Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-08-17


tune are arrayed against them. Who is
this travel-stained youth who dares to
ride so madly through the lines of staring
burghers? Why does he fling himself
from his horse and stare so strangely
about him? See how he has rushed
through the incense-bearers, thrust aside
lay-sister Agatha, scattered the two-and-
twenty damosels who sang so sweetly-
and he stands before the novice with his
hands outstretched, and his face shin
ing, and the light of love in his gray eyes.
Her foot is on the very Intel of the
church, and yet he bars the way-and she.
she thinks no more of the wise words and
holy rede of the lady abbess, but she
hath given sobbing cry and hath fallen
forward with. his arms around her droop-
ing body and her wet cheek upon his
breast. sorry sight this for the gaunt
abbess, an Ill lesson too for the stainless
two-and-twenty who have ever been taught
that the way of nature is the way of sin.
But Maude and Alleyne cared little for this
A dank, cold air comes out from the black
arch before them. Without, the sun
shines bright and the birds are singing
amid the ivy on the dropping beeches.
Their choice is made, and they turn away
hand-in-hand, with their backs to the
darkness and their faces to the light.
Very quiet was the wedding in the old
priory church at Christchurch, where
Father Christopher read the service, and
there were few to see save Lady Loring
and John, and a dozen bowmen from the
castle. The Lady of Twynham had droop-
ed and pined for weary months, so that
her face was harsher and less comedy than
before, yet she still hoped on, for her lord
had come through so many dangers that
she could scarce believe that he might
be stricken down at last. 1t had been her
wish to start for Spain and to search for
him, but Alleyne persuaded her
to let him go in her place. There was
much to look after, now that the lands
of Minstead were Joined to those of Twyn-
ham, and Alleyne had promised her that If
she would but bide with his wife he
would never come back to Hampshire
again until he had gained some news, good
or i'll of her lord and lover.
The yellow cog had been engaged, with
Goodwin Hawtayne in command, and a
month after the wedding Alleyne rode
down to Bucklershard to see If she had
come round yet from Southampton. On
the way he passed the fishing village of
Pitts Deep, and marked that a little
creyer or brig was tackling off the land,
as though about to anchor there. On
his way back, as he rode towards the vii
lage, he saw that she had indeed anchored,
bearing cargo to the shore.
A bow-shot from Pitts Deep there was
an inn little back from the road, very
large and widespread, with great green
bush hung upon pole from one of the upper
windows. At this window, he marked,
as he rode up, that a man was seated
who appeared to be craning his neck in
his direction. Alleyne was still looking
up to him, when woman came rushing
from the open door of the inn, and made
as though she would climb a tree, looking
back the while with a laughing face.
Wondering what these doings might
mean, Alleyne tied his horse and was
walking amid the trees toward the inn,
when there shot from the entrance sec
ond woman who made also for the trees.
Close at her heels came burly, brown
faced man, who leaned against the door
post and laughed loudly with his hand
to his side. "Ah, ma belles!'' he cried,
and is it thus you treat me? All, ma
petites! 1 swear by these fngerbones
that I would not hurt hair of your pref
ty heads; but 1 have been among the
black paynim, and, by my hilt! it does
me good to look at your English cheeks.
Come, drink a stoup of muscadine with
me, mes enges, for my heart is warm to
be among We again..
At the sight of the man, Alleyne had
stood staring, but at the sound of his
voice such a thrill of joy dubbed up in
his heart that he had to bite his lips to
keep himself from shouting outright. But
a deeper pleasure yet was in store. Even
as he looked, the window above was
pushed outwards, and the voice of the man
whom he and seen there came out from
it. "Aylward,'' cried the voice, 81 have
seen just now a very worthy person come
down the road, though my eyes could
scarce discern whether he carried coat
armor. 1 pray you to wait upon him and
tell him that very humble knight of Eng
land abides here, so that If he be in need
of advancement, or have any small vow
upon his soul, or desire to exalt his lady,
1 may help him to accomplish 1t"
Awkward at this order came forward
amid the trees, and in an instant the two
men were clinging in each others arms,
laughing and shouting and patting each
other in their delight; while Sir Nigel
came running with his sword, under the
impression that some pickering had brok-
en- out, only to embrace and be embraced
himself until all three were hoarse with
their questions and outcries and congratu-
lations.
On their journey home through the
woods Alleyne learnt their wondrous story
how, when Sir Nigel came to his senses,
he with his fellow-captive had been hur-
ried to the coast, and conveyed by sea
they had been taken by a Barbary rover,
and how they exchanged their light cap
tivity for a seat on a galley bench and
hard labor at the pirates oars; how. in the
port at Barbary, Sir Nigel had slain the
Moorish captain, and had swum with Ayl-
ward to small coaster which they had
taken, and so made their way to England
with rich cargo to reward them for their
tolls All this Alleyne listened to, until
the dark keep of Twynham lowered above
| them in the cleaning and they saw the
red sun lying athwart the ripping Avon.
No need to speak of the glad hearts at
Twynham Castle that night, nor of the
rich offerings from out that Moorish cargo
which found their way to the chapel of
Father Christopher
Sir Nigel Loring lived for many years,
full of honor and laden with every bless
ing. He rode no more to the wars, but he
found his way to every jousting within
thirty miles. and thn HamDShire youth