Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-08-16

llcCeSsuTy u splI Ut u1e name VI NlO-
BANNED, who to my mind was a great
man deceived by the artifce Of SATAN"
Neither do l." said Goodwin re1ec.
lively. "It's true servants should fight
the enemies Of the cross and pray for
their souls. not spit at them"
The merchant looked at them curious.
~, lingering the silver crucifix that
hung upon his breast. Pardon me, I
accept your reproof, who perhaps am
bigoted," he said.
Yet. had they but known 1t, this ire
proof was to save the life of many a
man that night.
MAY l ask help with these pack
ages" he went on. 'as I cannot open
them here, and to move the casks?
Nay, the little keg I will carry myself.
as I hope that you will taste Of it at
your Christmas feast" Then. twisting
the tub from the end Of the vain on to
his shoulder in such a fashion that it
remained upright. he walked off lightly
toward the open door Of the hall.
For one not tall that man Is strange
ly strong" thought Wulf.
Then the other casks Of wine were
slowed awNy in the stone cellar be-
meath the hall.
Leaving his %servant-a silent, stupid
looking, dark eyed fellow named Petros
to bait the horses, Georgios entered the
hall and began to unpack his carpets
and embroideries. AS Sir Andrew look
ed at them, remembering his long dead
days, his face softened.
Il will buy that rug" he said, "for Of
a truth 1t might be one on which I lay
Ayoub ut Damascus. Nay, I haggle
not at the price. I will buy it." Still
recalling his youth, he began to talk Of
Cyprus, and so time went on until the
dark was falling.
Now Georgios said that he must be
going, as he had sent back his guide to
SouthEainster where the man desired
to cat his Christmas feast. SO the
reckoning was paid-.it was a long one
and while the horse were harnessed
TO the vain the merchant bored holes
in the little cask Of wine and set spig-
tts in them, bidding item all be sure
to drink of it that night. Then calling
down good fortune on them for their
Kindness and liberallty he made his
salaalns in the eastern fashion and de.
parted, accompanied by Wulf.
Within five minutes there was a
sound of shouting. and Wulf was back
again, saying that the wheel of the
vain had broken at the first turn, so
that now ii was lying upon its side in
the courtyard. Sir Andrew and God
win wen out to see to the matter, and
there they found Georgios wringing his
hands.
Noble knights" he said, what am
I to do? Already it is nearly dark,
and how ] shall find my way up yon-
der steep hill l know not. AS for the
priceless broideries, 1 suppose they
must stay here for the night, since that
wheel cannot be mended till tomor-
row
LAS you had best do Also said Sir
Andrew kindly. Leave your serv-
ant with my people, who will look aft
err him, and come you into the hall and
tell me some more Of Cyprus till our
food is ready, which will be soon. Do
not fear for your goods. They shall be
placed under cover"
"All unworthy as I am, I obey" an
swered the obsequious Georgios. Pc
tros, do you understand? This noble
lord gives us hospitality for the night.
His people will show you where to "a
and sleep and help you with your
horses"
This man, who, he explained, was a
Cypriote-a fisherman in summer and a
muleteer i'll winter-bowed and, fixing
his dark eyes upon those of his master,
spoke In some foreign tongue.
You hear what he says. the silly
fellow" said Georgios. What! You
do not understand Greek. only Arabic2
Well. he asks me to give him money to
pay for his dinner and bis nights lodg-
ing. will explain to him, the pig"
And explain lie did in shrill, high notes,
of which no one else could understand
a word.
There. Sir Knight. I do not think he
will offend you so again. All, look!
He is walking off; he is sulky. Well,
let him alone. He will be back for his
dinner, the pig"
So, GeorGios still ~declaiming upon the
SHORTCOMINGS of his servant, they went
back into the hall.
At length 5 O'Clock came, and Geor-
CLOS, having first been taken to the Law.
atory-it was but O. stone trough-to
wash his hands, was led to the dinner,
or, rather, to the supper, table, which
stood upon Il dais In front of the en-
trance to the solar Here places were
laid for stx-;Sir Andrew, his nephews,
Rosamund, the chaplain, Matthew, who
celebrated masses in the church and ate
ut the hall on feast days, and the Cyp-
rlote merchant, Georgios himself. Be-
low the dais and between II and the
fire was another table, at which We're
already gathered twelve guests, being
the chief tenants Of Sir Andrew and
the reeves Of his outlying lands. On
most days the servants Of the house,
with the huntsmen, swincherds and
others, sat at n third table beyond the
fire. but, as nothing would stop these
from growing drunken ON the good ale
at n feast-and though many ladies
thought little Of it there was no sin
that Rosamund hated so much as this
now their lord sent them to eat and