Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-08-16

Come, WIT, arc here or nnsrcr."
1 will thank %you-ycs, from my heart,
though, in truth, l am grieved that we
can be no moro brother and sister, as
we have bce this many a year"
"Tomorrow"-- he broke in.
aye" she answered in a heavy voice.
Tomorrow l must speak, and-you
must listen"
The sun had run his course again,
and once more il was near 4 o'clock in
the afternoon. The brethren stood by
the great fire in the hall looking at
each other doubtfully.
ut is time" said Wulf, and Goodwin
nodded.
As he spoke a was seen de-
scendlng from the solar, and they knew
her errand.
(which: Z" asked Wulf, but Goodwin
shook his head.
"Sir Andrew bids me say hat he
would speak with You both" said the
woman.
They passed the passage and closed
the door, and before them was Sir An
drew seated in his chair by the fire,
but not alone, for at his side. her hand
resting upon his shoulder, stood Rosa
mund. AS they advanced they bowed
first to her and then TO their uncle,
while, lifting her eyes from the ground.
she smiled a little in greeting.
Speak. Rosamund," said her father.
"These knights are in doubt and pain"
"My cousins" began Itosamund in Il
low. quiet voice, as though she were
saying a lesson, las to the matter of
which you spoke to me yesterday, !
have taken counsel with my father and
with my W heart. Alas, | can give
TO neither Of you the answer which yon
wish"
Now there was silence for n little
space. while from beneath his bushy
eyebrows the old knight watched their
faces, on which the light OF the tapers
fell. Then Goodwin spoke:
I'VE thank you, cousin. Come, Wulf,
we have our answer; let us be going"
Not all of it, broke in Rosamond
hastily.
Listen" she said, "for if 1t pleases
you. / an willing to make q promise
which my father has approved. Come
to me this time two years, AMI if we all
three live, should both of you still wish
me to wife, that there may be no fur
Their space of pain or waiting, ! will
name the man whom | shall choose an,
marry him at once"
and If one Of us is dcad?" asked
Goodwin.
Then" replied Rosamund, "if his
name be untarnished and he has lone
no deed that is not knightly / will
forthwith wed the other"
Pardon me- broke in Wulf.
She held up her hand and stopped
him, saying;
You think this a strange saying, and
so perhaps it IS. but the matter is
also strange, and for me the case is
hard. Remember, all my life is at
stake, and l may desire more time
wherein to make my choice, that be.
tween two such men no maiden would
find easy. We are all of us still young
for marriage, for which, II God guards
our lives, there will be time and to
squire. Also IN TWO years l may learn
which Of you is in truth the worthier
knight, who today both seem SO
worthy"
Then Is neither Of us more to you
than the other!" asked Wulf outright.
Rosamund turned red, and her bosom
heaved as shv replied:
Il will not answer that question"
And Wulf should not have asked
IT," said Goodwin. Brother, | read
Rosamund's "a wing thus: Between us
she finds not n UGH to choose. or II she
does In her secret heart out Of her
kindness-slnce she Ia determined not
to marry for awhile-she will not suf-
fer us to see 1t and thereby bring grief
ON n of us. For my part | find this
Judgment wise and Just. and l am coy-