The La Jara chronicle., 1906-08-17

and lady superior had had their Will. it
was nut hitting that some pomp and show
should mark the glad occasion.
But alas! for plots and plans when love
and youth and nature. and above all. for
tune are arrnyed against them. Who is
this uavel-stained youth who dares to
ride so madly through the lines of staring
burghersI Why does he fling himself
from his horse and stare so strangely
about himl See how he has rushed
through the incense-bearers, thrust aside
lay-slster Agatha. scattered the two-and-
twenty damosels who sang sweetly-
ana he stands before the novice with his
hands puIstretched, and his face shin
ing, and the light OF love In his gray eyes.
Her foot is the very Intel of the
church and Yet he bars the way-and she.
she thinks no more of the wise words and
holy rcde OF the lady nbbess, but she
hath given sobbing cry and hath fallen
forw u with his arms around her droop-
Ing body and her wet cheek upon his
breasl. A sorry sight this for the gaunt
abbes' an Ill lesson too for the stainless
two-anl-twenty who have ever been taught
that the way of nature Is the way OF sin.
But S41de aud Alleyne cared little for this.
dHAt' cold air comes out from the black
arch n'torc them. Without. the sun
shine bright and the birds are singing
amid The ivy on the dropping becches.
ThelT choice is made, and they turn away
hand-,n-hand. with their backs to the
dark ass and their faces to the light.
Neig quiet was the wedding in the old
prior church at Chrstchurch. where
FAITH Christopher read the service, and
there were few to see save Lady Loring
ana aHhu, and a dozen bowmen from the
Lad nf phoy had
ed nnH plncd for weary months, so that
her t.H was hnrsher and less comely than
befoF', yet she still hoped on. for her lord
had come through many dangers that
she could scarce believe that he might
be stricken down at last. 1t had been her
wish 90 start for Spain and to search for
him, but Alleyne persuaded her
to IL. him go In her place. There was
much to look after, now that the lands
of lstead were Joined to those OF Twyn-
she would but bide with his wife he
woul0 never come back to Hampshire
aga unt he had gained some news. good
or lil or her lord and lover.
Thp yellow cog had been engaged. with
Goodwin Hawtayne in command, and n
mont after the wedding Alleyne rode
dow to Bucklershard to see II she had
COM round yet from Southampton. On
the way he passed the fishing village of
PITT Deep, and marked that a little
crey or brig was tackling on the land.
as though about to anchor there. On
his WY back, as he rode towards the vii
lngo he saw that she had indeed anchored.
anu that many boats were round her,
benr,Hr cargo to the shore.
a Uow-shot from Pitts Deep there was
an luu little back from the road, very
largr and widespread, with great green
bush hung upon pole from one OF the upper
windows. AT this window. he marked,
as be rode up. that man was sented
who appeared to be craning his neck In
his lirection. Alleyne was still looking
from the open door of the inn. and made
as though she would climb n tree. looking
back the while with laughing face.
Wondering what these doings might
mean, Aleyne tied his horse and was
walking amid the trees toward the inn.
when there shot from the entrance a sec
ond woman who made also for the trees.
Clos Mt her heels came burly, brown
face man, who leaned against the door
pos and laughed loudly with his hand
to his side, "Ah. ma bcllesl' he cried.
and Is it thus you treat me? All, ma
petiles. / swear by these fngerbones
thnt would not hurt hair OF your pret-
ty heads; but 1 have been among the
black paynim, and. by my hiitl 1t does
me good to look at your English cheeks.
Come, drink a stoup Of muscadine with
me. mes enges, for my heart is warm to
he among We again
At the sight OF the man, Alleyne had
stood staring, but at the sound OF his
voice such a thrill of joy bubbied up In
his heart that he had to bite his lips to
keep himself from shouting outright. But
Il deeper pleasure yet was In store. Even
rs he looked. the window above was
pushed outwards, and the voice of the man
whom he and seen there came out from
1t. "Aylwnrd." cried the voice, Il have
seen Just now very worthy person come
down the road, though my eyes could
scarce discern whether he carried coat
armor. / pray you to wait upon him and
tell him that very humble knight of Eng
land nbides here. so that II he be In need
upon his soul. or desire to exalt his lady.
may help him to accomplish 1t.
Awkward at this order came forward
amid the trees. and In an instant the two
men were clinging In each others arms.
laughing and shouting and patting each
other In their delight; while Sir Nigel
came running with his sword, under the
impression that some pickering had brok-
en- out. only to embrace and be embraced
himself, until all three were boarse with
their questions and outcries and congratu-
lations.
On their journey home through the
woods Alleyne learnt their wondrous story
how, when Sir Nigel came to his senses
he with his fellow-captiye had been hur'
ried to the coast, and conveyed by sea
to their captor s caste' now upon 'he wa!
they had been taken by a Barbary rover
and how they exchanged their light cap
tivity for n seat on galley bench ano
hard labor at the pirates oars; how, In th'
port at Barbary. Sir Nigel had slain the
Moorish captain, and had swum with Ayl
ward to a small coaster which they hat
taken, and so made their way to England
with n rich cargo TO reward them for theil
tolls. All this Alleyne listened to, unit
the dark keep of Twynhnm lowered above
them in the cleaning. and they saw th'
red sun lying athwart the ripping Avon
No need to speak of the glad hearts a
Twynham Castle that night, nor Of th'
rich offerings from out that Moorish cargo
which found their way to the chapel OF