Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-14
THE WHITE COMPANY
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.


y x x | s
the field. and the roses of Loring were not
waving by their side
Nov wo worth me but feared it"' cried
she, With the color all struck from her face
Il have noted your absent mind your kin
ding eye, your trying and riveting of old
harness. Consider, my sweet lord, that you
nave already won much honor, that we have
seen but little of each other, that you bear
upon your body the scars of over twenty
wounds received in l know not how many
bloody encounters. Have you not done
enough for honor and the public cause?'
MY lady, when our liege lord, the king,
at three score years, and my Lord Chandos
at three score and ten. are blithe and ready
TO lay lance in rest for England's cause, it
would Ill beseem me to prate of service
done. 1t is sooth that have received seven
and-twenty wounds. There is the more rea-
son that l should be thankful that 1 am
sui long of breath and sound in limb |
nave also seen some pickering and scuff1ing.
SIX great land battles l count with four
upon sea and systematically on falls, Skin
mishes and bushments. l have held two
and-tWenty towns. and l have been at the
lntak5hg OF thirty-one. Surely. then, it
would be bitter shame to me, and also to
you, since my fame is yours that I should
now hold back If mans work is to be
done Besides, bethink you how low Is our
purse, with bailiff and reeve ever croakinp
OF empty farms and wasting lands Were
IL not Tor this constabeshfp which the Earl
or Salisbury hath bestowed upon US we
could scarce uphold the state which is fit
ting to our degree. Therefore, nv sweet
ing, there is the more need that I should
turn 10 where there Is good pay to be earn
ed and brave ransoms to be won" .
An, my dear lord quoth she, with sad
weary eyes Il thought that at last | had
you to mine own self even though your
youth had been spent afar from nv side
Yet my voice. as l know we'll should speed
you on 70 glory and renown, not hold you
back when fame is to be won Yet what
can L say. for all men know that your
Falor needs the curb and not the spur 1t
gees to my heart that you should ride
forth now mere knight bachelor when
there Is no noble in the land who hath SO
good a claim to the square pennon. save
hold it,
said he
NO fault, my fair lord, but virtue: for
now many rich ransoms have you won
and yet have scattered the crowns among
week you had not as much as would buy
food and forage. 1t is a most knightly
largesse, and yet withouten money how
can man riSe?
Dirt and dross!' cried he
What matter rise or fall so that duty
De done and honor gained? Banneret or
bachelor, square pennon or forked / would
not give a denier for the difference and the
Less since Sir John Chandos chosen flower
OF English chivalry, is himself but a hum
Die knight. But meanwhile, fret not thy
self, my hearts dove, for it is like that
there may be no war waged and we must
await the news. But here are three strang-
ers, and one, l take it. a soldier fresh
from service 1t is likely that he may give
US word Of what is stirring over the wa
ter"
Lady Loring, glancing up, saw In the fad
ing light three companions walking abreast
down the road, all gray with dust and
stained with travel, yet chattering merrily
between themselves. He in the midst was
yrrifI -irl,
ana bright gray eyes, which glanced from
right TO left, though he found the world
around him both new and pleasing To his
right walked huge red-headed man with
broad smile and merry twinkle, whose
clothes seemed to be bursting and splitting
at every seam, as though he were some
lusty chick who was breaking braYely from
his shell. On the other side, with his knot
ted hand upon the young mans shoulder
came stout and burly archer, brown and
derce-eyed, with sword at belt and long
yellow yew-stave peeping over his shoulder
Hard face, battered head-piece dated
b'igandine, with faded red lion of St
George ramping on discolored ground, all
proclaimed as plainly words that he was
indeed from the land of war. He looked
keenly at Sir Nigel as he approached and
then. plunging his hand under his breast
pate, he stepped up to him with a rough,
urcouth bow to the lady.
Your pardon, fair sir said he ''but l
know you the moment | clap eyes on you
though, In sooth, / have seen you oftener
in steel than in velvet / have drawn string
beside you at La Roche-d' Errien, Romoran-
TN. Maupertuis, Nogent, Array and other
places
Then. good archer, 1 am right glad to
welcome you to Twynham Castle, and in
the stewards room you viii find provant
Tor yourself and comrades. To me also
your face is known. though mine eyes play
such tricks with me that l can scarce be
sure or my own squire. Rest awhile, and
you shall come to the hall anon and tell
% In T
heard that II is likely that our pennons
may hutter to the south of the great Span
ism mountains ere another year be passed"
There was talk of IL in Bordeaux" an
swered the archer. land l saw myself that
the armorers and smiths were as busy as
rats In wheat-rtck. But bring you this
letter from the valiant Gascon knight. Sir
ClaLde Latour And to you lady" he add
ed, after pause, II bring from him this
box of red sugar of Narbonne, with every
| courteous and knightly greeting which
gallant cavalier may make to a fair and
ncblc dame"
This little speech had cost the blunt bow
man much pains and planning; but he
might have spared his breath, for the lady
was quite as much absorbed as her lord in
i the letter, which they held between them
hand on either corner. spelling Il out very
slowly, with drawn brows and muttering
Ups; As they read 1t, Alieyne. who stood
with Horde John few PAGES back from
their comrade, saw the lady catch her
breath while the knight laughed softly to
himself.
you see. dear heart" said he, 'sthat they
will not leave the old dog In his kennel
| when the game Is afoot. And what of this
White Company, archer?"
''Ah, SIR, you speak of dogst' cried Ayl-
ward. but they are pack of lusty hounds
who are ready for any quarry, II they have
but a good huntsman TO halloo them on
Sir, we have been in the wars together. and
1 have seen many brave following, but
never such a set of woodland boys as this.
They do but want YOU at their head, and