The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-04-09

Il Utsion of despdtrtnq loneliness.
gold cross and chain that hung upon
her bosom and, slipping the cross from
the chain, went to where Goodwin lay
and placed it on his breast. Next,
with swift movement. she wound
the chain about the silver hilt of Sir
Andrews sword and, passing to Wulf,
with one strong thrust drove the point
between the oak boards Of the table, sc
that it stood before him.
Then taking the hand Of Hassan, who
stood searching her white, inscruta BILE
face, with never a word or a back
ward look. she swept down the length
of the long hall and out into the night
beyond.
Wulf was dreaming. dreaming that
he stood on his head upon a wooden
plank. as once he had seen q juggler
do. Then he awoke to hear a voice
shouting-the voice of Matthew, the
chaplain of Steeple church.
Awake" said the voice. "In God s
name, 1 conjure you, awakew
What is it?' he said, lifting his
head sleepily and becoming conscious
of a dull pain across his forehead.
ut Is that death and the devil have
been here, Sir Wulf."
well, they are often near together.
But thirst. Give me water"
A serving woman, pallid, disheveled.
heavy eyed, who was stumbling to and
fro, lighting torches and tapers, for it
was still dark, brought it to him in a
leathern jack, from which he drank
deeply.
THAT is better" he said. Then his
eye fell upon the bloody sword set
point downward in the wood of the ia
bic before him, and he exclaimed:
Mother OF God, what is that? My
uncle's silver hilted sword, red with
blood, and Rosamund's gold chain upon
the hilt! Priest, where is the Lady
Rosamund?''
Gone answered the chaplain in a
voice that sounded like groan. "The
women woke and found her gone, and
Sir Andrew lies dead or dying in the
solar. but now ]. have shriven him, and,
oh, we have all been druggedv'
Wulf sprang to his feet with an oath.
"Ah, 1 have it now! You mean the
Cyprian chapman Georgios, he who
sold wine.'
'He who sold drugged wine" echoed
the chaplain, and has stolen away the
Lady Rcsamund."
Then Wulf seemed to go mad.
Presently he shouted in a voice Of
thunder:
Awake, We drunkards! Awake, and
learn what has CHANGED to us! Your
Lady Rosamund has been raped away
while we were lost in Sleep
At the sound Of that great voice a
tall form arose from the floor and
staggered toward him, holding a gold
cross in its hand.
What awful words are those, my
brother?" asked Goodwin, who. pale and
dull eyed. rocked to and fro before
him. Where Is Rosamund?"
Gone, gone, gone" cried wulf.
TELL him, priest"
So the chaplain told him all be knew.
THUS have we kept our oaths," went
on Wulf. "Oh, what can we do now
save die for very shame? What said
you of my uncle, priest? Dead or only
dying? Nay, answer not, let US see.
Come, brother"
Now together they ran or, rather,
reeled. torch in hand, along the passage.
Before them beneath the white, shroud-
like cloak lay Sir Andrew, the steel
helm on his head and his face beneath
it even whittier than the cloak. At the
sound Of their footsteps he opened his
eyes.
AT length, at length" he muttered.
ooh. how many years have 1 waited
for you! Nay, be silent, for do not
know how long my strength will last.
But listen-kneel down and listen"
So they kneit on either side of him,
and in quick, fierce words he told them
all.
take horse swiftly" he gasped,
pausing now and again to rest, "and
rouse the countryside. There is still
a chance Nay, seven hours have gone
by. There is no chance. Their plans
were too well laid. By how they will
be at sea. So hear nae. Go to Pales-
tine. There is money for your faring
in my chest, but SO alone, with no
company, for In time Of peace these
would betray you. Goodwin, draw OF