The Breckenridge news., 1906-07-18

once; perchance you may change
again."
"Cruelg' he cried. who hath
And then your brother" she con-
tinued with a little laugh, disregard
/ ing his question. "Methinks TINS hath
become a family custom amongst the
| Edricsons. Nay, l am sorry, L dld not
mean jibe. But, indeed, Alleyne,
| this hath come quickly upon me, and
| / scarce know what TO say.
Say some word OF hope, however
distant--some kind word that may
| cherish in my heart
ness, and you have been too good and
true a friend TO me tnat l should use
you despitefully. There cannot be
closer link between US. II Is madness
to think of ii. Were there no other
| reasons, it is enough that my father
and your brother would both cry out
against it,"
My brother, what has he to do with
it? And your father -"
Come, Alleyne, was it not you who
would have me act fairly to all men,
them?"
You say truly" he cried. you say
truly But you do not reject me,
hope? I do not ask pledge or promise
say only that l am not hateful to
you-that on some happier day l may
hear kinder words from you"
Her eyes softened upon him, and a
heartfelt answer was on her lips,
when hoarse shout, with the clatter
OF arms and stamping of steeds, rose
up from the bailey below At the
sound her face set. her eyes sparkled. |
and she stood with flushed cheek and
mead thrown baek-a woman's body,
MY father hath gone down." she
cried your place Is by his side. Nay,
time for dallying. Win my fathers
love, and all may follow. 1t is when
the brave soldier hath done his devoir
well. and may God be with YOU" She
neIdout her white, slim hand to him,
but as he bent his lips over it she
in his outstretched hand the very
green veil for which Peter Terlake
had craved in vain. Again the hOarse
heard the clang Of the rising portcul-
| us. Pressing the veil TO his lips, he
thrust II into the bosom of his tunic,
ana rushed as fast as feet could bear
him to arm himself and join the muster
me raw morning had broken ere
the, hot. spiced ale was served round
and last farewell spoken. First came
Black Simon with his banner. bestrid-
Ing lean and powerful dapple-gray
charger. as hard and wirv as himself
After him, riding three abreast, were
nine men-at-arms. all picked soldiers
who had followed the French wars
before. So, with jingle of arms and
Bridge, of Avon, while the burghers
shouted for the flag of the five roses
| ana It's gallant guard.
Close at the heels of the horses came
two-score archers. burly and mostly
bearded, their round targets on their
backs and their long yellow bows, the
man had yet devised. thrusting forth
from behind their shoulders From
each mans girdle hung sword or axe,
according to his humor, and over his
right hip there .jutted out the Jeathern
culver. with its bristle of goose, pigeon,
and peacock feathers.
So Wen toast altogether
To the Gray Goose Feather,
And the land where the Gray Goose
flew.
Behind the bowmen strobe two
trumpeters blowing upon ndkirs. and
| Two drummers in parti-colored clothes.
After them came twenty-seven suuip-
| ter-horses carrying tent poles, cloth,
| spare arms, spurs, wedges, cooking
| Kettles, horseshoes, bags of nails, anhl
| the hundred other things which eX-
perience had shown TO be needful in a
married hostlle country. y white mule
with red trappings, led by a varlet,
carried Sir Nigels own napery and
| table comforts. Then came two-score
more archers, ten more men-at-arms,
ana, hnallly rear-guard Of twenty
boWmen, with big John towering in
| the front rank and the veteran Aylward
marching by his side. his battered har-
ness and faded surcoat i'm strange con-
trast with the snow-white jupons and
| shining brigandines of his companions.
A quick cross-hre of greetings and
| flew from rank to rank. or were banded
about betwiXt the marching archers
| and the gazing crowd.
The Company had marched to the
turn OF the road ere Sir Nigel Loring
rode out from the gateway mounted
| on Pommers, his great black war
war-horse, whose ponderous football
| on the wooden drawbridge echoed
loudly from the gloomy arch which
spanned il. Sir Nigel was still in his
velvet dress of peace. with fiat velvet |
| cap OF maintenance. and curling IA /
| feather clasped in "A golden brooch. |
He bore no arms save tho long and !