The Dickinson press., 1910-04-23
By ?. SMITH.

~A~ N~AS pSSSSS
sion of this forfeited estate"
"Now?" asked the young man. as.
tonished.
snow If you like, but do not fail to
join Us before we march,"
"And that Isl
Tomorrow Mt cockcrow."
Furnished with a parchment signed
and sealed by the king, Sir Wilfred
rode to the Beachurst estate. The re-
cent owners widow was so overcome
by grief at her husbands death. Of
which she had just heard, that she
could not see him. She therefore sent
her daughter Ethelreda, a girl Of nine
teen and fair to look upon. Sir Will
fred showed her the kings grant. Be-
yond a SILVER there was no indication
Of her feelings.
"The kings will Is in%disputable,"
she said calmly. 1.-THE estate is yours"
The young man was about to with
draw when the girl said to him:
"May 1t please you to inspect your
estate?"
Sir Wilfred had no especial desire to
see his new domain at that time, but
to be shown about by this girl, whose
presence affected him with a desire to
know her better, was another matter.
II must join the king at dawn tomor-
row." lie said. Meanwhile I would be
pleased if you will show me as much
Of the estate rs there is time to see."
The lady retired and presently ap-
pearcd in the courtyard, where she
mounted a horse that stood ready for
her, and the two, followed by attend
ants, rode away to inspect the estate.
"The estate is very large" said Sir
Wilfred after they had ridden miles in
n direction,
ut u.s." she replied. "You possess a
noble domain. 1t belonged to a Saxon
baron and was given by the Conqueror
to M of his adherents. l have al
ways felt that an injustice was done
which some day we would be called
upon to expiate."
Sir Wilfred said nothing. These
transfers from the weaker to the
stronger were in those days common,
and he had no idea of giving up so
splendid an estate from any qualms
OF conscience. But he revered the in
nocence of the girl from whom he was
to take it, thinking that If she desired
to win him to decline it she should
have taken him over a part Of it, let
ting him believe that it was a small
estate.
And still they rode on. The sun
went down, but the full moon rose.
Under the soft twin light Of night and
day Ethelreda was very beautiful. Sir
Wilfred had no thought Of turning
back. To ride over an estate fit rather
for a duke than a knight in company
with so beautiful a companion was
delightful. Once and only once be
had evidence Of the struggle going on
within her. He caught a ray Of moon.
light reflected from a tear.
Men are less prone to realize their
feelings than women. Sir Wilfred was
falling in love, but he was not aware
Of it-at least lie was not aware that
he was falling in love with Ethelreda.
He supposed he was enchanted by this
splendid estate. So he rode, conscious
only of a faint regret in his heart that
he was to dispossess SO gentle a being
as she who rode beside him, but not a
whit bent on %resigning the property.
Suddenly in passing through a hamlet
a bell struck the hour of midnight.
Sir Wilfred was astonished. So hap
py had he been that when the bell be-
gan its strokes he supposed it would
strike the hour of 9, when all good
people were supposed to be in their
homes. He drew rein suddenly.
How far have we come from your
CASTER" he asked Ethelreda.
"Twenty leagues"
"Twenty leagues! And 1 rode TWEEN
ty from the camp! Forty leagues!
Heavens! -Four hours to ride forty
leagues! No horse will do it! 1 am
ruined! The king will scorn my ex-
cuses!'
The last few words were q moan
"But you possess a fine estate" said
Ethelreda.
II would give it all for a horse capa-
OAS VI tuNAuS liz DuCh u CdLlD ny
SUNRISE"
"Done!" said Ethelreda, throwing off
her lethargy. "a knight cannot 70
back on his word. On a farm near by
is the white horse the pride Of our
family, the feetest in all the country
around. Give up the kings grant and
I will conduct you to his stable"
Sir Wilfred took out the parchment,
hesitated but n moment, then tore
It In pieces. Ethelreda put spurs to
her horse, and he followed her. She
soon stopped at a barn and led forth
a milk white steed. Sir Wilfred
mounted him and went like the wind
to camp, reaching it just as the troops
were beginning to move.
Thus by an artifce Of a young girl
a fine estate was saved. But Sir WI.
fred acquired it at last, for he could
never forget the girl who had out
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