davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
A CL A s SIC
 IN A P A c E


 "The Lay of the Last Minstrei' was Scott's first long poem. It made him famous at once. In fact, so much rep utation did he gain by it that he was rather timid when about writing an- other long poem-but. as the .Worio knows. he overcame this timidity.
 At the time Scott published this met ricaI .ballad ad-romancep-to coin a word -poetic literature of the first class was supposed to consist of more for nal and stately measures; as Scott himself says, of heroic hexameters and the binding and buchram which belong to them in later days"
 He thought that the public might turn readily to more natural and simple style of poetry and so wrote two or three stanzas beginning the story of "Branksome Hall" He showed them to couple of friends of his one evening-friends upon whom he was accustomed to rely for literary judg- ment-and they said so little that Scott threw the verses in the fire after they had gone.
 When. later, they asked how the poem ation of the sample shown them. Scott went to work again, and. putting the poem into the mouth of a wandering minstrel as setting" finished a work which is now immortal.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
By Magic-Or Otherwise

He walked as uneonsciously through hostile Branksome as if he trod his own castle court. Margarets heart seemed to stand still
 She dared not speak: she dared make no sign. If he were discovered death would surely be his doom. A moment and Mar gart heard his tread upon the secret stair, and then Henry was at her feet.
 If you ask how 1t was that Baron Henry was able to thus penerate into Brank- some undiscovered, Sir Walter Scott as- serts that 1t was because of spell which the goblin page had given him which rendered the Baron Invisible.
 But from Sir Walters description Of the feast of the night before some un- charitable persons will draw the deduc- ton that the garrison did not see the Baron because they were sleeping 1t off. Such things have happened in camps and forts before-and since.
 Anyway. Baron, Henry was there. and he and Margaret held a long consultation. in the course of which they planned a little scheme by which they hoped to reconcile Lady Buccleuch to their union Tho sequel will show how well it worked out.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
By Single Combat

Lady Buccleuch looked down and saw what for a minute, staid the naughty reionder upon her lips Lord Howard was holding the hand of her son
 Since" continued the herald, "a lone and widowed dame may not tame these wild freebooters, either receive within your castle 200 English soldiers and de- liver up William of Deloraine or the assault begins-and this fair boy will be taken to London there to be bred up as page for good King Edward"
 Lady Buccleuch gazed around at her warriors and, though tear rose to her eyes. she replied dauntlessly:
 Say to your masters who war on women and boys, that either William of Deloraine will clear himself of the charges against him in single combat with Mus grave, or by oath as they may prefer.
 "As to the other propositlons-here while I live, no foe will make a garrison: ano while I live no friend vii be dellyered up to his enemies.
 ''As for the heir of Buccleuch--God be his help and God be mine. If Lords Howard and Dacres assault this castle our war cry is their death knell, our moat their grave"
 A great shout went up from the castle garrison "St Mary for the young Buc- cleuch" and the English war cry an- swered.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
To Cure By the Magic

But not far had he read when a buffet upon the ear stretched him upon the ground. No mortal had given that buff fet; but the page cried out man of age, thou smitest sore" and hid the book beneath the roots of an aged oak.
 Then he placed Sir William upon his horse and led him to the castle.
 Lady Buccleuch was. nattWally. per turbed to see the bright return in this guise and nothing could she get of in- formation from the "boblin page" who brought the wounded knight home.
 The magic book she found was not upon the person of the wounded De- lorane, and she knew not whether he had ever had it. or if 1t had been taken from him by the man who had over come him In fight.
 This much she resolved-that William of Deloraine must be kept apart-that she herself would cure him of his wounds by her magic-that nothing should be known to her followers of the true state of affairs.
 And she shrewdly suspected that, some how, in this untoward event, Baron Cranstoun has had hand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
Cranstoun's Goblin Page

Baron Henry of Cranstoun began to re- monstrate and plead the superiority of pure love over feuds and parental author ity when, suddenly, his page-an elfish boy who had stood apart-wayed his arms and, running up, cried out that he heard horseman approaching; by the tread, an armed knight upon charger.
 Margaret fled hastily back to the castle. and the baron, mounting his steed. turned back upon the road which led him out of the enemies country.
 His elfish page ran beside him-for his page could run as fast as the baron might go
 All the region talked of Lord Gran stoun's goblin page" It was said that once, when riding through the woods, the baron heard voice cry out Lost! lost Iostr' and this curious looking boy bound ed up out of the underbrush and ran toward him.
 His looks were so weird (and all people were superstitious then. which they are not now by any means) that the baron put spurs to his horse and rode five good miles as fast as ne could
 But at the end of that stretch he found the weird boy still beside him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
The Night Before

