Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-18

How the White Company Set Forth to
the Wars

How the White Company Set Forth to
the Wars.
st. Lukes day had come and had gone.
and 1t was in the season OF Martinmas
when the oxen are driven in to the slaugh-
ter. that the White Company was ready
for Its journey. loud shrieked the brazen
bugles from keep and from gateway. and
merry was the rattle of the war-drum, as
the men gathered in the outer bailey. with
torches to light them. for the morn had not
yet broken. Alleyne. from the window OF
the armory. looked down upon the strange
scene. the circles of yellow Pickering light.
the lines OF stern and bearded faces, the
quick simmer of arms and the lean heads
OF the horses. In front stood the bow
men, ten deep. with a fringe of under
officers, who paced hither and thither mar
shaling the ranks with curt precept or
short rebuke. Behind were the little clump
of steei-clad horsenfen. their lances raised,
with long pensils dropping down the oaken
shafts. So silent and still were they that
they might have been metal-sheathed statues
were 1t not for the occasional quick impa-
tient stamp Of their chargers, or the rat
tie OF chsmfrom against neck-plates as
they tossed and strained A spears length fin
front OF them sat the spare and lonB-iimbed
figure OF Black Simon. the Norwich fighting
man. his fierce, deep-hned face framed IN
steel and the silk gutdon marked with the
i've scarlet roses slantinS over his right
shoulder. ALI round. In the edge Of the cir
Gle Of the light stood the castle servants.
the soldiers who were to form the garrison,
and little knots of women, who sobbed IN
their aprons and called shrilfy to their
name-safnts to watch over the Wat. or
VIII. or Peterkin who had turned his hand
to the work of war.
The young squire was leaning forward,
gazing at the stirring and martial scene,
when he heard a short, quick gasp at his
shoulder. and there was the Lady Maude
with her hand to her heart leaning
up against the wall. slender and
fair. like half-plucked lily. Her
face was turned away from him, but
he could see. by the sharp intake OF her
breath, that she was weeping bitterly.
Alas! alasf' he cried, all unnerved at the
sight. why is It that you are so sad. lady?"
ut is the sight of these brave men" she
answered; and TO think how many of them
go and how few are like to find their way
back. have seen 1t before, when.I was a
little maid, In the year OF the princes great
battle l remember, then how they mus
tered in the bailey, even as they do now,
and my lady-mother holding me in her
arms at this very window, that I might see
the show"
please God you will see them all back
ere another year be out" said he
she shook her head. looking round at
him with flushed cheeks and eyes which
sparkied in the lamp light
"Oh, but I hate myself for being
woman! she cried. with stamp sof her
little foot. What can do that is good?
Here l must bide, and talk, and sew, and
spin, and spin. and sew and talk Ever
the same dull round. with nothing at the
END or It, And now you are going too, who
could carry my thoughts out of these gray
walls and raise my mind above tapestry
and distaffs. What can do? 1 am of no
more use or value than that broken bow
st:.ye''
You are of such value to me-" he cried
In whirl of hot. passionate words, that
all else has become naught. You are my
heart, my life, my one and only thought
Oh. Maude. / cannot live without YOU I
cannot leave you without a word of love
All Is changed to me since have known
YOU. l am poor and lowly, and all un-
worthy of you; but IL great love may weigh
down such defects then mine may do It,
Give me but one word of hope to take to the
wars with me-but one. All, you shrink
you shudder! My wild words have fright
ened you"
sound came from them. At last she spoke
In a hard and measured voice as one who
dare not trust herself to speak too freely.
This Is oversudden." she said; 'it is not
SO long since the world was nothing to
you. You have changed once: perchance
you may change again"
''CruelI' he cried: who hath changed
me7"
And then your brother" she continued
with little laugh, disregarding his ques-
ton. "Methinks this hath become a fam
lily custom among the Edricsons Nay
am sorry; 1 did not mean jibe. But, in
deed, Alleyne. this hath come suddenly
upon me, and scarce know what to say"
Say some word Of hope. however dis
handsome kind word that may cherish In
my heart"
and you have been too good and true a
friend to me that 1 should use you despite
fully. There cannot be closer link be-
tween US. 1t is madness to think of it.
q No ~ hk.- q l.
both cry out against It,"
My brother? What has he to do with
TT And your father
Come, Alleyne. was 1t not you who
would have me act fairly to all men, and
certes. to my father among them?"
You say truly" he cried: you say truly;
But you do not reject me, Maude? You
give me some ray OF hope? do not ask
pledge or promise. Say only that | am not
hateful to you-that on some happier day
! may hear kinder words from you"
Her eyes softened upon him. and a kind
answer was on her lips. when a hoarse
shout, with the clatIer of arms and stamp
ing Of steeds, rose up from the bailey below
At the sound her face set, her eyes SPAR
Killed., and she stood with flushed cheek and
head thrown back-a Womans body but a
soul of fire.
My father hath gone down." she cried.
Your place is by his side. Nay, look not
at me- Alleyne. 1t is no time for daliying.
w.
1t is when the brave soldier hath done his
devoir that he hopes for his reward Fare
well, and may God be with your
She held out her white. slim hand to him.
but as he bent his lips over 1t she whisked
away and was gone, leaving in his out
stretched hand the very green veil for
which poor Peter Terlake had craved in
vain. Again the hoarse cheering burst out
from below. and he heard the clang Of the
rising portcGllis. Pressing the veil to his
lips, he thrust 1t into the bosom of his tunic
and rushed as fast feet could bear him
to arm himself and join the muster
The raw morning had broken ere the hot
spiced ale had been served round and the
last farewell spoken A cold wind blew up
from the sea, and ragged clouds drifted
swiftly across the sky The Christchurch
townsfolk stood huddled about the bridge
of Avon. the women pulling tight their
shawis and the men swathing themselves In
their gaberdines, while down the winding
path from the castle came the van of the
little army, their feet changing on the hard
frozen road First came Black Simon with
his banner. bestriding q lean and powerful
dapple-gray charger. as hard and wiry and
warwise as himself. After him. riding three
abreast. were nine men-at-arms. all picked
soldiers, who had followed the French wars
before. and knew the marches of Picardy as