The Breckenridge news., 1906-07-11
CHAPTER VII.

Ni1AI Ell VII
If he might not return to Beaulieu
within the year, and If his brothers
dogs We're to be set upon him II ne
showed face upon Minstead land, then
indeed was Alleyne adrltt upon earth.
North, south, east and west-he might
turu where he would, but all was equal
lv chill and cherries. The ADDot
had rolled ten silver crowns IN a let-
tuce-leaf and hid them away In the Dol
'..u al his scrip. but that would De
sorry support for twelve long mon tns, U y
l, an tIe darkness there was Dut the
one bright, spot oi the sterey e,,eSyins,. if ne
could lind them again an Wuulu ayy w
well. lie pushed ON, therefore "o"
walking and now running. o,,t irto
The forest began 20 shred OUT IhtVS
scattered belts of trees, with gleam OF
and stretch OF pasttHHre-IaaRYu ptH ,,aYl
between Here and there py tnS way
gide stood little knots of wattle-and-
.IYi1b Luts. with shock-haired laborers
luunging by the doors ana reH-cneeheu
rfldreu sprawling in the roadway.
Bv these Alleyne knew that ne was
.r The verv fringe of the forest, ana
therefore no great way from Chrlst-
cInrch. Right glad later. was the traV-
LIZ 10 see the high tower or ChTist-
cbSrch Priory cleaning in the mellow
.thing light. and gladder still when,
I.uuding "a corner. he came upon ms
comrades of the morning seated astraut
lI ilnrn a fallen tree. They had nat
sulce before them, on which they az
t,ruatelv threw little square pieces Oh
home and We're so intent uppu LHNii "
.inu that they never raised eye az
U. approached them. He observed with
~tDufShmcut. as he drew near, that the
uroher's bow was on JOINS PACK; the
Steel cap laid upon the tree-trunk be-
tween them. ,...,,
Mort DE ma vie; A5ylWa.r.1S 'si,. SnpuSteudi Sad
looking down at the dice. Never nad
such cursed luck. murrain on the
bones, ! have not thrown q, good man
since lclt Nayarrr Ian am IKE Thon tE rsnG. sndl
denly ulauciug up, "Hola, by the splen-
dor of heaven. here is our cher pett!
Now. bv my ten nuger-bones TINS Is
rare sight 10 mine eyes lie spIahB up
and threw his arms round Alleyne
ue. k while John, no less pleased, Dut
more backward and Saxon In his habits,
stood griuuiug and bobbing by, the
wayside. with his newly-won steel cap
stuck Wroug-Side foremost upon ms
.IIast come To- stop?" cried the bow
man. pattug AlleNue all over in his de-
light shall not get away from us
II wish mo- better" said he, with a
prugling in the eyes at TINS nearly
"Weii said. lad" cried big John. I'VE
three shall TO the wars together, and
the devil may fly away with the Abbot
of Bcaulieul But your feet and hOsen
are AN bcsmudgcd. Hast seen I'm the
Il have I'm good sooth." Alleyne ans
wered, and then, as they Journeyed ON
their way, be- told them the many
things that had bcfallen him
But you" said Alleyne, ''tnere nave
been changes with you also. Where
are bow and sword and cap-and why
"ft is a game which friend Awkward
hath been a-tcachlng of me-
"And ! found him an oyer-apt pupil.
......I,d the bowman. "he. haln
must render them back to me. CANA
lade. lest you bring discredit upon my
mission, and l Will pay you Tor them
Take them back. man. and never
heed the pay" said John. Il did but
wish To learn the feel of them, since
I ann like TO have such trinkets hung
To my own girdle for some years TO
Ma fol he was born a free com
panion" cried Aylward. He hath the
very trick of speech and turn Of
thought I take them back then, and
indeed 10 gives me unease not To teel
my yew-staye tapping against my leg.
10 cuauccd on that very evening thdt
Sir Nigel Loriug, having supped before
sunset as was his custom, had taken
his dogs for an evening breather, Two
russet-clad varlcts, with loud halloo
and cracking whips, walked thigh-deep
amid the swarm, guiding, controlling,
and urging. Behind came Sir Nigel
himself, with Lady Loring upon his
arm. the pair walking slowly and Sc
dately, as behtted both their age and
their condition. They paused at the
Sir Nigel was a slight man OF poor
stature. with soft lisping voice and
gentle ways. So short was he that his
wife. who was no very tall woman, |
had the better Of him by the breadth |
of three fingers. His sight having been
injured I'm his early wars by basket
over him when he led the Earl of
Derby's stormers up the breach at
Bergerac, he had contracted something
OF stoop, with blinking, peering
expression OF face. His age was six
and-forty, but the constant practice of
arms, together with cleanly life, had
so that from a distance he
seemed TO have the slight limbs and
swift grace of boy HIS face, how
ever. was tanned of a duh yellow tint,
and the little pointed beard which he
wore was streaked and shot with gray.
Ills features were small, delicate, and
ana eyes which jutted forward from
the lids. His dress was simple and
yet spruce. A gold embroidered belt
or knighthood encircled his loins. with
argent. cunningly worked upon the
clasp. So stood Sir Nigel Loring upon
the bridge Of Avon, and talked lightly
And. certes. had the two visages alone
been seen, and the stranger been asked
which were the more likely to belong
TO the bold warrior whose name was
loved by the toughest soldiery of Eu-
rope, he had assuredly selected the
l1dV'S. Her face was large and square, 4,
with fierce thick brows. and the eyes
Of one who was accustomed to rule. |
II was the age Of martial women. The |
deeds Of Black Agnes OF Dunbar, OF
7 qdV Salisbury, and of the Countess or |
Montfort were still fresh in the public |
roind. With such examples before them; |
the wives OF the English captains had
become as warlike as their mates, and
ordered the castle in their absence with
the prudence and discipline OF veteran
seneschals Right easy were the Mont
acutes Of their Castle Of Twynham, and
little had they TO dread from rowing
or French squadron while Lady
Nfn~v LorinR had the ordering or II.
ing, that It is not ht training for a
demoiselle: hawks and hounds rotes
and citoles. singing a French rondel'
or reading the Gestes de Doom de May
ence as 7 found her vester-night, pre-
tendinP sleep. the artful with the cor
ner OF the scroll thrusting forth from
,nder her pillow. Lent her by Father
Of the Priory. forsooth-1,,
hat IS ever her answer; How shall
- hor own 10 keep, with hundred
mouths all agape for beef and drink
True nv sweet bird. true" answered
the knieht "The maid Is like the
'-~'~o hIlv. which kicks heels and
nlunges for very lust OF life. Give her
time dame. give her time"
We'll know that nv father would
have given me. not time. but good
hazel stick across my. shoulders
when Young maids NAV fiout their eld-
prs wonder that you do not correct
her nv fair iord?"
NAV nv hearts comfort. I never