New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-21

v, L
-o,ce ! said Nigel And you, Mary, do you blde
with the good priest for we know not what may DC
within
AGAIN he turned to the door, and again the two
men barred his passage -,
"Stand back | say back for your hves!" said
NIGEL "Bv Saint Paul! | should think it shame
TO soil nv sword with such you but my soul IS
set and no man shall bar my path this night.
The men shrank from the deadly menace OF that
gentle voice, ,, .1o
Hold" said one of them, peering through the
darkness, is it not Squire Loring of Tlfordt
That is indeed my name.
Had YOU spoken it l for would not nave
stopped your way Put down your statf, wat
for this is no stranger, but the Squire OF I1tord
"As well for him." grumbled the other lowering
his cudge with inward prayer OF thanksgiving
Had it been otherwise | should have had blood
upon nv soul tonight. But our master said moth
ing of neighbors when he ordered to hold the door
| will enter and ask him what is his will
But already Nigel was past them and had pushed
open the outer door. Swift he was, the Lady
Mary was his very heels, and the two passed to-
gether into the hall beyond.
1t was a great room, draped and curta1ned with
black shadows, with vivid circle OF light IN the
center where two oil lamps Shone upon small
table A meal was laid upon the table, but only
two were seated at it, and there were no servants
in the room At the near end Edith her
golden hair loose and streaming down over the
scarlet and black of her riding-dress.
At the farther end the light beat strongly upon
the harsh face and the high-drawn mlsshaPen
shoulders of the lord of the house tangle OF
black hair sur1nounted a high rounded forehead,
the forehead of thinker, with two deep-set cold
gray eyes twinkling sharply from under tutted
brows His nose curved and sharp, like the
beak of some cruel bird, but below the whole OF his
c1ean-shaven powerful face married by the loose
slabbing mouth and the round folds OF the heavy
chin His knife in hand and halt-gnawed
bone in the other he looked flercey up, like some
beast disturbed in his den, the two lntruders
broke in upon his hall. -
Nigel stopped midway between the door and the
table His eyes and those of Paul de la FosSe were NV
eted upon each other. But Mary with her woman S
soul flooded with love and pity, had rushed tor
ward and cast her round her younger sister
Edith had sprung up from her chair and with averted
face tried to push the other away from her
Edith, Edith By the Virgin, | mplore you
to come back with us, and to leave this wicked
mani cried Mary. Dear sister, you would not
break our fathers heart, nor bring his gray head
in dishonor to the grave! Come back! Edith, come
back and all is we'll
But Edith pushed her away, and her fair cheeks
were flushed with her anger. What right have you
over me, Mary, you who are but two years Older
that you should follow over the country side
as though l were runagate villein and you my
mistress? Do you yourself go back and leave me
to do that which seems best in my own eyes.
But Mary still held her in her arms and still
strove to soften the hard and angry heart. Our
mother is dead, Edith. l thank God that she died
ere she saw you under this roof But | stand for
her. as | have done all my life. since | am indeed
your elder 1t is with her voice that beg and pray
YOU that you will not trust this man further, and
that you will come back ere it be too late"
Edith writhed from her grasp, and stood flushed
and defiant, with cleaning angry eyes fixed upon
ID r v O II I O n