Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-19

How Sir Nigel Sought for a Wayside
Venture.

the pommel of his saddle. Edricson and
Terlake rode behind him in little better
case. while Ford, careless and ight-
hearted youth, grinned at the meianehoiy
of his companions. and flourished his lord 5
heavy spear. making a point to right and
a point to left as though he were pala-
din contending against host OF assaiiants-
Sir Nigel happened. however, 10 turn MINI
self in his saddle-Ferd instantly became
as stiff and as rigid though lie had been
struck with palsy The four rode alone,
for the arehers had passed curve IN tiie
read though Alleyne could sun pear ehe
heavy elump. clump of their marching, OF
catch, a glimpse of the sparkle or steel
through the tangIe of leafiess branches
Ride by my side, friends, l entreat OF
yoa." said the knight. refining IN ms Stu IT,,
that they might come abreast OF nim
For. since 1t hath pleased you 10 follow
ME TO the wars, 1t were well tnat you
shoald know how you may best serVe I'VE
I doubt not, Terlake. that you Will snow
vo1rseIf a worthy SON of a valiant father
and YOU Ford of yours; and you. f"ficsoh'
that you are mindful Of the oid-1iine houso
from which all men know tnat you are
sprung And first would nave you psal
ye,.I, sreadfastIy in mind that our settihs
forth Is by no means for the purpose VI
gaining spoil or exacting ransom, .nousn
it may well happen that such may Soir 49, ~
us also. We go to France, ana lro OH
thence / trust to Spain. in humble search
Of a field in which we may WIN ad
yancement and perchance some sn"ti
share of glory. For this purpose 49,,
would have you know that II Is not lny
wont TO LET any occasion pass wnere
~ Ia In any way possible that nonoI
NAV be gained. would have yeu oeai .Lat
In mind, and give great heeo 10 II 10
you may bring we WORD ,ni oa al in a and
n-ronpinz of damsels.. Nor Is any oCcasioh.
too small to take note of, Tor L nave hno ,"t
s,,ch trifes as the dropping OF sauhl.e si;
~ tho flickine of a bread-orumb, Wnen wen
fnJ1 LEAD 10 q iupot
nah,e snear-running. But, Edrlcsoh. 90 !
NOT see a cavalier who rides doWn yo ,n e.
road among the neither shawl II Wouiu oe
well perchauce that you should give nm
rraatipg from me, and should he be of gem
Tie blood 1t may be that he Woulu care "
exchange thrusts with me. l.,
aNhv NV lord" quoth Ford, standlns IN
his stirrups and shading ms eyes; - 'o
Hob Davidson, the fat miller OF Miiton.
"Ah so it is indeed! said SIT N1Sei'
nucker;np his cheeks; but Waysioe VEN
lures are not to be scorned, Tor nave seeii
no finer passages than are to De nao iroll
sucb chance meetings, when cavaliers are
willing to advance themselves. can Wen
remember that two leagues from the to"n
of Rheims 1 met a very variant anu coui
teous cavalier Of France. with Wnom nao
gentle and most honorable contention for
inward of an hour. 1t hath ever grleVed
me that T had not his name, for ne SMOKE
upon me with mace and went upon his
way ere 1 was in condition to have much
SDeGCn WIFI QlIu, Dut LIS "a hio "'~AS 90 -
lurion In chief above fess azure. was
also on such an occasion thrust through
the shoulder by Lyon de Moritcourt, Wnom
I met on the high road bet1vixt Libourne
and Bordeaux l met MIN ou. tne onIe,
hut I have never seen man for wf1om
bear a greater love and esteem. And SO
also. with the Squire LIE Bourg Caplnet.
who would have been a very valiant CAP
tain had he lived.
He is dead, them" asked Alleyne Edric-
son.
ALIAS! 1t was my Ill fate to STAY him In
pickering which broke out In field near
the township OF Tarbes. | cannot call to
mind how the thing came about, for 1t was
in the year of the princes ride through
Languedoc. when there was much fine Skin
mishing to beehad at barriers. BY St Paul!
I do not think that any honorable cavalier
could ask for better chance ef advancement
than might be had BY squirting forth before
the army and riding to the Sateways or
Narbonne, or Bergerac, or Mont Oscar,
where some courteous gentleman would
ever be at wait to do what he might to
meet your wish, or ease you of your VOW.
Such a one at Ventadour ran three courses
with me betwixt daybreak and sunrise. to
the great ~exaItation of his lady.
'And did you slay him also, my lord?"
asked Ford. with reverence.
II could never learn. for he was carried
within the barrier, and as I had CHANGED
to break the bone of my leg. il WAS a great
unease for me to ride or even to stand.
Yet, by the goodness of heaven and the
pious intercession of the valiant st. George,
was able to sit my charger In the ruffie
of Poictiers, which was no very long time
afterward But what have we here? A
very fair and courtly maiden, or l mis-
take"
1t was indeed a tall and buxom country
lass. with a basket Of sptnaeh-leaves upon
her head. and great slab of bacon tucked
under one arm. She bobbed frightened
courtesy as Sir Nigel swept his velvet hat
from his head and reined up his. great
charger.
God ba with thee. fair mafden.' said he.
God guard thee, my lordi' she answered,
speaking in the broadcast West Saxon
speech. and balancing herself first on one
foot and then on tie other in her bashful-
ness.
Fear not, my fair damseI," said Sir
Nigel, but tell me if perchance poor and
most unworthy knight can in any wise be
of service to you Should 1t chance that
you have been used despitefully. it may be
that may obtain justice for YOU
'I.awk no, kind sir!.' she answered
clutehins her bacon the tighter, as though
some design upon 1t might be hid under
this knightly offer. Il be the milking wench
o. Farmer Arnold, and he be as kind
master as heart could wish. "
1T is WE'LL said he; and with a shake
Of the bride rode on down the woodland,
path II would have you bear in mind"
he continued to his squires. that gentle
courtesy is not as is the base use of SO
many false knights. to be shown only to
maidens of high degree, for there is no
woman humble that true knight may
not listen to her tale Of wrong. But here
comes cavalier who Is indeed tn haste
Perchance it would be well that we should
ask him whittier he rides, for 1t may be that
he Is one who desires to advance himself In
chfvalry."
The bleak. hard. wind-swept road dipped
down In front Of them into little valley,
and then. writhing up the healthy slope
upon the other side, lost itself among the
gannt pine trees Far away between the
black lines OF trunks the quick glitter of
steel marked where the company pursued
It's way. To the north stretched the tree
country. but to the south, between two
swelling downs. a. glimpse might be caught
of the cold gray simmer of the sea, with
the white f1eck of galley sail upon the. dis
tant skyline. just in front of the travellers
horseman was urging his steed I'D the
slope, driving it on with whip and spur as
one who rides for set purpose AS he
clattered up Alleyne could see that tho
roam horse was gray with dust and fecked
with foam. as though ft had left many a
mile behind 1t. The rider was stern
faced man. hard Of mouth and dry of eve
with g. heavy sword cIanking at hts side.
and a stiff white bundle swathed in linen
bale fced across the pommel of his saddle.
'Vhe kings messenger he bawled az
he came up to them. 1.-THE MESSENGER of