The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-30

his great hall, and Torfrida and her lasses made and mended their clothes and cooked their dinners and other wise tended them as fighting men of value needed.
 Then Edward the King died in Eng land, and Hereward said that there was one fool Lass on earth. And liar old Goodwinsson became king. but 1t was plain that he would not be one long, for his brother Tosti had been declared wolfs head and outlaw, and was waiting for 8 chance to strike, Tosti sent word to Hereward that if he would join Duke William of Nor mandy and go to fight Harold. they would give him earldom and all his old rights hack again in England
 But Hereward would have nothing to do with Tosti. whom he named the cold-meat butcher" And he sent word to William of Normandy that he would be his man when he was King or all England, and not before
 Then Hereward the Wake sat him down and watched the storm gather black and blacker over England. Har- old Hardraade of Norway, the terrible swept down from the North. William of Normandy landed in the South. Har- old Godwinsson was between them Men said that the end of the world was at hand.
 At last there came news to Elan ders-stranGe news. almost incredible, but brought by mon not to be doubt cd. Harold Hardraake was dead. Tosti, was dead. all slain by Harold Godwinsson at York, and in nis turn Harold Godswinsson was dead slain by William of Normandy at Hastings. and all the Godwinssons were Killed ana England was lost.
 "Oh. why was I not with the Eng fish. to go with those brave hearts to Valhailai" cried Hereward when he heard of the last struggle around the dragon standard of Wessex, where Harold hewed dreadfully with ms great ax, till he toppled, an arrow in his eye. and the last of the English men lay in an iron heap around their king.
 For two years Hereward listened ana thought and watched and waited, William of Normandy propitiated, slew, nunished rewarded in all that time with true Norman subtlety and fierce- ness mixed, fastening the hold or the Frenchman on England. Little py nt- tie he granted the lands ot EnRlands old rulers and nobles to his own nun prv yassals. Little by little they re- duCe0 LHe EHBAaSh
 and drove them to despair.
 Torfrida listened to the news that came over the channel. Her heart was hot and great with noble de- sire Her mind was great with no- ble vision. She became as EnRlsn aA Hareward himself: and she burned to free the brave land. If she saw neS Hereward an earl, nay. even the hlhk of England, who shall blame ner since sne knew of none more noo's' more splendid
 xualTa had become in truth. Viking he ras still. but sea thief no more. Fight er he was still, but killer no more. Rerserk he was. but not 'boaster. Tn his heart had grown dream. ana Witn thai dream shining in his eyes he sail- ed away one day and landed in Eng land and rode, into 1t alone, save TOT a single squire to spy out the land.
 Al Boston he learned that which made him throw caution and conceal ment to the winds. Men told him that William the Conuuerof had given his father's house at Bourne to Flemish cook who had accompanied him te England. The cook had ridden into Bourne. burst into. the house and killed Hereward's young brother.
 Bourne was dark and still when HereWGrd rOu6 lutO " bh@@ AASht' Only from his fathers house came any sound. and 1t was sound that made him grit his teeth. for 1t was tht laughter and roar of men sitting in hi fathers hall feasting.
 On the gable before the door was hil brother's bloody head. HerewarC climbed up and tok 1t down and gave it reverently to his squire. Now" said he. do you guard the door and if any man passes me see that he passes moi thee." And he burst open the dool and went in to die in one great re.
 But he did not die. Fourteen Nor. mans were in the hall when he rushed in shouting his name and giving ths terrible battle cry of the Vikings. They fought back at him with ale cups, with knives. with benches anything and everything they could snatch, for theil swords were not in reach. Hereware did a murder grim and great-how great he did not know himself till all at once there fell silence and he breathed deep and looked about him al fourteen dead men.
 "EZerewardi Hereward" cried the English of Bourne and awoke iron their fear The war arrow was sen, around. Before the Normans learned of that wild night in Bourne. English men were gathering again for new re- volt and Hereward was speeding back to Flanders to raise fleet. after having taken his mother the Lady Godiva, to the sanctuary of the great crowland minister.
 There was only one man strons enough to dream of lighting William