Amador ledger., 1906-07-20

rood 1 shall drive him into the earth
like a nail into a door, rather than see
you do scath to each other
Fore God. this is strange way of
You may ind the scath yourself, my my,
lusty friend. if you raise your great
cudgel to me. 1 had as lief have the
castle drawbridge drop upon my pate
Tell me, Aylward," said Alleyne
| earnestly, with hands outstretched to
keep the pair asunder, what is the
cause of quarrel, that we may see
whether honorable settlement may not
be arrived at?"
The bowman looked down at his
feet and then up at the moon. Par
rel? Why. mon petit, it was years ago
in Limousin, and how can I bear in
mind what was the cause of it? Simon
there hath it at the end of his tongue
Il have had other things to think of.
There was some sort of pickering over
dice, or wine, or was it woman, coz?'
:. ,.Pasgues ;. nsius Dieu! but you have nicked
about woman; and the quarrel must
go forward. for I am still of the same
mind as before"
What Of the woman. then?" asked
simon. May the murrain strike me If
1 can call to mind aught about her"
1T was La Blanche Rose, maid at
the sign of the Trois Corbeaux at Linn
oges. Bless her pretty heart! Why,
mon gar, loved her.
so did many" quoth Simon. 81
day that we fought over the little
hussy, she went off with Evan ap Rice,
long-legged Welsh dagsman. They
have hostel of their own now, some
where on the banks of Garonne, where
the landlord drinks so much of the
liquor that there is little left for the
customers"
$50 ends our quarrel them" said
Aylward, sheathing his sword. "a
Welsh dagsman, T. faith! c. etait mau-
vais gout, camarade, and the more so
when she had a jolly archer and a
lusty man-at-arms to choose FROM"
The old soldiers and Horde John
strode off together in all good-fellow-
ship. Alleyne had turned to follow
them. when he felt a touch upon his
shoulder, and found young page by
his side.
"The Lord Loring commands" said
there"
Up the broad steps Alleyne went
following his boyish guide. until at the
folding oak doors the latter paused
| and ushered him into the main hall OF
the castle.
On entering the room the clerk look
ed round; but, seeing no one; he con-
examining with the greatest interest
chamber which was so different to
any to which he was accustomed.
| Most interesting of all to Alleyne was
| on which, by the side of chess-boar6
| and the scattered chessmen, there lay
an open manuscript written in a right
clerkly hand, and set forth with brave
| f1ourishes and devices along the mar.
gins. In vain Alleyne bethought him
| of where he was and of those laws OF
good breeding and decorum which
should restrain him; those colored can.
hand down to them. as the loadstont
draws the needle, until, almost before
he knew 1t, he was standing with the
romance of Garin de Montglane before
to be completely oblivious of where h,
was and why he had come there
He was brought back to himself
however, by sudden little ripple O.
| quick feminine laughter. Aghast, h,
dropped the manuscript among tn,
chessmen and stared in bewildermen
| round the room. 1t was as empty ant
as still as ever. Again he stretched
came that roguish burst of merriment
He looked up at the ceiling. back a
| the closed door, and round at the stiff
folds of motionless tapestry. OF a sud
den, however, he caught quick SHIN
mer from the corner of a high-backeC
bancal in front of him, and shifting
pace of two to the side. saw a white
slender hand, which held a mirror o
| polished silver in such way that tn,
| concealed observer could see withou
being seen. He stood irresolute, un
| certain whether to advance or to tax,
no notice; but, even as he hesitated
| the mirror was whipped in, and a tai
and stately young lady swept out from
behind the oaken screen, with a dane
ing light of mischief in her eyes
| Alleyne started with astonishment a
hA iznd fhn xrrI,,
had suffered from his brothers vic
lence in the forest. She no longe
wore her gay riding-dress, however
but was attired in a long sweepin'
robe of black velvet of Bruges. will
and at wrist, scarce to be seen agains
the ivory skin. Beautiful as she hat
seemed to him before, the 1.-THE charm
of her figure and the proud, free grace