Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-02-21
2 |.

mans. 1t runs north and south alonE
the narrow spine of the country, which
is spread out on either side like g
map or a picture. AS you fare south
ward you see on your right hand the
green orchards and pastures Of Wor-
CeSterShire stretching as far as the
Malvern hills. You nave In front OF
you BredOn hill, which is a wonder
full hill, for If a man goes down the
Avon by boat IL goes with him, now
before and now behind, a whole days
journey, and then stands i'm the same
place. And ON the left and you have
the great forest of Arden and not much
besides, except oak trees, which grow
well in W~arwfckshire.
/ describe this road firstly, because
1t is a notable n n 40 years ago
was the only Queens highway TO call
a highway IN that country. The
rest were mere horse tracks,
Secondly, because the chase wall
of Cotton End runs along the side
of it for two good miles. and the
C~luddes--I am Francis Cludde-have
lived at Cotton End by the Ridgeway
time out of mind, probably-for the
name smacks of the soil-before the
Romans made the road. And, thirdly,
because 40 years ago, on q drizzling
February day in 1555-second year OF
Mary, old religion just re~-established
"a number of people were collected on
this road, forming a group of a score
or more, who stood in an ordered kind
OF disorder about my uncle's gates and
looked all n way, as IL expecting an
arrival, n an arrival of consequence.
First, there was my uncle Sir An
thony, tall n lean. He wore his best
velvet doublet and cloak and had put
them on with an air of huge import
ance. This increased each time he
turned, staff in hand, and surveyed his
following, n as regularly gave place
TO a "Pshaw!" of vexation and petu-
liant glance when his eye rested on
me. Close beside him, looking import
ant, too, but anxious and a little fright
ened as well, stood good Father Carey.
The priest wore his silk cassock, and
his lips moved from time to time with
out sound. as though he were trying
over a Latin Grafton, which indeed was
the fact. At a more respectful dis
tance were ranged Baldwin Moor. the
stewart, n q dozen servants, while
sui farther away lounged as many rag
muff1ns-landless men, who swarmed
about every gentleman's door in those
times and took toll of such abbey lands
as the king might have given him.
Against n of the stone gate pillars
| leaned myself, 10 years and six
months old, and none too wise, though
well grown and as strong as one here
oilu AilSiC. Anu peTcncu on the TOD or
the twin post, with his chin on his
knees and his hands clasped about
them, was Martin Luther. the fool.
Martin had chosen this elevated posi-
ton partly out of curiosity and part
~ perhaps under a strong sense of
duty. He knew that, whether he would
or no., he must needs look funny UP
there. His nose was red. and his eyes
were running and his teeth chatter
InU. and he did innl f,Ynnu DE-
as he felt the cold most his patience
failed first. The steady, silent drizzle,
the mist creeping about the stems of
the oak trees, the leaden sky, proved
too much for him in the end. "A
watched pot never boils," he grumbled
Silence, strait" commanded my
uncle angrily. This is no time for
your fooling. Have a care how you
talk in the same breath of pots and
my lord bishop"
'Sanctae e~cclesiae," Father Carey
broke out, turning up his eyes in a kind
of ecstasy, as though he were knee
TO knee with the prelate--'te defen-
sorem inclytum atque ardentem'-
"Pottum!' cried |, laughing loudly
at my own wit.
IL was an Ill hammered word, but /
was cold and peevish. l had been
forced to this function against my
VIII. 1 had never seen the guest whom
we were expecting. and who was no
other the queens chancellor.
Stephan Gardiner, but / disliked him
as IL | had. In truth, he was related
10 us In q peculiar fashion, which nv
uncle and | naturally looked at from
different standpoints.
Sir Anthony viewed with compla-
cence, IL not with pride, any connection
with the powerful bishop of Winches-
ter, for the knight knew the world and
could appreciate the value Ii sets on
success n the blind eyes it has for
spots IL they do but speckle the ris-
Ing sun. l could make no such allow
ance. but, with the pride of youth and
far1ily, at once despised the great bish-
op for his base blood and blushed that
the same lay on our side. l hated this
parade OF doing honor to him and
would fain have hidden at home with
Petronilla, my cousin, Sir Anthony's
daughter. and awaited our guest there.
The knight, however, had not permitted
this, and had been forced out. be-
ing in the worst OF humors.
So / said "Pottum," and laughed.
silence, boy!" cried Sir Anthony
ferceiy. He loved an orderly process
sion and to arrange things decently.
"Silence!" he repeated, darling an
angry glance first Mt me and the at his
followers, "or I will warm that jacket
of yours. lad. And you, Martin Luther.
see to your tongue for the next "a
hours and keep 1t off my lord bishop.
And. Father Carey hold yourself
ready
For here Sir Hot Pot cometh."
cried the ~undaunted Martin, skipping
nimbly down from his post of vantage,
and a dozen of London ~saucepans
with him, or may / never lick the In
side of III again.
A Jest OF the sauciness of London
serving men was sure to tell with the
crowd, and there was a great laugh
at this. especially among the ladless
men. who were on the skirts OF the
| party and well sheltered from Sir An
thongs eye. He glared about him
provoked to find at this critical moment
smiles where there should have beer
i looks of Difference. and a ring round
a fool where he had marshalee
procession. Unluckily he chose
10 visit his disIleasure upon me
"You won't behave. won't you
Won puppy!7 he cried. 'You won't won
you!' and stepping forward he aimed
q blow at my shoulders which
would have made me rub myself IL II
had reached me. But l was too quick
J stepped back. the stick swung idly
and the crowd laughed.
And there the matter would have
ended. for the bishops party were
close Upon US, q not my foo slippec
on the wet grass and 1 fallen backward
Seeing me thus at his mercy, the tenn.
tAtior proved o much for the knight
He forgot his love of ae~rrnlfness am
L exAn fhaL bto w3uftoro - 49,