Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-15
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
OF the Home Coming to Hampshire.

above, n green rolling plain undulated be-
low, intersected with hedge-rows and fieck-
ed with grazing sheep. The sun was yet
low in the heaven, and the red COWS STOOD
In the long shadow of the elms. chewing
the cud and gazing with great vacant eyes
At two horsemen who were spHrring ~ GOWN
The long white road which dipped and
curved away back TO where the towers ana
pinnacles beneath the fiat-toppeo- H4li marx
cd the old town OF winchester.
OF the riders one was young, graceful and
fair, clad in plain doublet ana hosen OF
blue Brussels cloth. which served 10 SNOW
his active and well-knit figure. A nat ven
vet cap was drawn forward to keep the
glare from his eyes, and he rode with Ups
compressed and anxious face, as one VINO,
has much care upon his mlnq, Dung az
he was and peaceful was his dress, tfe
dainty golden spurs which twinkled upon
his heels proclaimed his knighthood. whsie
a long seam upon his brow anu sE1l
upon his temple gave a manly grace toL ms
refined and delicate countenance Ills Vol :
rade was a large. red-headed man upon q
great black horse, with a huge canvas l9as
slung from his saddle-bow, when JnSieu
and clinked with every movement on ms
steed His broad, brown face was llghted
I'M by a continual smile, and he Looked
slowly from side to side with eyes when
twinkled and shone with dehght, wen
might John rejoice, for was he not PACK
In his native Hampshire, had he not Don
Diego's five thousand crowns raspng
against his knee, and above ALL was tle not
himself squire now to Sir Allesne f.'-rcsoh
.he young Socman OF Minsteao' iately
kn1rhted by the sword of the Block Prince
himself. and esteemed by the whole army
A one of the most rising of the soldiers OF
England. hal
been told throughout Christcndom Wherever
a brave deed of arms was loved. and honors
had flowed in upon the few who had SUI
yived It, For two months Alleyne had WaV-
cred betwixt death and life, with broken
rib and a shattered head; yet youth anu
strength and a clcanly life were all upon
his side. and he awoke from his long de-
lrium TO find that the war was over thdt
the Spaniards and their allies had been
crushed at Navaretta, and that the prince
had himself heard the tale of his rlde LOT
succor and had come in person to MS Deo-
side to touch his shoulder with MS sworn
and to insure that so brave ana true man
should die If he could not live, within the
order of chivalry The instant that he could
set foot to ground Alleyne had started III
search of his lord, but no word couid ne
hear of him, dead or alive, and he had come
home now sad-heart ed, In the hope or fals-
ing money upon his estates and so starting
upon his quest once more. Landing AT Lon
don. he had hurried on with a mind fun of
care, for he had heard no word from
Hampshire since the short note winch hao
announced his brothers death.
by the rood cried John, Joking around
him exultantly, where have we seen since
we left such noble cows, such fieecy sheep,
grass so green, man so drunk as yon-
der rogue who lies in the gap or the
hedge?'
"Kh, John" Alleyne answered, YEARLY.
at is well for you. but l never thought that
nv homecoming would be so sad one.
nv heart is heavy for my dear lord and for
Awkward, and l know not how l may break
the news to the Lady Mary and 10 the
Lady Maude, IL they have not yet had It'd
ings of it.
John gave a groan Which maze the HoiseS
shy. at, L.
but be not sad for | shall give half these
crowns to my old mother, and half VIII
add 10 the money which you may have. and
so we shall buy that yellow cog wherein
we sailed to Bordeaux. and in 1t we shau go
forth and seek Sir Nigel.
Alleyne smiled, but shook his head
'FWere he alive we should haye had word
of him ere now" said he But what IS
this town before us?
why it is Romsey!" cried John. See
the tower of the old gray church.
and the long stretch of the nuhnery; But
here sits a very holy man. and shall give
him a crown for his prayers
Three large stones formed rough cot bs
the roadside. and beside it, basking IN the
sun. sat the hermit, with clay-colored face,
dull eyes and long withered hands. win
crossed ankles and sunken mead, ne SAT US
though all his life had passed out OF nm,
with the beads slipping slowly through ms
thin yellow fingers. Behind him lay the
narrow cell c'ay-fCored and damp. com
fortless pro6tless and sordid. Beyond IL
there lay amid the trees the wattie-ahu,
daub hut of a laborer. the door open ana
the single room EXPOSED to the view. The
man, rudy and yeliow-haired, stood lean
ing upon the spade wheUewith he had Deen
nj work upon the garden patch. From be-
hind him came the ripple of happy wo-
mans laughter and two young urchns
darted forth from the hut. bare-legged and
towsy. while the mother. stepping out, Iaid
l,.rnl nj or
watched the gambols of the children. The
hermit frowned at the untoward noise
which broke upon his prayers. but his brow
relaxed as he looked upon the broad silver
piece which John held out to him.
"There lies the image of our past and
of our future cried A1leyne, as they rode
on upon their way. Now, which Is bet
ter to till Gods earth, TO have happy faces
round ones knee and to love and be loved,
or TO sit forever moaning over ones own
soul, like a mother over q sick babe?'
'I know not about that" said John. for
II casts a great cloud over me when | think
OF such matters But I know that my
crown was we'll spent. for the man had
the look of very holy persons As TO the
other. there was naught holy about him
that I could see, and II would be cheaper
for me to pray for myself than to give
crown 10 one who spent his days in dig
girg for iettuCes"
Ere A'leyne could answer there swung
round the curve of the road ladys car
rage drawn by three horses abreast. with
a position uDon the outer one. Very fine
and rich IL was, with beams painted and
gilt. wheels and spOkes carved in strange
figures. and over all an arched cover of
re1-aud-white tapestry. Reneath it's shade
there sat q stout and elderly lady in pink
cote-hardie. leaning back among~a ple OF
cushions. and pluckng out her eyebrows
with a small pair OF silver tweezers. None
could seem more safe and secure and at
her ease than this lady. yet here also WIS
symbol Of human life. for in an instant,
even as Alleyne refined aside to LEI the car
rage pass a wheel flew out from among
It's fellows. and over II all Misunderstanding.
tapestry and gi't-in one Wild heap. with
the horses p'unging. the position shout
ing and the lady screaming from. within,
In an instant Allevne and John we've on
foot and had lifted her forth all in n shake
with fear, but little the worse for her mis-
chance.
Now woe worth me-" she cried land III
fall on Michael PASSOVER of Romsey! for i
told him that the pin was loose. and vet
ne must needs gainsay me, like the foolish
dafTe that he is"
II trust that YOU have takeh no hurt.
my fair lady" said Aleyne conducting her
TO the bank. upon which john had already
placed a cushion. =. s..,..,.,,.
ssNay, have had no scath. though / have
lost my silver tweeZars. Now. lsckaday " did
God ever put breath into such fool as
Michael OF ROmSeyr But 7 am