Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-08-09

~RON the sea wall on the coast
EEa of ESSEX. Eosamund Darcy
"a looi ed out across the ocean
eastward. To right and left,
but a little behind her. like guards at
tending the person of their sovereign,
stood her cousins, the twin brethren,
Goodwin and Wulf. tall and shapely
men. Goodwin was still as Il statue, his
hands folded over the hilt of the long
scabbarded sword. Of which the point
was set on the ground before him, but
Wulf. his brother. moved rcstlessly and
at length yawned aloud. They We're
beautiful to look at. all three Of them,
as they appeared in the splendor Of
their youth and health.
AT the sound of that justified yawn
Rosamund turned her head with the
slow grace which marked her every
movement.
would you sleep already. Wulf, aud
the sun not yet down. she asked in
her rich. low voice, which. perhaps be
cause of its foreign accent, seemed
quite different from that Of any other
woman
II think SO, Rosamund," he answered.
1T would serve to pass the time, and
now that you have finished gathering
those yellow flowers which we rode 50
far to seek, the time is somewhat long.
Tell me now. what are vow thinking of,
YOU two, for l have been wondering
in my dull way and am curious to
learn how far I stand from TRUTH
Rosamund, speak first"
Rosamund sighed.
~? l was thinking Of the east, where
the sun shines ever, and the seas are
| blue as my girdle stones, and men are
full Of strange learning
"And women are mems slaves" in
terruptcd Wulf. Still 1t is natural
that you should think Of the east who
have that blood in your veins, and
high blood, if all tales be true. Say.
princess''-and he bowed the knee to her
with an affectntion of mockery which
could not hide his earnest reverence
SAY, princess, my cousin, granddaugh-
ter Of Ayoub and niece of the mighty
monarch Yusuf Salah-ed-din. do you
wish to leave this pale land and visit
your dominions in Egypt and in
Syria?"
She answered him with another ques-
ton.
"And how would they greet me there,
Wulf, who am n Norman Darcy and
a Christian Daid?"
''The first they would forgive you,
since that blood is none so i'll either,
and for the second-why, faiths can he
changed"
Then it was that Goodwin spoke for
the first time.
"Wulf, Wulf." he said sternly, keep
watch upon your tongue, for there are
things that should not be said even as
q silly jest. See you, | love my cousin
here better than aught else upon the
earth
There, at least, VIC agree" broke in
Wulf.
Better than aught else upon the
EARTH repeated Goodwin; but, by the
Holy Blood and by st. Peter, at whose
shrine we are, l would kill her witt
my own hand before her lips kissed
the book of the false prophet"
"Or any of his followers muttered
Wulf to himself, but. fortunately per
haps, too low for either of his com
p~anions to hear. Aloud he said, "Yor
understand. Rosamund; you must bt
careful, for Goodwin eve keeps hill
word, and that would be but a pool
end for so much birth and beauty and
wisdom"
'Oh, cease hooking, Wulf!" Rosa
mund answered, laying her hand light
ly on the tunic that hid his shirt o,
mail. "Cease mGrking and pray st
Chad, the builder Of this church, tina
no such dreadful choice may ever bt
forced upon you"
Tell me-" continued she, changing
her tone. 'what " that boat rowing