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


Is enough for me. On which of you she
looks with the more favor l do not
know. and be you content to remain in
ignorance of what a father does not
think IL wise to seek to learn. Now
we have done with all this business.
Rosamund. dismiss your knights. and
be you all three brothers and sister
once more till this time two years,
when those who live will find an an
swer to the riddle" 49,.
So Rosamund came forward and
without O word gave her right hand to
Goodwin and her left to Wulf and suf-
fered that they should press their lips
upon them. So for awhile this was the
end Of their asking Of her in marriage.
As they descended the steps their
eyes fell upon the figure of a tall man
clad In a pilgrims cape, hood and low
crowned hat. of which the front was
bent upward and laced. who carried In
his hand palmer's staff and about his
waist the scrip and water bottle.
what do you seek. holy palmer"
asked Goodwin, coming toward him, "a
nights lodging in my uncle's house"
The man bowed; then, fixing on him
q pair OF beadlike brown eyes, which
reminded Goodwin Of some he had seen,
he knew not when or where, answered
in the humble voice affected by his
class:
Even so, most noble knight-shelter
without; also a word with the lord, Sir
Andrew DARCY, for whom l have a
message" -
"a muller" said Wulf. II thought
that paImers always went afoot!"
True, Sir knight, but, as it chances,
l have baggage. Nay. not my own,
whose earthly gear is all upon my
back, but q chest, that contains l know
not what, which I am charged to de.
liver to Sir Andrew Darcy, the owner
of this hall, or should he be dead then
to the Lady Rosamund. his daughter"
1--WE will help you," said Goodwin.
And they went with him into the court
yard, where by the scant light Of the
stars they saw fine mule in charge OF
one Of the serving men and bound upon
its back a long shaped package sewed
over with sacking. This the palmer I'M
loosed. and, taking one end. while
Wulf, after bidding the man stable the
mule. took the other, they bore 1t into
the hall, Goodwin going before them to
summon his uncle. Presently he came.
and the palmer bowed to him. h..
What is your name, palmer, and
whence is this boxT' asked the old
knight. looking at him keenly.
my name, Sir Andrew, Is Nicholas OF
Salisbury, and as to who sent me. with
your leave, will whisper in your ear"
And, leaning forward, he did so.
Sir Andrew heard and staggered back
as though dart had pierced him.
"What?" he said. Are you, holy
palmer, the messenger Of and be
stopped suddenly. 1872
II was his prisoner" answered the
man. land he. who at least ever keeps
his word, gave me my life, for l had
been condemned to die, at the price
that ] brought this to you and took
back your answer or hers, which have
sworn to do"
Answer? To what?" ~
NAY, 1 know nothing save that there
Is a writing in the chest. Its purport l
am not told, who am but a messenger
bound by oath to do certain things.
Open the chest, lord, and meanwhile if
you have food I have travelled far and
fast"
Sir Andrew went to a door and called
to his manservants, whom he babe
give meat to the palmer and stay with
him while he ate Then he told Goodwin
and Wulf to lift the box and bring 1t to
the solar and with it hammer and
chisel in case they should be needed.
which they did. setting it upon the oak
en- table.
"Open." said Sir Andrew. So they
ripped off the canvas, two folds OF it.
revealing within a box of dark. for
eign looking wood bound with iron
bands. Mt which they labored long be-
fore they could break them. At length
1t was done. and there within was an
other box beautifully made Of polished
ebony and sealed at the front and
ends with a strange device. This box
had a lock of silver, to which was tied
a silver key.
cat least it has not been tempered
with" s''d Wulf. examining the IN
broken seals, but Sir Andrew only re-
peated:
'Open, and be swift. Here, Goodwin,
take the key, for my hand shakes with
cold"
The lock turned easily, and the seals
being broken the lid rose upon its
hinges, while. as it did so. scent OF
precious odors filled the place. Be
meath, covering the contents Of the
chest. was ALI oblong piece Of worked
silk and lying on 1t n parchment.
Sir Andrew broke the thread and seal
and unrolled the parchment. Within it
was written over in strange characters.
Also, there was a second unsealed roll
written in clerkly hand in Norman
French and headed. Translation Of
this letter in case the knight, Sir An
drew Darcy, has forgotten the Arabic
tongue or that his daughter, the Lady
Rosamund. has not yet learned the
same"
Sir Andrew glanced at both headings,
then said:
NAY. I have not forgotten Arabic,
who. while my lady lived, spoke little
else with her, and who taught it to our
daughter. But the light is bad, and,