The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-15

ITO the health of Dorothy Vernon" said Sir Hugh Wodensley. Beauty is above titles; she is the loveliest maiden knight ever looked upon and with the sweetest name, too." Peverel turned to Sir Hugh and said: "And yet I know one who thinks so little of the name of Vernon as to wish to charm 1t into that of De Wodensley." "He is not master of a spell so profound" said Aveneu. "But he is master of his sword" retorted De Woden- sley Let him keep 1t in his scabbard.' D interrupted Cavendish, Test 1t prove a wayward servant" T will prove it's serv- ice in thy bosom, Lord of Chatsworth,' ,' replied De Wodensley. "It is tempting moonlight" answered Cavendish, "but to- night there is a spell over Hadden. To- morrow I meet Sir John Manners to try whose hawk has the fairest flight and whose lady has the fairest hand But the latter can be soon seen, for who had so fair hand as Dorothy Vernon, the love of Manners? shall be at Durwood Tor three hours after the sun is up with my sword drawn-there's my hand upon it., De Wodensey." And he wrung the young knights hand until the blood seemed
 
 Sir Godfrey Geron laughed at the en- thusiasm of the young men and said: By all the saints, sir knights. you may as we'll quarrel with each other about the love of some bright particular star, as the wild wizard of Warwick says, as to quar- rel over Dorothy Vernon. Ho, there, min strels, while we drink to this beauteous lass sing some of your kindly love songs, wonderously mirthful, yet melancholy Here's cup of Rhenish and gold Harry in the bottom of 1t for the minstrel who pleases me best" The minstrels laid their hands upon their harps and there was a sound of strumming strings like the sound of swarming bees before a thunderstorm "rll sing ye Cannie Johnny Armstrong;" called out a northern harper. He was hanged for cattle stealing" replied the knight; "I'll none of him."
 One after another the minstrels proposed their songs, but the knights would have none of them until at last Sir Ralph Cav endish cried out: "Minstrels, the inven- tion of sweet songs is dead among you Have you nothing for the honor of tho sacred calling of verse and the beauty of Dorothy Vernon? Here you," contin- ued he, signing to the youngest of the minstrel band,-'you, fellow, with the green mantle and the long golden hair! Come. touch your harp, I'll wager my gold-hilted sword against that pheasant's s feather you wear in your cap that thou hast new and gallant strain, for have observed thee more than once to scane the form of the fair Dorothy Vernon with ballad makers eye. Sing man, sing"
 The young minstrel, who had been sit- ting with his face half concealed in hls mantle and who had seemed unable to keep his eyes off of the beautiful daugh- ter of Sir George Vernon, bowed low in acknowledgement of this request, or com- mand, and as he did so his face became suffused with blush. And the'face and neck of Dorothy Vernon flushed also doubtless because of the sympathy she felt for the young mans embarrassment. Then the minstrel struck the strings of his harp and lifted up his voice in song. A finer instrument. truer hand or a more sweet and manly voice had never united to lend grace to rhyme under the stately roof of Haddon. The tumult of the feast was hushed as he sang and all eyes were bent upon the minstrel while his eyes were ever seeking the face of Dorothy leaning there in the gallery above.
 He sang:
 Last night proud page came to me;
 "Sr knight,' he said. ''I greet you free; :;
 The moon is up at midnight hour,
 All mute and lonely is the bower.
 rouse tne ueer my lOrd has gone,
 And his fair daughters all alone."
 And there were other verses, too all about the love of knight for a maiden who was kept from him by fate--or her father. Loud applause greeted the close of the song and Sir Ralph Cavendish bid the minstrel drain cup to the health of the lass, be she high or be she low, who had inspired the strain. The minstrel seated himself and the interrupted mirth began again.
 When the young minstrel began to sing Sir George Vernon had fixed upon him a doubtful and inquiring look which set tied with close and drowning scrutiny. The large and searching eyes of the knight, from which nothing could escape. became fixed upon the singer with look which brought a flush of apprehension to the cheek of the watchful Dorothy. The brow of the knight, which had become clouded at the first verse of the song. darkened down through the second stanza the third was finished. When the song was ended Sir George arose and beckoned Sir Ralph Cavendish into the recess of @ window.
 "sir Knight" said the lord of a4ddon. ''you are sworn friend of John Manners. and we'll thou knowest what his presump- ton dares at and what are the lets be- tween him and me. Vavendo tutus-safe by caution--ponder your own motto well Let your friend take heed to 1t. There was line in the song of that young minstrel which went, 'Let .er-< ....rtween us sound and swell Let 1t be prophetic for John Manners, for England has no river deeD enough and broad anot1 oh fo