The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-04-05
end delivering it by means Of a vain

end delivering 1t by means Of vain
that lie had hired
Sir Andrew replied that this seemed
fair chance TO get fine liquor. which
was hard to come by in Essex in those
times. The end of it was that he
babe Wulf. whose taste in strong drink
was nice. to ride with the prior into
Southiainstcr and il he liked the stuff
to buy Il few casks of it for them to
make merry with at Christmas. al
though he himself. because OF his all
mcnts, now drank only water.
So Wulf went. nothing loath. In this
dark season Of the year when there
was no fishing it grew very dull ioiter-
ing about the hall, and since he did
not read much. like Goodwin. sitting for
long hours by the fire Ut night watch
ing Rosamund going to and fro upon
her tasks. but not speaking with her
overmuch. for Notwithstanding ali their
prctenSe of forgetfulness some sort OF
veil had fallen between the brethren
and Rosamund. and their Intercourse
was not SO open and familiar as of old
Moreover, as has been said. dread
sat upon that rooftree like a croaking
raven. II could they escape from the
SHADOW of its wing Far away in the
east 0 mighty monarch had turned his
thoughts toward this English homo aad
the maid Of his royal blood who dwelt
there and who was mingled with his
visions of conquest and of the triumph
OF his faith.
So away Wulf rode up Steeple bill
with the prior. laughing as he used to
DO before Rosamund led him to gather
| flowers at st. Peters-on-theW Wall.
Asking where the foreign merchant
dwelt who had wine to sell, they were
directed to an inn near the minister.
Here in a back room they found a
short, stout man, wearing u red cloth
cap, who was seated on a pillow be-
tween two kegs.
"Clean cups" he said. speaking in
bad French. to the drawer who stood
beside him. "Clean cups, for here
come a holy man and n gallant knight
who wish to taste my liquor. Nay, fell
low, fill them up. for the top Of Mount
Trooidos in winter Is not SO cold as
this cursed place, to say nothing Of its
damp, which is that Of a dungeon"
And he shivered. drawing his costly
sha wi closer round him.
"Sir Abbot. which will you taste
hrst-the red wine or the yellow? The
red is the stronger. but the yellow is
the more costly and n drink for saints
in paradise and abbots upon earth.
The yellow from Kyrenia? Well. you
are wise. They say it was my patron
ST. Helena's favorite vintage when she
visited Cyprus, bringing with her Dis
mas cross"
have been could he have seen the palm
er Nicholas creeping round the hall
while all men slept ere he girded up his
long gown and ran like hare for Lon
don. Yet he had done this by the light
| OF the bright stars, taking note of every
window slit in it, more especially Of
those of the solar; of the plan of the
outbuildings also, and Of the path that
ran to Steeple creek. some 500 yards
! away.
From that day forward fear settled
on the place-fear Of some blow that
none was able to foresee and against
which they could not guard But the
time went on. and nothing happened to
disturb them. The friends of whom
the old knight took counsel laughed
at his forebodings. None Of them be-
lieved that Saladin or his emissaries
would stir in this business before the
| spring or, more probably, until another
year had passed. Still they always set
| guards at night and, besides them
selves, kept twenty men sleeping at
the hall; also they arranged that on
the lighting of signal fire upon the
| tower of Steeple church their neighbors
| should come to succor them
So the time went on toward Christ.
mas. before which the weather changed
and became calm. with sharp frost.
1t was on the shortest day that Prior
John rode up to the hall and told them
that he was going to Southminster to
buy some wine for the Christmas
feast. Sir Andrew asked what wine
there was at Southminster The prior
answered that he had heard that q
ship laden. among other things, with
wine Of Cyprus Of wonderful quality
had come into the river Crouch with
her rudder broken. He added that as
no shipwrights could be found in Lon
don to repair it till after Christmas
the chapman, a Cypriote, who was in
charge of the wine, was selling al
much as he could in Southminster and
to the houses about at a cheap rate
| Ito be Continued