Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-05-06
U k44###*#**s..sssssk*#4# < \ ssss k *# #&aS

ouS Soiiie WlHe TOT me Christmas feast. Sir Andrew asked what wine there was at Southminster. The prior answered that he had heard that a 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, Cypriote. who was in charge of the wine. was selling as much as he could in Southminster and to the houses about at a cheap rate and delivering it by means of vain that he had hired.
 Sir Andrew replied that this seemed a fair chance to get fine liquor which was hard to come by in Essex in those times. The end of it was that he bade Wulf, whose taste in strong drink was nice, to ride with the prior into Southminster and if he liked the stuff to buy few casks of it for them to make merry with at Christmas, al though he himself, because of his ail- llS1lIS. AOW LII duh Wdtcl.
 So Wulf went, nothing loath. In this dark season of the year when there was no fishing it grew very dull loiter- ing about the hall, and since lie did not read much, like Goodwin, sitting for long hours by the fire at night watch ing Kosamund going to and fro upon her tasks, but not speaking with her overmuch, for notwithstanding all their pretense 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 heen said, dread sat upon that rooftree like croaking raven, nor could they escape from the shadow of its wing. Far away in the east mighty monarch had turned his thoughts toward this English home and 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 hill with the prior, laughing as he used to do before Rosamund led him to gather flowers at St. Peterson the 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 short, stout man, wearing red cloth cap who was seated on 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 gallant knight who wish to taste my liquor. Nay, fel- 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 dungeon" And he shivered, drawing his costly shawl closer round him.
 "Sir Abbot, which will you taste first-the red wine or the yellow? The red is the stronger, but the yellow is the more costly and drink for saints in paradise and abbots upon earth. The yellow from Kyrenia? We'll, you are wise. They say 1t was my patron St. Helena's favorite vintage when she visited Cyprus, bringing with her Dis mas cross"
 Are you a Christian theny' asked the prior. T took you for Paynim."
 Were not a Christian would l visit this foggy land of yours to trade in wine. a liquor forbidden to the Mos lemsy" answered the man, drawing aside the folds of his shawl and reveal ing silver cruciix upon his broad breast. 'T am a merchant of Fama- gusta, in Cyprus, Georgios by name, and of the Greek church which you westerners hold to be heretical. But what do you think of that wine, holy abbott"
 In reply the prior smacked his lips.
 "And you. Sir Knight. what say you of the black stuff-'A1avro,' we call it not the common, but that which has been twenty years in cask?''
 'I have tasted worse.' said Wulf.
 Aye, and will never taste better if you live as long as the Wandering Jew. Well, sirs, may take your orders? If you are wise you will make them large, since no such chance is likely to come your way again, and that wine, yellow or red, will keep century,
 Then the chaffering began, and it was long and keen. Indeed. at one time they nearly left the place without purchasing. but the merchant Georgios called them back and offered to come to their terms if they would take dou- ble the quantity, so as to make up cart load between them, which he said he would deliver before Christmas day. To this they consented at length. Wulf then asked him, with somewhat shamed face, if he had embroidery for sale, whereat the prior smiled. The quick eyed Cypriote saw the sluile and inquired if it might be needed for . lady's wear, at which some neishbors present in the room laughed outright.
 Do not laugh at me, gentlemen" said the eastern, flor how can l, a stranger, know this young knights af- fairs, and whether he has mother