Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20
CHAPTER VII.

dogs were to ia set upon him If he
showed face upon Minatead land, then
Indeed was Alleyne adrift upon earth.
NORTH, south, east and west-he might
~ chill and cherries. The Abbot
had rolled ten silver crowns In let
tuce-leaf and hid them away In the bot
tom OF his scrip but that would pc a
sorry support for twelve long months.
In all the darkness there was but the
one bright spot of the sturdy comrades
whom he had left that evening" II no
could md them again an , would rn be
walking and now running.
The forest began to shred out into
scattered belts OF trees, with CLEAN or
eornneld and stretch Of pastpre-land
side stood little knots of wattle-and-
daub huts, with shock-haired laborers
Longing by the doors and red-cheeked
children sprawling in the roadway.
By these Alleyne knew that he was
on the very fringe OF the forest, and
therefore no great way from, Christi
church. Right glad later, was the tray-
ellsr TO see the high tower. OF christi
church Priory cleaning In the mellow
evening light, and gladder stu when,
rounding a. corner, ne came upon MS
comrades Of the morning seated astrad-
die upon fallen tree, They had hat
space before them, on which they al
ternately threw little square pieces or
bone, and were 80 intent upon their oo-
GupdIlOn LnuL Iney never IhlbHu eye ds
he approached them. He observed with
establishment, as he drew near, that the
archer's bow was on Johns back, the
archer's sword by Johns side, and the
steel cap laid upon the tree-trunk be-
Mort de ma vlew Awkward shouted,
looking down at the dice. Never had
! such cursed luck. A murraln on the
bonesl / have not thrown good main
since left Navarro. ] am like to reach
Chrlstchurch In my shirt Then sud-
denly glancing up, "Hola. by the splen.
dor OF heaven, here Is our cher petit!
rare sight to mine eyes" He sprang up
and threw his arms round Alleyne's
neck, while John, no less pleased. but
more backward and Saxon In his habits,
wayside, with his newly-won steel cap
stuck wrong-Vid foremost upon his
''Hast cont o stop9" cried the bow
man, patting = leyne all over in his de-
light Shall not get away from us
againF
pringling in the eyes at TINS hearty
"Weii said, ladP' cried big John. 1--WE
three shall to the wars together, and
Of BeauiIeuI But your feet and hosen
are all besmudged. Hast been in the
II have in good sooth," Alleyne ans
their way, he told them the many
things that had befallen him
But you," said Alleyne, there have
been changes with you Also Where
are bow and sword and cap-and why
so warlike, JohnP
ut is game which friend Awkward
hath been attaching of me-"
"And ! found him an oYer-apt pupil. "
grumbled the bowman. He hath
stripped me- But, by my hilt! you
must render them back to me. CANA
rade, lest you bring discredit upon. my
mission. and will pay you for them
"Take them back, man, and never
heed the pay" said John. Il ola but
wish to learn. the feel Of them, since
TO my own girdle for some years to
ma fol, he was born a free COM
panionr' cried Awkward. He hath the
Thought. I take them back then, and
indeed 1t gives me unease not to feel
my yew-staVe tapping against my leg.
1t CHANGED on that very evening that
Sir Nigel Loring, having supped before
sunset, as was his custom, had taken
his dogs for an evening breather. Two
russet-clad varlets, with loud halloo
amid the swarm, guiding, controlling,
and urging. Behind came Sir Nigel
himself with Lady Loring. upon his
arm the pair walking s,1W,iy am and a se1
their condition. They paused at the
Sir Nigel was a slight man of poor
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 in 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 q stoop, with blinking, peering
expression of face. His age was six
and-forty but the constant practice OF
arms, together with clearly life, had
preserved his activity and endurance
unimpaired, so that from a distance he
seemed to haye the slight limb limbs land and
syG tS %aI tte poDted beard Which he
wore was streaked and shot with gray:
His features were small delicate, and
regular, with clear-cut curving nose,
and eyes which. jutted forward from
vet spruce A gold embroidered belt
of knlghthood encircled his loins, with
his arms, Ave roses guless on a held
clasp. So stood Sir Nigel Loring. upon
the bridge Of Avon, and talked lightly
with his lady.
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-
rome, ne had assuredly selected the
iady's Her face was large and square,
with fierce thick brows, and the eyes
az one who was accustomed to rule.
II was the age of martial women. The
deeds of Black Agnes of Dunbar, OF
Tadv Salisbury, and of the Countess or
Montfort were still fresh in the public
mind. with such examples before them,
fhe wives of the English captains had
hecone rs warlike as their mates, and
adhered the castle in their absence with
the prudence and discipline of veteran
seneschais. Right easy were the Mont
ecntes ~ their Castle of Twynham, and
little had they to dread from. rowing
galley or French squadron While Lazy
MARY Loring had the ordering of 1t.
at tell YOU my lord" she was say
Eng. "that II is not fit training for a
dennoiselie: hawks and hounds, rotes
and citoies, singing a French rondel'
or reading the Gestes de Doom de May
ence as I found her yester-night, pre-
tending sleep, the artful, with the cor
ner OF the scroll thrusting forth from
under her pillow. Lent her by Father
christopher of the Priory, forsooth-,,
that IS ever her answer. How shall
ali this help her when she has castle
~ her own TO keep, with a hundred
mouths all agape for beef and drink
'srrue, my sweet bird, true" answered
the knight 1.-THE maid is like the
wonng Ally, which kicks heels and
plunges for very lust of life Give her
time. dame, give her time"
''Well know that my father would