Groups of the elder warriors sat apart and recalled former times and former friendships and former wars. Some de- voted themselves to the "joyial bowl, ' and the younger ones played football and other games.
 Lady Buccleuch spread such a feast in the great hall as even hospitable Brank- some had seldom seen. The gilded rafters rang with the song of minstrels, the twanging of harps. the changing of the drinking cups against each other and the general riot and was all of a medieval banquet.
 Lady Buccleuch had commanded Mar garet to grace the hall at the feast and Margaret reluctantly consented to be present. but she soon retired. in spite of the reproving look her mother cast upon her.
 As Margaret left the hall many a gal, lant sighed and vowed to win the flower of Tevoltdale Undouptedly Margaret might have had her p;ck of the nohlesi and richest of the warrior youths gath cred at her mothers lable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
The Army Appears

It was not long after daybreak when the vanguard of the English army appeared before the castle. They came marching up. in battle array, and took position above a bow-shot from the fortress.
 The portcullis was raised the draw bridge lowered and forth from the cas- tie rode the white-haired seneschal. In his right hand he held peeled willow twig and he was attended by page, who bore aloft upon a spear steel gantlet
 Lords Howard and Dacres rode forth to meet him. The seneschal demanded In the name of the Lady of Buccleuch, why, against the truce of the border, they rode before her towers in bat tie array
 My lady bids me to say that you will straight return to Cumberland" said he, and that if you burn but one poor straw, or dn 20 much molest our towers as to frighten a swallow from her nest, we will light a brand that will warm your heaths In England"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
More Peril in Store

If you wonder why, even In her an- xiety for Sir William, the Lady of Buc- c1euch did not notice the absence from the castle of her son-that none of her attendants noticed it--it was afterward said that, after leaving the heir of the "Bold Buccleuch" in the woods, the goblin page" had returned to the cas- tie and by the aid of A speel which he had been able to read in the mystic book before the buffet fell upon his ear, he had managed to assume the shape and appearance of the young heir so that everybody thought the boy was still present
 After which. seizing an opportunity. he fled.
 It was a troubled day at Branksome and scarcely had night fallen when more trouble and peril ensued.
 Just before curfew the warder of the highest tower saw blazing far away. what at first he thought was rising star. But the light grew brighter and reddened against the sky.
 It was a watch fire telling that the English had crossed the border. The alarm was at once sounded and the garrison summoned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
One Last Meeting

Just at the time when, with thank fitness, Sir William saw the sun begin to brighten the world, Margaret of Brankstone left her sleepless Der and glided down a secret staircase to the courtyard.
 The big bloodhound reused from his lair, but Margaret batter him and he wagged his tail and was silent.
 She fled through a postern gate and the warden who saw her did not blow his bugle horn-he was her foster father g son!
 Swiftly she sought the green wood be- yond the castle bounds and there. in a dell sat knight on horseback, who swiftly lighted down and caught her in his arms.
 But Margaret, drawing back, told him of all that had happened-told him that her mother had discovered their mutual attachment and that this was the last meeting they could ever have together that old feuds were more powerful than love; she only came to bid him farewell. Her duty to her mother and to her race forbade that they should ever meet again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
Peace Instead of War

However the combat turned out. the Lady of Buccleuch must give her word that the English would be allowed to re- turn unharmed across the border-they on their part, to do no harm while in the country.
 Unconscious of the aid which was SC rapidly approaching her, Lady Bueeleuch after consulting with her principal vas. sals, who approved the compact. con sented to the terms, saying, however, tha Sir William was now very i'll and nigh not be able to take the combat himself but if not, another champion would fgh in bis stead.
 So 1t was arranged and the scene O war changed in an instant into one O peace. The portcullis was raised. thu wbridge lowered and Scots and En gllsh began, like good soldiers. to frater nize with each other. But scarcely had this been done wher the Scottish army was seen approaching But 1t was too late-the terms had beer made and the soldiers who had come tC fight remained 10 form one merry ban( of comrades.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
Good Cause for Vigilance

And good cause had the Lady of Bank some to keep this perpetual watch, for just across the border were the English castles of Warkworth, Nawarth and Car lisle, from which at any unforeseen mo- ment there might be launched upon Branksome the powers of Lord Scroop, Lord Howard or Lord Percy.
 And besides this there were border fam flies with which the family of Scott were at dehdly feud.
 Lady Buccleuch's husband, Lord Wal ter Scott had fallen in one of these feudal wars, having been killed by Carr of Cessford when the Carrs and Scotts fought in the High street of Edinburgh
 Next to the Carrs of Cessford Lady Buccleuch hated and desired revenge upon the Cranstouns, who had stood by the Carrs upon that fatal day.
 She had a son, as yet little boy some 12 yeafs old, whom she was bringing up to avenge his fathers death and to wreak vengeance upon the Cranstouns and the Carrs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
Mortal Foes

