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

Il Uiston of despdiring loneliness.
gold cross and chain that hung upon
her bosom and, slipping the cross from
the chain, went to where Goodwin lay
and placed 1t on his breast. Next,
with Il swift movement. she wound
the chain about the silver hilt Of Sir
Andrews sword and, passing to Wulf,
with n strong thrust drove the point
between the oak boards Of the table, so
that it stood before him.
Then taking the hand OF Hassan. who
stood searching her white, inscrutable
face, with never a word or a back
ward look, she swept down the length
Of the long hall and out into the night
beyond.
Wulf was dreaming, dreaming that
he stood on his head upon a wooden
plank, as ono he had seen a juggler
do. Then he awoke to hear a voice
chaplain Of Steeple church.
"Awake!" said the voice. I'm Gods
name, I c~onjure you, awake!"
What is IT." he said. lifting his
head sleepily and becoming conscious
of a dull pain across his forehead.
ut is that death and the devil have
been here, Sir Wulf."
well, they are often near together.
But thirst. Give me water"
A serving woman. pallid, disheveled,
heavy eyed. who was stumbling to and
fro, lighting torches and tapers. for it
was still dark, brought 1t to him in q
leathern jack, from which he drank
deeply.
That is better" he said. Then his
eye fell upon the bloody sword set
point downward in the wood of the ia
Bile before him, and he exclaimed:
Mother of God, what is that? My
uncle's silver hilted sword, red with
blood, and Rosamund's gold chain upon
the hilt! Priest, where is the Lady
Rosamund?'
Gone" answered the chaplain in a
voice that sounded like a groan. The
women woke and found her gone, and
Sir Andrew lies dead or dying in the
solar, but now l have shriven him, and,
oh, We have all been drugged"
Wulf sprang to his feet with an oath.
"Ah, l have it now. You mean the
Cyprian chapman Georgios, he who
sold wine"
HE who sold drugged wine" echoed
the chaplain, and has stolen away the
Lady Rosamund."
Then Wulf seemed to go mad.
Presently he shouted in a voice Of
thunder:
Awake, We d%runkardsl Awake, and
learn what has CHANGED to US. Your
Lady Rosamund has been raped away
while we We're lost in sleep"
At the sound of that great voice n
tall form arose from the door and
staggered toward him, holding a gold
cross in its hand.
What awful words are those, my
%brother?" asked Goodwin, who, pale and
dull eyed, rocked to and fro before
him. where is Rosamund?"
Gone, gone, gone!" cried Wulf.
"Tell him. priest"
So the chaplain told him all he knew.
Thus have we kept our oaths," went
OH Wulf. ooh, what can we do now
save die Ter very shame? What said
| you Of my uncle, priest? Dead or only
dying? Nay, answer not, let us see.
| Come, brother
Now together they ran or, rather.
reeled, torch in hand. along the passage.
Before Them beneath the white, shroud-
like cloak lay Sir Andrew, the steel
helm on his head and his face beneath
it even whittier than the cloak. At the
sound of their footsteps he opened his
eyes.
"At length, at length" he muttered.
"Oh, how many years have I waited
for you! Nay, be silent, for ! do not
know how long my strength will last.
But listen-kneel down and listen"
So they knelt on either side Of him,
and in quick, fierce words he told them
all.
Take horse swiftly" he gasped,
pausing nov and again to rest, land
rouse the countryside. There is still
a chance. Nay, seven hours have gone
by. There Is no chance. Their plans
were too well laid. BY now they will
be at sea. So hear me. Go to Pales.
tine. There Is money for your farine
in my chest. but go alone, with no
company, for in time OF peace these