Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-04-29
THE KINGS GRANT.
BY r. TOWNSEND SMITH.

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Henry VIl., victor in the wars of the
roses. having been crowned king of
England, was about to march from
Bosworth field to London to assume
the government Of the kingdom. He
called to him young Wilfred Boying.
ton, who had fought bravely during
the battle. and said to him:
"There Is an estate some twenty
leagues from here that belonged to one
Of the stanchest adherents of our en-
envy and is therefore forfeit. Its own
er. Sir Charles Beachurst. lies dead
yonder among the slain."
Then, directing the young man to
kneel, the king laid his sword on his
shoulder and said:
Rise, Sir Wilfred, and take posses
sion Of this forfeited estate.'
"Now?" asked the young man, as
tonished.
"Now if you like, but do not fail to
join us before we march,"
"And that is
Tomorrow at 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 SILVER there was no indication
of her feelings.
'The kings will is indisputable,"
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." he said. meanwhile would be
pleased if you will show me as much
Of the estate as there Is time to see."
The lady retired and presently ap-
peared in the courtyard, where she
mounted horse that stood ready for
her, and the two, followed by attend
ants, rode away to inspect the estate.
"Thc estate is very large" said Sir
Wilfred after they had ridden miles in
one direction.
"It isl she replied. "You possess a
noble domain. 1t belonged to a Saxon
baron and was given by the Conqueror
to one of his adherents. have al
ways felt that an injustice was done
which some day we would be called
upon to expiate."
Sir Wilfrcd 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 qualnls
; Of conscience. But he revcred the in-
nocence of the girl from whom lie 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 q duke than knight in company
with SO beautiful companion was
delightful. Once and only once he
had evidence Of the struggle going on
within her. He caught a ray of moon
light reflected from tear
Men are less prone to realize their
feelings than women. Sir Wilfred was
falling in love. but he was not aware
Of tat least he was not aware that
he was falling in love with Ethclred:l.
He supposed he was enchanted by this
. splendid estlte. So he rode, conscious
he was to dispossess so gentle being
as she who rode beside him. but not a
whit bent Oh resigning the property.
Suddenly in passing through hamlet
bell struck the hour Of midnight.
Sir Wilfrcd was astonished. So hap
py had he been that when the bell be-
gan its strokes he supposed it would
people were supposed to be in their
homes. He drew rein suddenly.
GLOW far have we come from your
castle?" he asked Ethelreda.
Twenty leagues"
Twenty leagues! And l rode twen-
ty from the camp! Forty leagues!
Heavens. Four hours to ride forty
leagues! No horse will do it. am
ruined! The king will scorn my cx.
cuses"
The last few words were moan.
"But you possess a fine estate" said
Ethelreda.
II would give it all FOR horse capa-
bic of taking me back to camp by
sunrise"
Done" said Ethclreda, throwing off
her lethargy. "a knight cannot go
back on his word. On farm near by
is the white horse the pride Of our
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