So he gave it up. took him home and made him his page.
 Some poor lost boy he thought, 'and I was foolish to think otherwise"
 But nothing of himself would the page tell-though he seemed to be devoted to Baron Henry and served him well. Oth- erwise he was most mischievous imp and found his chief delight in stirring uI strife.
 Not far had the baron ridden from the trysting place on the morning when Margaret met him when he saw coming toward him William of Deloraine, re- turning from his mission to Melrose.
 The two recognized each other at once as mortal foes Their lance s were couched; they charged and met in ful career. Sir William went down with 8 lance wound in his breast
 Baron Henry bade his page place the wounded knight upon his charger and carry him to Branksome. Then he rode on toward his native glades and safety
 The page was about to pick up the wounded man when he espied the book of might. His curiosity was excited and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
Preparing for a Siege

Then, far and wide over mountain and valley. the "bale-fires' caught up each others signals until even in High Dunedin" the regent saw the signal and bade armed forces be ready to march to the border.
 The livelong night Handsome rang with the sound of the preparations for resisting an attack of the foe. On echoing tower and keep were piled huge stones, iron bars, molten pitch and molten lead to be cast down upon the head of the enemy should they at tempt an escalade of the fortress:
 The guards were doubled and all put in as perfect state of preparation as possible under the direction of the energetic lady and her aged seneschal. It was in times like these that the spirit of Lady Bueccleuch rose highest.
 With the first gleam of the morning the warders could see In the distance dun wreaths of smoke arising, showing where the English invaders had burned a lonely tower or farmstead.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
The Book of Might

But Lady Buccleuch was shrewd enough to know that, while such meas ures were temporarily effective, in the long run they only served to strengthen the affection between the parted lovers
 And now she sat in her room in the old tower and called to aid all her store of magic. But little did it afford her of comfort as she tried to pry into the fu- ture.
 Then she bethought her of an expe- dient.
 In the Abbey of Melrose, some miles distant, lay buried that wonderful wizard Michael Scott, probably the most advanced man of science of his day and who, therefre-to pay the penalty of having lived before his time-has gone down in history and legend as the great est necromancer of his day.
 There was legend in the family that Michael had been buried with book in his hands, which book contained vast and important secrets of "glamourie." and that he had left instructions that 1t was <nly to be taken from his grave when the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
Relied Will

When the sun was well up In the heav- ems the blowing of trumpets and the sounding of the Scottish pipes aroused the castle and It's guests to the events of the day.
 Flagons of ale and breakfast of beef, mutton, venison and such like trihes put the valiant warriors on their feet again. and at length the long procession took its way to the lower lawn, where the lists had been prepared.
 Lord Howard walked unarmed beside Lady Buccleuch's palfrey holding her sken rein, and talked to her of feats of arms and chivalry which he had witnessed in his younger days.
 He was sumptuously attired. collar of Flemish lace fell over his buff doublet. which was slashed to show It's lining of blue satin. Upon his tawny boots were gold spurs and his buff hose were shot with silver threads.
 His Bilboa blade hung in a broad belt studded with gold, the belt being thrown over one shoulder. It was this broad belt that gave to Lord Howard among the borderers the nickname of "Belted WILL
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
Known By His Armor

But Lady Buccleuch, while she seemed to be listening to the words of her noble guest, was all the time thinking of some thing else.
 She had proved neither as good a doc tor nor as good a magician as she had hoped-Wllilam of Deloraine was still con- fined to his bed and she must select an- other champion to fight in his stead.
 Behind her mother rode Margaret, pale and fearful. Lord Angus walked by her side.
 But before they reached the lists, what was the Joy of the Lady of Buccleueh to see approaching William of Deloraine himselfl She knew that armor afar off l He walked with firm tread, his visor down and armed for the fight. That la s' charm of mlne." thought the lady, has done the work.
 Lady Buccleuch and her daughter took their seats in crimson chairs upon a raised platform and the great lords grouped themselves around them.
 Margaret was strangely pale and agi- tated and when the heralds sounded forth their respective challenges, 1t seemed as if he would faint.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21

riously, upward to the chancel roof and through the far, long-drawn galleries. It came from that ever-burning lamp that was beside the wizards knee.
 Before them lay Michael Scott as If he had not been dead a day. In his left hand he held the book of might and in his right was sifver crucifix, His look was high and majestic, his face was all unruffled as if his soul had found grace.
 With trembling hand Deloraine took the "book of might" from the hand of the dead man and then replaced the stone
 He felt that his limbs were shaking little less-that his heart was not beating so violently-when, spurring to- ward Franksome he say, at last, the sun brighten the Cheviot Hills.
 And as the morning light shone upon the Cheviots a monk. going to call the Monk of St. Mary's Aisle to prayers, found the aged man dead in his cell.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
The Lady of the Castle

