The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-10-12

dered drink. bought petroleum, and
then pushed up the avenue under the
leafless giant trees, whose roots were
older than his fathers name or than
any state of the Union. And he felt
admiration and something like emo
ton as he saw the first towers OF
Stainer Court finally appear,
The duchess waited for him in the
room known as the Green Knights
ROOM because of a figure in tapes
try on the walls. The legend in wool
had been woven in Spain, somewhere
about the time when Isabelle was
kind, and when in turn continent
doomed up for the world in general
out of the mist. The subject of the
Green knights tapestry was simple
and convincing. On a sheer-cut vii
lage of low ferns, where daisies stood
up like trees, a slender lady poised
her dark sandaled feet on the pin-like
turf. Her figure was all swathed
round with a spotless dress of woolly
white, softened by age into golden
misty tone, and pair of friendly and
confidential rabbits sat close to heI
golden slippers. The lady's face was
candid and mild; her eyes were soft.
and around her head was wound
fllet of woven threads, mellow in
tone, a red, no doubt, originally. but
softened to a coral pink by time This
lady in all her grace and virginia.
sweetness was only half of the woven
story To her right stood youth in
forest green. his sword drawn, an6
his intention evidently to kill a crea.
ture which, near to the gentle rabbits:
cut of the daisied grass lifted it's cruel
snakelike head. For nearly five hun.
dred years the serpent's venom had
been poised, and if the serpent should
start the Green Knight would strike.
too, at the same magic moment.
Close to the tapestry fire had been
laid in the broad fireplace, and the
duchess had ordered the luncheon
able for Dan and herself spread with
he cold things England knows how
to combine into a delectable feast.
The room was full of medieval fur
nishings, but the Green knight was
The best of all. The Duchess of Break
water took him for granted. She had
known him all her life, and she had
only been struck by his expensive
beauty when the offer came to her
from the National Museum to buy
him, and she wondered how long she
could afford to stick to her price
When Dan came in he found her in
4 short tweed skirt, mannish blouse,
looking boyish and wholly charming,
and she mixed him cocktail under
the Green Knights very nose and Of
tered it with the wisdom of the SER
pent itself, and the duchess didn't in
the least suggest the white-robed,
lady.
The friends drank their cocktails in
good spirits, and Dan presented the
ady with the flowers he had brought
her, and he felt a strong sentiment
stir at the sight of her in this old
'oom, alone and waiting for him. The
left them, the duchess put
her hands on the boys broad shout
lers. Nearly as tall as he, she was
4 good example Of the best-looking
English woman, straight and strong,
md her eyes4were level, and Dan met
hem with his own.
Il am so glad you came" she MUIR
nured. "I've been Raging myself
every minute since you went away
rom Osdene." -.
you have? What for?"
Because l was such a perfect prig
I'll do anything you like for Miss
lane. l mean to say, I'll arrange for
! musicale and ask her to sing" {
The color rushed into Dams face.
low bully of her! What brick this !
showed her to be! He said: you ,
ire as sweet as peach!" !
The duchess hands were still on his
houlders. She could feel his rapid :
breath. sa. sstaasssssssz'ses~--~-~~ !
II don't make you think of box of
candy now?" she murmured, and the
Joy covered her hand with his own.
Il don't know what you make me
hink Oft is bully, whatever 1t isl"
If the Spanish tapestry could only ,
lave reversed it's idea, and if the i'm i
naculate lady, or even one of the rab-
pits, could have drawn a sword to
protect the Green Knight, it would !
lave been passing well. But the
woven work. when ii first had been
was done for ever; 1T |
vas irrevocable in it's mistaken idea,
hat it is only the woman who needs
protection! -
CHAPTER XIII.