The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1906-04-19

darcy, do swear by the holy cross or
Christ that, being both OF us enamored
Of our cousin, Rosamund darcy. we
win ask her to wife in the mdnner we
have agreed aud no other that we viii
abide by her decision, should she
choose either OF us, nor seek to alter Il
by tempting her from her troth or IN
any fashion overt or covert; that he OF
us whom she refuses will thenceforth
be brother to her and no more, how
ever Satan may tempt his heart other
wise; that in war or peace we will re-
main faithful comrades and brethren.
Thus we swear with a true heart and
purpose, and In token thereof. KNOWN,
that he who breaks this oath will De a
knight dishonored and vessel At for
the wrath of God, we kiss this rood
and one another"
To steeple, preceded by the squlres,
who rode before them bareheaded. car
Fying their swords by the scabbarded
points, with their gold spurs hanging
from the hits, the brethren came at
last. Here the hall was set for great
feast a space having been left between
the tables and the dais, to which the
brethren were conducted
At last the long ceremony was ended,
and after It came very great feast,
On the morrow, after most OF the
guests were gone, many Of them with
aching heads, Goodwin and Wulf
sought their uncle. Sir Andrew, In the
solar where he sat alone, for they knew
Rosamund had walked to the church
hard by. Coming to his oaken chair
by the open hearth, which had a chin
uey in it--no common thing 10 those
days-they knelt before him.
what Is II now. my nephewsT' ask
ed the old man. smiling. do you
Wish that I should knight you afresh7"
mo, SIR" answered Goodwin; I'VE ask
a greater boon"
''Then you seek in vain, for there is
none."r
Another sort Of boom" broke in
wulf.
Sir Andrew pulled his beard and
looked at them.
Speak" he said to Goodwin. "The
gift Is great that I would not give TO
either OF you II It be within my power"
"Slr," said Goodwin. I'VE seek the
leave to ask your daughters hand In
marriage"
"What! The two Of your
yes, sir; the two Of us"
Then Sir Andrew, who seldom laugh
ed, laughed outright.
Truly" he said, "of all the strange
things have known, this is the stran-
gest-that two knights should ask one
wife between them"
1T seems strange, SIR, but when you
have heard our tale you will under
stand"
Noble IN this as in other things"
commended Sir Andrew when they had
done "but fear that one Of you may
End that vow hard to keep. BY all the
saints, nephews. you were right when
you said that you asked great boon.
DO you know. although have told You
nothing OF II. that. not to speak Of the
lnave Lozelle, already two Of the great
est men In this land have sought my
daughter Rosamund In marrlageT
ut may well be So" said Wulf.
ut Is so, and now will tell you why
one or other OF the pair Is not her bus
band, which In some ways would he
were A simple reason I asked her,
and she had no mind to either, and as
her mother married where her heart
was, 80 have sworn that the daughter.
should do OF not at all. for better a
nunnery than loveless bridal.
Nov let us see what you have to
give. You are of good blood that Of
Ululn BY your mother and mine. also
on one side her own. You bore your
selves bravely In the Scottish war.
Since then although you loved the life
little, because I asked II Of you, you
have rested here at home with me and
done no feats Of arms save that great
one OF two months gone which made
you knights and. In truth, gives you
some claim on Rosamund.
"Tor the rest, your father being the
younger son, your lands are small and
you have no other gear. She whom
you ask is one Of the fairest and noblest
and most learned ladies in this land,
for /, who have some skill In such
things, have taught her myself from
childhood. Moreover. as have no 9TH
er heir, she Will be wealthy. Well
what more have you to offer for oil
this?"
yourselves" answered Wulf boldly
1--WE are true knights Of whom you
know the best and worst, and we love
her. We learned It for once and for all
on Death creek quay, for TIL then she