The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-04-08
THE KINGS GRANT.
BY +. TOWNSEND SMITH.

ICOpyrlsnt, 1917, by american Press ASSO.
ciation.]
Henry VII, 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 .Boyirg-
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 Ell.
envy and is therefore forfeit. Its own.
err, Sir Charles Beachurst, lies dead
yonder among the slain."
Then, directing the young man to
kneel, the king laid his sword on Ills
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
IOuuOffOW Ut COckCrOW.
Furnished with 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, girl of nine.
teen and fair to look upon. Sir Will
fred showed her the kings grant Be.
yond shiver 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.
81 must join the king ut dawn tomor-
row." he said. meanwhile l would be
pleased II 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.
The estate is very large" said Sir
Wilfred after they had ridden miles in
one direction.
1T u.s." she replied you possess Il
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 We're 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 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 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 ray of moon
light reflected from tear
Men are less prone to realize their
feelings than women Sir Wilfred was