Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-09-09
A Legend
By SUSAN YOUNG PORTER
Copyright. pio. by American Press
Association

party In Surolu county. England,
young Saxon yeoman saw a girl dane
ing With others about Maypole. SO
graceful was she. her eyes were so
blue. her hair, glistening in the sun
light and tossed about with every step,
was SO fair, so happy was her smile. SO
mefodious her laughter, that the young
man was enraptured.
John Boyian was strapping youth
who could send an arrow into the
core OF an apple at 200 yards and had
already borne a pike in the cause Of
his king, Edmond. against the Danes.
having been with his sovereign on the
fatal day when he was defeated and
his reign came TO an end. Johns ia
Their had since died and left him pos
session OF the farm. consisting OF 500
acres in land. with many cows. sheep,
pigs and other cattle. His mother had
died before his father, and he had no
brothers or sisters.
And so II was that when John saw
the graceful Ethelreda dancing about
the Maypole he bethought himself how
happy he would be II he might take
her home 20 live with him. Straight
way he went to her father and said TO
him:
II wish your daughter to wife.
have my own farm and cattle. but
have no one to milk the cows or to
keep me company when | have done
my work or to have care Of my es-
tate when ! have gone into the forest
to hunt or am called upon by my lord
to do battle. | therefore pray you TO
give me your daughter"
So the father, knowing of Johns
wealth, called his daughter and, point
ing to the young man. who was at the
time leaning ON his bow. said to her:
This man has his own farm and his
cows and his sheep and his pigs. but
he has no wife TO milk the cows or
have a care of the sheep or feed his
pigs when he is In the forest hunting
or doing service in war for his suze-
rain. Therefore he has asked me for
you to be his wife. and you will get
ready FOO the wedding"
Ethelreda knew this to be n COM
mand. and any command from her
father she would not think Of disobey-
ing. She cast only one shy glance at
John when the word wife was spoken.
and. seeing the tall. well formed young
man looking kindly upon her. she gave
him her heart ut once and went away
to begin her preparations for the we'd
ding.
1t was but q few weeks after this
tAat a bridal party. of which John and
Ethelreda were the principal figures.
left the church where they had been
married and started for Johns home.
To reach 1t they were obliged TO pass
over a bridge across small stream
called Goldbrook This they did. max
ing merry the while. though when
they were halfway over John stopped.
and shudder passed over his stalwart
frame. But whatever the cause he
conquered It and passed on with the
same light step rs before.
The wedding was celebrated with
feasting and dancing. the singing of
MINISTRIES and games. all of which were
customary at weddings In that day.
after which the bride and groom went
back to Johns farm
Never did it appear that newly
married couple would be happier. But
they had not been together a week
before a band of robbers ran of with
the best of Johns cows Then in the
summer. during a thunderstorm. the
lightning struck the house and well
nigh demolished II. In>the autumn a
snowstorm such as had never been
known before in England covered
Johns sheep. and very few came out
alive. The next spring a baby was
born to the couple. but IL died a few
hours after its birth. aud its mother
went with IL.
Then John went out to Goldbrook
stream and cut an inscription on the
keystone to this effect:
In she year Of our Lord SO King
Edmond. having been defeated by the
Danes. hid In the branches of the oak
tree standing close By this bridge
There be remained during the day and
at nigbtfall came down from the tree
and hid himself under this bridge over
Coldbrcok stream. That night a we'd
ding party passed over the bridge
The moon sbOne down from the heav-
ems. One of the throng espied its rays
shining on the kings golden spur and
going down under the bridge. they saw
him crouching there He was deiiv-
cred TO bis enemies. who. leading him
TO the tree in which be had hidden
during the day. iiIled him full Of ar
rows. His body was borne to Bury
81. EdmundS and Inferred there"
The disconsolate husband. having
finished this inscription. wrote beneath
Il 10 large letters.
Cursed Be the Wedding Party That