The San Francisco call., 1905-01-01
CHAPTER i.
y the Waters of Death Creek

BY the Waters of Death Creek. :
From the seawall on the coast of
Essex Rosamund looked out across the
ocean eastward. To right and left, bat
little behind her, like guards attend
;: ing the person of their sovereign. stood
her cousins, the twin brethren, God
win and Wulfr tall and shapely men.
Goodwin was still as a statue, his hands
folded over the hilt of the long scab-
barded sword, of which the point was
set on.the ground before him. but WuIf.
his brother, moved restlessly, and at
length yawned aloud. They were beau
tiful TO look at, all three of them as
they appeared in the splendor OF their
youth and health. The imperial Rosa
mund, dark haired and eyed. ivory
skinned and slender waisted, a posy OF
marsh Mawers in her hand; the pale,
stately Goodwin, with his dreaming
face. and the bold -fronted warrior.
Wuif, Saxon to his ringer. tips. notwith-
standing his fathers Norman blood.
At the sound Of that unstlfied yawn
:. .ResanauRd4 turned her head with . the
slow grace w hieh marked her every
movement.
+. Would YOU sleep already. Wulf. and
the sun. not yet DOWN." she asked in
her rich, low voice. which. perhaps be-
cause. of it's. foreign accent. seemed
quite different TO that of any other
I think so, Rcsamund' he answer
ed 1T would serve TO pass the time,
fand now that. you have finished gath,
ering' those yellow flowers which W.
rode so far to seek. the time-is some
what long"
Shame on you, wulf.'' she said.
smiling. Look upon yonder sea and
sky, at that sheet Of bloom all gold and
purple"
Il have looked for hard on half an
hour, cousin Rosamund; also at your
back, and at Godwin's left arm and
side face; till in truth 1 thought N.Y.
self kneeling in Stangate Priory star
ing at my fathers effigy upon his tomb.
while Prior John .pattered the mass.
Why, If you stood it on its feet, it is
Goodwin, the same crossed hands rest
ing on the sword the same cold. silent
face staring at the sky
Goodwin as Godwin will no doubt
one day be. or SO he hopes-that. is. if
the saints give him srace to do such
deeds as did our SIRE" interrupted his
Wilt looked at him and a curious
flash of inspiration .shone in his blue
eyes
mo, think not" he answered: .fhe
deeds, you may do. and greater: but
surely you will lie wrapped not in a
shirt Of mail, but with monks cowl
at tiC tdSt-QlliCSS d WOIIldn TODS. YOU
Of it and the quickest road to heaven.
Tell me now what are you thinking of,
you two-for have been wondering in
my dun way, and am curious to learn
how far l, stand from truth? Rosa
mund, speak first. Nay, not all the
truth--a maids thoughts are her own,
but just the cream of 1t, that which
rises to the top and can be SKINNED
,Rosamund sighed.
st? I was thinking of the East,
where the sun shines ever and the
seas are blue as my girdle stones, and
men are full of strange learning
And women are mems siaves!" in
terrupted Wulf. Still 1t is natural that
you should think of the East who have
that blood in your veins. and high
blood, II all tales be true Say, Prin-
cess"-and he, bowed the knee to her
with an affectation of mockery which
could not hide his earnest reverence
say Princess, my cousin. grand
daughter Of Ayoub and niece of the
mighty monarch, Yusuf Salah- ed din.
do you wish to leave this pale land and
visit your dominions in. Egypt and in
Syria?"
She listened, and at his words her
eyes seemed to take fire. the stately
form to erect itself, the breast to heaye
and the thin nostrils to grow wider as
though they scented some sweet. re-
IIeIfl OeTcu peiluIIit luQee0, at that
moment, standing there on the promon-
tory above the seas. Rosamund looked
very queen.
Presently she answered him with an
other question.
And how would they greet me
there, Wulf. who am Norman darcy
and Christian maid p"
THE first they would forgive you,
since that blood is none SO i'll either,
and for the second-why. faiths can be
changed.
Then it was that Goodwin spoke for
the first time.
''Wulf. Wulf." he said sternly, sskeep
watch upon your tongue, for there are
things that should not be said even
as silly Jest. See you, / love nv
cousin here better than aught else upon
the earth"
There. at least. we agree" broke in
Wulf.
Better than aught else on the earth"
repeated Goodwin; sbut, by the Holy
Blood and by st. Peter. at whose shrine
we stand, would kill her by my own