Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-15

to have fight at heron of the pool or
mallard in the brook. How fares it with little
Katherine the peregrine, Mary"
Il have joined the wing, father, and / have
imped the feathers; but l fear it will be
Christmas ere she can fly again.
This is a hard saying" said Sir John; 4" for
indeed have seen no holder better bird Her
wing was broken by heron's beak last Sab
bath sennight, holy father, and Mary has the
mending of it "
trust, my son, that you had heard mass
ere you turred to worldly pleasure upon Gods
holy day Father Mathew answered.
Tut, tut" said the old Knight, laughing.
shall I make confession at the head of my
own table2 l can worship the good God
amongst his own works, the woods and the
fields, better than in yon pile of stone and
wood. But l call to mind charm for a
wounded hawk which was taught me by the
fowler of CASTOR de Folk. How did it run
The lion of the Tribe of Judah the root of
David, has conquered Yes, those were the
words to be said three times as you walk round
the perch where the bird is mewed."
The old priest shook his head. Nay, these
charms are tricks of the Devil" said he.
Holy Church lends them no countenance, for
they are neither good nor fair. But how is it
now with your tapestry, Lady Nary When
last was beneath this roof you had half done
in five fair colors the story of Theseus and
Ariadne."
1t is half done still, holy father"
How is this, my daughter3 Have you then
SO many calls?"
Nay holy father, her thoughts are other
where Sir John answered She will sit an
hour at a time, the needle in her hand and her
soul hundred leagues from Cosford House.
Ever since the Princes battle"
Good father, I beg you-"
Nay Mary, none can hear me, save your
own confessor Father Mathew. Ever since the
Princes battle, | say, when we heard that
young Nigel had won such honor, she is brain
wood, and sits ever-well even as you see her
now.
An intent look had come into Mary's eyes
her gaze was fixed upon the dark rain-Splashed
window. 1t was a face carved from ivory,
white-lipped and rigid, on which the old priest
looked.
What is it, my daughter? What do you
seer"
Il see nothing, father"
What is it then that disturbs your"
| hear, father"
What do you hear?"
There are horsemen on the road"
The old Knight laughed. $50 it goes on.
father. What day is there that hundred
horsemen do not pass Our gate? and yet every
clinll of hoofs sets her poor heart attending.
So strong and steadfast she has ever been my
Mary, and now sound too slight to shake
her to the soul. Nay, daughter nay, l pray
you'll
She had half risen from her chair, her hands
clenched and her dark startled eyes still fixed
upon the window. +" l hear them, father! |
near them amid the WING ana Cne ram! Y eS,
yes, they are turning-they have turnedl My
God, they are at our very door'
BY Saint Huberti the girl is right" cried
old Sir John, beating his fist upon the board.
:" Ho, varlets! out with you to the yard Set
the mulled wine on the blaze once more! There
are travellers at the gate, and it is night
to keep dog waiting at Our door. Hurry,
Hannekinl Hurry, l say, or l will haste you
with my cudgel!"
Plainly to the ears of all men could be heard
the stamping of the horses. Mary had stood
up quivering in every limb. An eager step
at the threshold, the door was flung wide,
and there in the opening stood Nigel, the rain
cleaning upon his smiling face, his cheeks
flushed with the beating of the wind, his blue
eyes shining with tenderness and love. Some
thing held her by the throat, the light of the
torches danced UP and down; but her strong
spirit rose at the thought that others should see
that inner holy of holes of her soul. There
is a heroism of women to which no valor of
man can attain. Her eyes only carried him her
message as she held out her hand.
Welcome NIGEL" said she.
He stopped and kissed it. Saint Catha-
rine has brought me home, said he.
A merry supper it was at Cosford Manor
that night, with Nigel at the head betwixt
the jovial old Knight and the Lady Mary,
whilst at the farther end Samkin Awkward,
wedged between two servant-maids kept his
neighbors in alternate laughter and terror as
he told his tales of the French Wars. Nigel
had to tttrr1 his doeskiu heels and show his |