday! l had forgot that he was of the
same strain as yourself"
Nay, trouble not for that" said AL
Eve"
Streams may spring from one source
and yet some be clear and some be foul, :"
quoth she. quickly But. to be brief over
the matter my father would have none of
his Wooing. nor, in sooth. would l. On that
he swore a vow against u.s. and as he is
known to be a perilous man, with many
outlaws and others at his back my father
forbid that l should hawk or hunt in any
part of the wood to the north of the Christ
church road. AS 1t CHANGED, however, this
morning my little Roland here was loosed
at strong winged heron, and page Bert
rand and l rode on, with no thoughts but
for the sport, until we found ourselves in
Minstead woods.N Small HARM then, but
m ha frnd yxyith q
tender foot upon sharp stick, rearing and
throwing me to the ground. See to my
gown, the third that l have befouled with
In the week. Wo worth me when Agatha,
the tire-woman, sets eyes upon it!
And what then, lady?" asked Alleyne.
why, then, away ran Troubadour, for
belize 1 spurred him in falling, and Bert
rand rode after him as hard as hoofs could
bear him. When 1 rose there was the SOC
man himself by my side, with the news
that l was his land, but with so many
courteous words besides, and such gallant
bearing, that he prevailed upon me to come
to his house for shelter, there to wait until
the page returned. By the grace of the
Virgin and the help of my patron, st. Mag
dalen, stopped short ere l reached his
door, though. as you saw. he strove to hale
me up to it. And MISUNDERSTANDING
skivereG and chartered like one in an ague-
fit.
What is it?" cried Alleyne. looking about
Nothing friend nothing! / was but
thinking how / bit into his hand. Sooner
would l bite living toad or poisoned snake.
Oh, l shall loathe my lips forever! But
you-how brave you were, and how quick!
How meek for yourself, and how bold for a
stranger! If l were man, l should wish
10 do what you have DONE
'It was small thing" he answered, with
a tngle of pleasure al these sweet words of
praise. But you-what will you do?"
There is a great oak near here, and /
think that Bertrand will bring the horses
&c. al h,,,at
Then HE for home. and more hawking
today! A twelve-mile gallop will dry feet
and skirt"
But your father"
Not one word shall l tell him. You do
not know him: but | can tell you he is not
a man to disobey as l have disobeyed him.
He would avenge me. 1t is true, but 1t Is
not to him that 1 shall look for vengeance.
Some day, perchance, in joust or in tourney,
knight may wish to wear my colorS, and
then l shall tell him that if he does indeed
crave my favor there is wrong unredresSed,
ard the wronger the Socman of Minstead.
bold knights love. and my debt shall be
paid, and my father none the wiser, and
one rogue the less in the world. Say, is
not that a brave plan?'
NAY, lady, it is thought which is I'M
worthy of you. How can such as you speak
OF violence and of vengeance. Are none to
be, gentle and kind, none to be piteous and
forgiying? Alasi 1t is hard, cruel world,
and l would that l had never left my abb
hey cell. To hear such words from your
lips is though ] heard an angel of grace
preaching the devils own creed
She started from him as young colt who
first feels the bit
"Gramercy for your rede, young SIR she
said with a little courtesy. las l under
stand your words, you are grieved that
you ever met me, and look upon a
preaching devil. Why, my father is a bit
ter man when he is wroth, but hath never
called me such a name as that 1t may
be his right and duty, but certes it is none
of thine. So 1t would be best since you
think SO lowly of me, that you should take
this path to the left. while / keep on upon
this one; for 1t is clear that L can be no
fit companion for you
So saying with downcast lids and a dig
nifty which was somewhat marred by her
bedragged skirt, she swept off down the
ruddy track leaving Alleyne standing star
Ing ruefully after her. He waited in vain
for some backward glance or sign of re-
lerting but she walked on with a rigid
neck until her dress only a white flut-
ter among the leaves. Then, with a sunlSen
head and a heavy heart he plodded wear