The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-02-07
THE KINGS GRANT
al z. TOWNSEND SMILE.

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Copyright 1910 BY American Press Assoc
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Henry VII. victor ia the wars OF the
roses. having been crowned king %
England. was about to march from
Bosworth Eeld 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 10 him:
'aThere 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 Wnfred. and take posses.
sion or this forfeited estate"
''Now?s asked the young man. as
tonished
Now II you like, but do not fail 70
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 50 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 VIII
fred showed her the kings grant. Be
yond q shiver there was no indication
Of her feelings.
"The kings win Is indisputable,"
she said calmly The estate Is yours"
The young man was about 10 With
draw when the girl said to him;
MAY It please you to inspect your
estateg"
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 win show me as much
OF the estate as there Is time to see"
The lady retired and presently APP
peared ia 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 IS" she replied "You possess a
noble domain. It belonged 70 a Saxon
baron and was given by the Conaueror
to one Of bis adherents. / 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 regered the 10
nocence Of the girl from whom be was
to take It. thinking that If she desired
to win him 10 decline It she should
have taken him over part OF It, let
ting him believe that II was a small
estate
And still they rode %. The sun
went down. but the full moon rose.
Under the soft twin light Of night and /
day Ethelreda was very beautiful Sir
Wffred had no thought OF turning
back To ride over an estate ct rather
for a duke than knight ID company
with 50 beautiful companion was
delightful. once and only once be
had evidence Of the struggle going on
within her He caught a ray Of moon.
light reelected from a tear
Men are less prone 70 realize their