The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-30

 wonder and then to admire, and at last to learn, quite simply and with humil- ity as unconscious and brave as his boasting had been.
 He had relapses, to be sure. Once they told him that horse breeder in Holland had a mare named Swallow that was the ugliest and fastest in the world. They challenged IIereward to get her, warning him that her owner had seven men's S strength, and would not sell her except the purchaser won a fight. A Fleming courier said with a sheer that Hereward would win, since he wore a magic armor that had been given to him by Torfrida. Thereupon Hereward shook his great golden beard and foared that he would ride to the campaigns in Holland in his shirt and come back with the mare. 1 In moment he was Berserker He sent Torfridas armor to her with mes sage that he could do without it. Mex; day he rode away by the side of Robert 1 brother of Baldwin of Flanders. with his l long yellow curls floating over his shoul- l ders, golden spurs on his heels, but only a silken shirt and silk hose for dress. He | looked boldly up at her as he passed and laughed and rode on. Torfrida withdrew 1 and fell to the floor in a faint. l She did not see him again for three 1 quarters of year, and she nearly died with misery. Then one day there rode 1 into the courtyard of the castle a most unpleasant object, in a shirt brown with month-old blood, torn criss and cross, while half healed scars showed under ev- cry rent.
 Hair and beard of the creature were unkempt A heavy cut across the head was still smeared with blood Any nose save that of love, would have wrinkled 1 itself and demanded perfume.
 But Torfrida ran to the brown-shirted ragamuffn and threw her arms around his neck and laughed and cried and then never stirred or spoke. but just held him tight.
 NOW" said Hereward, T will go wash myself and change this shirt, for certes l need it."
 Soon they were married, and Hereward lived right well, for he had done good ! plundering in the wars and Torfrida was rich, and Count Baldwin made him Mas ter of Knights. He kept 40 of his gallant vikings in his great hall, and Torfrda and her lasses made and mended theil clothes and cooked their dinners and oth- erwise tended them as fighting men ot value needed.
 Then Edward the King died in England 1 and Hereward said that there twas one less fool on earth. And Harold Goodwin son became king, but it was plain tha he would not be one long, for his brother Tosti had been declared wolfs head an, outlaw, and was waiting for a chance tC strike. Tosti sent word to Hereward tha if he would join the Duke William O Normandy and go to fight Harold, the, would give him earldom and all his ol' rights back again in England.
 But Hereward would nave nothing {, do with Tosti whom he named ''the colt meat butcher'' And he sent word t William of Normandy that he would O his man when he was King of all Eng land, and not before.
 Then Hereward the Wake sat him dow and watched the storm gather black an, DldcKef over EnSldnu I1a1Olu 11aTufddu of Norway, the terrible, swept down iron the north. William of Normandy lande in the south. Harold GodWinsson wa between them. Men said that the end O the world was at hand
 At last there came news to Flandes strange news, almost incredible, bu brought by men not to be doubted. liar old Hardraake was dead, Tosti was dead all slain by Harold Godwinsson at York and in his turn Harold Godwinsson wa dead slain by William of Normandy a Hastings, and all the Godwinssons wer killed and England was lost.
 "Oh, why was I not with the English to go with those brave hearts to Val hallar cried Hereward when he heard o the last struggle around the drago standard of Wessex, where Harold hewe dreadfully with his great ax, until h toppled, an arrow in his eye, and the las of the Englishmen lay Tn an iron hea around their king.
 For two years Hereward listened an thought and watched and waited. Wi liam of Normandy propitiated, slew, pun