The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-08-10

r aBd youth ana nature, and above all, for
tune are arrayed against them. Who /,
g this travel-stained youth who dares L
E ride SO madiy through the lines OF staring
: burgherss Why does he fling himself
D from his horse and stare strangely
2 about himf See how he has rushed
, through the incense-bearers, thrust aside
} lay sister Agatha, scattered the two-and-
I twenty damosels who sang so sweetly-
/ and he stands before the novice with his
. hands outstretched and his face shin
: ing, and the light Of love in his gray eyes.
. Her foot is ON the very Intel of the
church, aud yet he bars the way-and she.
she thinks no more of the wise words and
holy rede OF q lady abbess. but she
hath given a soBSsag cry and hath fallen
forward with his arms around her droop-
ing body and her wet cheek upon his
breast. A sorry sight this for the gaunt
abbess, an Ill lesson too for the stainless
tw0-and-twenty whc have ever been taught
that the way of nature Is the way of sin
But Mande and Alleyne cared little for this
dank, cold air comes out from the black
arch before them Without, the sun
shines bright and the birds are singing
amid the ivy on the dropping beeches
! Their choice Is made and they turn away
hand-in-hand, with their backs to the
darkness and their faces TO the light.
!
priory church at Christchurch. where
Father Christopher read the service. and
there were few to see save Lady Loring
and John, and a dozen bowmen from the
castle. The Lady of Twynham had iroop-
ed and pinned for weary months, so that
her face was harsher and less comely than
before, yet she stlll hoped on, for her lord
had come through so many dangers that
she could scarce believe that he might
be stricken down at last II had been her
wish to start for Spain and to search for
him, but Alleyne persuaded her
10 let him go In her place. There was
much TO look after, now that the lands
of Minstead were Joined to those of Twyn-
ham, and Alleyne had promised her that If
she would but bide with his wife he
would never come back to Hampshire
again until he had gained some news, good |
or i'll of her lord and lover.
The yellow cog had been engaged with |
Goodwin Hawtayne In command, and a
month after the wedding Alleyne rode |
down to Bucklershard TO see if she had |
come round yet from Southampton. On |
the way he passed the fishing village of |
Pitts Deep. and arked that little
creyer or brig was tackling of the land.
as though about to anchor there. On
his way back, as he rode towards the VIII
lage, he saw that she had indeed anchored, L
and that many boats were round her. Il
bearing cargo to the shore.
h)w-shot from Pitts Deep there was
an inn a little back from the road, very
large and widespread with a great green
bush hung upon pole from one of the upper
windows. At this window, he marked,
as he rode up, that man was seated
who appeared to be craning his neck In
his direction. Aleyne was still looking
up to him, when woman came rushing
from the open door of the inn, and made
as though she would climb tree, looking
back the while with a laughing face.
Wondering what these doings might
mean, Alleyne tied his horse and was
walking amid the trees toward the lnn
when there shot from the entrance sec
Dnd woman who made also for the trees
Close at her heels came burly brown
faced man. who leaned against the door
post and laughed loudly with his hand
% his side. ''Ah, ma belesp' he cried,
md is 1t thus you treat me? All ma
petitesl / swear by these fingerbones
hat ! would not hurt hair of your pref
y heads; but / have been among the
black paynlm, and, by my hilt! 1t does
ne good to look at your English cheeks.
come, drink stoup. OF muscadine with
ne, mes enges, for my heart Is warm TO
,e among We again"
AT the sight of the man, Aleyne had
TODD staring, but at the sound of his
'oice such a thrill OF joy dubbed up In
IFS heart that he had TO bite his lips to 7
eep himself from shouting outright But
deeper pleasure yet was In store. Even
IS he looked, the window above was
ushed outwards and the voice of the man
ghom he and seen there came out from
/. fAylward," cried the voice II have
cen just now a very worthy person come
own the road though my eyes could
carce discern whether he carried coat
rmor. ! pray You to walt upon him and
I'll him that very humble knight of Eng
n .Ixf1 4 T.. a 4
I advancement, or have any small vow
pom his soul, or desire to exalt his lady,
may help him to accomplish IL. = q
Awkward at this order came forward
mid the trees and in an instant the two
len were clinglng in each others arms.
ughing and shouting and patting each =
ther In their delight; while Sir Nigel
anne running with his sword, under the
IMPRESSION that some pickering had brok-
b out. only to embrace and be embraced
imself, until all three were hoarse with
leir questions and outcries and eongratu-
tions.
On their journey home through the
GODS. Alleyne learnt their woudrous story:
ow when Sir Nigel came to his senses,
E with his feIlow-captive had been hur-
ed to the coast, and conveyed by sea
their captors castle how upon the way
lev had been taken by Barbary rover
I'D how they exchanged their light cap
witty for q seat on galley bench and
lrd labor at the pirates oars: how, in the
Drt at Barbary, Sir Nigel had slain the
Loorish captain, and had swum with Ayl-
ard to small coaster which they had
ken, and so made their way to England
18th rich cargo TO reward them for their
ills. All this AlIeyne listened to, until
e dark keep Of Twynham lowered above
EN- In the cleaning. and they saw the
d sun lying athwart the ripping Avon. [
o need TO speak Of the glad hearts at
wynham Castle that night. nor of the
III offerings from out that Moorish cargo
hich found their way to the chapel Of
lther Christopher.
Sir Nigel Loring lived for many years.
II of honor and laden with every bless
= FL rode no more TO the wars, hnt he
ind his way to every jousting within
irty miles: and the Hampshire youth
assured 1t as the highest honor when
lnagement OF their horses, or their
eaking or their lances SO he lived and
he died. the most revered and the hap
st man IN all his native shire
Tor Sir Aleyne Edricson and for his
autiful bride the future had also naugit
/ what $ goods Twice he fought in
ance and came back each time laden
th honors. A high place at court was
zen to him. and he spent many yenrs ut
indsor under the second Richard and the
nth Henry where he received the
nor Of the Carter and won the name or
ng a brave soldier, true-hearted gem
man. and A great lover and patron of
sry art and science which ref IS or en-
Dles life. mo
4 a