The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-04-02
e.e,.. ...e. two u.n cannot win one

So@A
Il ias~ ne .ren..e,' sr.w-red the
r::tr aRa:r.s.y. art wii:, less noble
aAfrssS err. it Eight Is grave. Eut
IL i. - o.is c.'hc Ia :dts, t..o.> nlsist
- LADY rage aro..ii-.s TO tie wishes
III Or c-@.i Lc::t. $50 81 -tp les.s Ter
Isus- 10 .s.al - scr-ow as ia Jay. BE
sure taa. 20. txsa 10 base aI.snfsge
OF yoar brother IT, he hoer CT t"mp.a-
eso and bear h:r no bitterness should
he win .tae bride"
Then XyG,f also returned to tic altar
rc;ls. aid the full mass was sung and
he sacrament received 10y the two neo-
t.iy;ee ara the offerings made, all In
t;,s.r appo.hted order. Next they We're
&c sack to the nriocy 70 rest and eat
n..le after their long nights vigil in the
cc,l church. and here they abode
a7s l.ilc, thinking their own thoughts.
seated alone in the priors chamber. At
length WuIt, who seemed to be i'll at
case. rose and laid his hand upon his
brothers shoulder, saying:
II can he silent no more. 1t was ever
out Of it, have words to say TO you"
Speak on. Wulf." said Goodwin.
Wulf sat himself Gown again upon
his stool and for awhile stared hard al
nothing, for he did not seem to find it
easy to begin this talk.
ut is of our cousin Rosamund, is it
not?" asked Goodwin presently.
AYE Who else?"
And you would tell me that you
love her. and that, now you are a
knight-almost-and hard on five and
twenty years of age. you would ask her
to become your affiauced wife"
Yes, Goodwin; it came into my heart
when she rode the gray horse into the
water
Then, Wulf," answered Goodwin
slowly, "what more is there to say?
Ask OH and prosper. Why not? We
have some lands, if not many, and Ros-
amuud will not lack for them. Nor do
l think that our uncle would forbid
you, If she wills it, seeing that you are
the properest man and the bravest in
all this countryside"
Except my brother Goodwin, who is
all these things and good and learned
to boot, which l am not" replied Wulf.
Goodwin, our i'll luck is that you love
her also and that you thought the same
thoughts which l did yonder on the
quay head"
Goodwin flushed little. ut is So" he
said quietly. "To my grief it is So
But Resamund knows nothing of this
and should never know it if you will
keep watch upon your tongue. More
over, you need not be jealous Of me
before marriage or after"
What, then, would you have me
do" asked Wulf hotly-"Seek her heart
and perchance-though this I doubt
let her yield it to me, she thinking that
you care naught for herr"
"Why not" asked Goodwin again,
with a sigh. 1T might save her some
pain and you some doubt and make my
own path clearer. Marriage is more to
you than to me, Wulf, who think some
times that my sword should be my
spouse and duty my only aim.'
"Who think, having a heart Of gold,
that even in such thing as this you
will not. bar the path of the brother
whom you love. Nay, Goodwin, sooner
would 1 bid you all farewell and 60 to
seek fortune or death in the wars
without word spoken" g.
Leaving Rosamund to. pine, per-
chance. Oh, could we be sure that she
had no mind toward either Of us. that
would be best - to begone together!
But, Wulf, we cannot be sure, since al
times, to be honest. have thought she
loves you"
"And at times, to be honest, Goodwin
have been sure that she loves you, al
though 1 should like to try my luck
and hear it from her lips. which on
such terms 1 will not do
what, then, is your plan, Wulf?"
"My plan is that if our uncle gives
us leave we should both speak to her
you first, as the elder setting out your
case as best you can and asking her to
think of it and give you your answer
within day; then, before that day is
done, also should speak"
1T is very fair" replied Goodwin
land worthy of yeu. who are the most
honest Of men. Yet, Wplf, am trou
bled. See you. my brother, have ever
brethren loved each other as we do
And now must the shadow Of a woman
fall upon and blight that love which is
30 fair and precious?"
"Why 500? asked wulf "Come, God
win; let us make pact that it shall
not be thus and keep it by the help of
heaven. Let us show the world that
two men can love one woman and still
love each other, not knowing as yet
which Of them she will choose-if, in
deed, she chooses either. Is it your will
that we should make such a pact"
Goodwin thought little, then an
swered:
Yes, but If so, it must be one so
strong that for her sake and for both
our sakes we cannot break it and live
with honor"
$50 be it," said Wulf This is mans
work, not child's make believe. = -
Then Goodwin rose and, going to the
door, babe his squire, who watched
without. pray the Prior John to come
10 them. as they sought his counsel in
4 matter. In the end, kneeling together
hand in hand before the rood that stood
in the chamber, they repeated this
oath after him, both of them together:
I'VE brethren. Goodwin and Wulf
Darcy, do swear by the holy cross OF