The Press., 1911-02-22

| hand. But before that might happen i I we'll nigh rendered our union inpos sible. The day before the masquerade was walking through a corridor at Cragnew lined with sleeping chambers As I passed one of them. the door of which stood ajar, 1 saw a sight th0' froze my heart with horror. WitEln the chamber I saw q Spanish cavalier admiring himself before reflection of a mirror. An by him with his arm about her waist stood my Eleanor In a moment l was madman. Whipping my rapier from it's scabbard. cried at the top of my voice: Death. Come out lest 1 disgrace myself as ! you have done by intruding into a lady's chan, Der and Slly you there," The fellow turned and, seeing me glarng at him with my rapier leapine forward to pierce his vitals, lost all tho ,o,or fram his face, which as soon as l saw it l knew it belonged to one of tender years. But he was not un armed, having a rapier at his waist, ; which gladdened me, if. indeed, l could be gladdened at such a time for it gave me an excuse to slay him. 1 Eleanor turned. too. and gaZed at me, all amazement,
 Aha, my Mistress Eleanor! Is it i meet that you should accept lover one day and the next receive another in your chamber? Mayhap had not draft ser the door ajar I should never have known of your faithless- ness" With that began to bawl and to roar at the Spanish dog," the "mis- creant," to come out into the corridor and defend himself. And. he not com ing. l made a step forward. What did the coward do but run behind the bed and crawl under it! By this time. with my roaring and swearing, the corridor was filled with guests, both gentlemen and ladies, who F had come from their rooms to learn, mayhap, if q lion had got into the castle They saw me standing before the Lady Eleanor's open door, she f9.ee- f9.e ing me, white as a sheet and not able l to make herself heard above the noise l I made,
 1 Then came Lord Everest running along the corridor, and when he reach | ed me and saw me standing, rapier in hand. glaring and bowling for the l Spanish cur to come out and fight like l man. he drew his own sword and beat mine down. crying:
 What means this bedlam? Cease your bowling and let me hear what the Lady Eleanor has to say" This somewhat quieted my tongue, though I continued to glare. The Lady Eleanor, seeing protection, went to the | bed and, putting her hand under it, dragged the Spaniard out and helped him to stand upon his feet. Then she pushed him forward, saying: "Look at this Spanish cur,' seeing | for yourselves the crime l have com mitted in harboring him in my cham Der"
 ''Why. 'tis the Lady Gwendolin Ira cy!'' said one of the bystanders. Then my. choler suddenly gave place to a sinking in the heart as well as the knees, for saw what had done, Surely the Spaniard was none other than the Lady Gwendolin, whose cos tune for the masquerade had just ar rived from London and who, having taken her friend the Lady Eleanor into the secret of her character. was trying the suit on in her company. .-.. 1~'sThere. Sir Ralph,'' said Eleanor, 'is the Spaniard for whom you would rob me of my good name before all these goodly people. Get you gone from me and never let me see you again.
 With that she burst into a torrent of weeping and, retreating within her room, shut the door.
 And stood broken by my folly be- fore the whole company, who present ly, after the retreat of the Lady Elea- nor. suddenly seeing the absurdity of my action, burst into loud peals of laughter.
 "Down with the Spaniardr' cried the old duke. who had heard the same words often during his boyhood when Queen Mary's Spanish match was un- popular in England. whereupon all the company laughed. again.
 T, ''to hide under the bed before a drawn rapierr'
 "For shame. Sir Ralph. to draw sword upon girlr'
 But I, full of anguish at having by my choler induced by jealousy to act upon impulse and without knowledge, heard not a word of these jests. 1 was longing to throw myself upon my knees before the Lady Eleanor and at the same time bethinking myself that would never obtain her forgiveness. Finally Everest, with kindly courtesy. seeing my suffering. came to me and, taking my rapier from my hand, thrust 1t into its scabbard. Then, putting his arm through mine. he led me away As we walked down the corridor to- gether l heard the murmur of voices continued to discuss my lamentable blunder.
 ."Do not fret your soul," said Everest 'sThis evenings festivities will wear away the effects of your rashness."
 "There are no more festivities for me-" walled, unless mayhap the Lady Eleanor may find it in her guileless heart to forgive me-"
 And so she will" replied my friend, .'when she comes to consider that your act was goodly evidence of your love for her.
 "She will never forgive the affront put upon her.
 Come, come; cease this maudlin yvhininpi will engage that vou are