Tho widowed Lady Bucoleuoh held the border castle Of Handsome as her husband had held 1t in state and pride, ready and armed. fortress against the south.
 Twenty nine famous knights, kfns- men of her dead husband. hung their shields in the great hall of the castle, and they were attended by the same number of esquires of ancient lineage who burned to win their spurs by deeds of arms.
 Twenty yeomen attendedathe knights and squires. Besides these. there was the usual train of attendants to be found in such a castle--domestics and inferior men at arms, making alto- gether a goodly garrison.
 Of the knights, 10 were constantly in armor. day and night. and 10 of the squires constantly on duty; while in the stable 10 war horses out of the hundred stabled there were kept sad dled day and night; while upon tho walls, day and night. 10 warders kept constant watch.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
Prize of the Day

Here standeth Richard of Musgrave," shouted the English herald-and then gave defiance i'm his name to Deloraine.
 Here standeth William of Deloraine. shouted the Scottish herald. and defed Musgrave.
 Lord Dacre and Lord Home were ward CTS of the lists Lord Dacre shouted, Sound trumpets; to the combat, cham plons"
 God defend the right" shouted Home and at it they went. They fought on foot with long, heavy swords and short battle axes.
 It was a long and desperate fight, but at length stout Musgrave fell-neyer to rise again.
 They ran to him to offer assistance, and brought a holy friar to shrive him. But scarce could he speak three words fore he died.
 The victor had spoken no word: he had not raised his visor but stood leaning upon his sword and looking down at his vanauished opponent as if musng. The young Buccleuch. prize of the day, had watched the combat with eager interest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
Naughty Commands

Dacres flew out with rage. but How ard calmed him and said: "If your lady will but seek the castles outer wall our pursuivant-at-arms will tell you the reason of our appearing here and the conditions of our peaceful re- turn to England"
 Lady Buccleuch came with naughty bearing to the outer wall. Around her her chief yassals leaned upon their weapons.
 The English herald advanced and blowing a barley. demanded of her Will liam of Deloraine. He had. said the herald, made many forays into Cum berland, and upon his last he had married" the lands of Sir Richard Mus grave and killed Sir Richards brother
 He must be delivered up that he might suffer the pains and penalties oi "march treason," or the assault would be sounded and Sir William taken by force.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21

men under Lord Howard and Lord Da- cres were marching upon Branksome
 Following them came tenants and kinsmen of Buccleuch with their wives and families, farmers and the holders of small towers not strong enough to resist such a force as the English were now pushing forward.
 These kinsmen-they who had towers and small fortresses of their own brought with them many a sturdy band of borderers, which served to swell the garrison of the castle.
 But even then 1t was all too small to resist, for any length of time, the forces of Lords Howard and Dacres. As for the Regents aid-experience had shown that 1t was tardy and the troops from Edinburgh were apt to arrive after the affair was over.
 But never did Lady Buccleuch falter. Even the wounded Deloraine and her daughters love affairs were almost for gotten in her war-like enthusiasm.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
Chance for Mischief

There was. of course, some confusion in the castle and many surmises, but the goblin page, hiding himself amid the throng, slipped out of the castle.
 But he went not alone. As he came toward the drawbridge he saw boy playing in the courtyard. It was the young heir of Branksome's line. Ever bent upon mischief. he lured the boy out Into the woods and there abandoned him.
 Lady Buccleuch's main Idea was to effect the recovery of Deloralne as rap idly as possible so that she could find out what really had happened.
 But, work with spells and herbs as she would, William of Doleraine was still in a precarious state Meantime Margaret in her bower sighed and trembled and wept and thought of Henry and their parting and her hard fate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
Perversity of Girls

But she only thought of Henry Crans- toun. Young ladies are proverbially per verse in such matters.
 There was every reason why she should not marry Baron Henry. therefore she was determined to marry him. There was every reason in the world why she should make a great alliance with one of the rich young English nobfemen who sighed there after her, therefore she would have none of them.
 She said-and Baron Henry agreed with her-that love was everything. Perhaps if ls-at their ages.
 Night fell and the voice of reyelry died
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
The Cross of Red

He had buried him at l o'clock on St. Michael's night at spot when, stream ing through the chancel window. the moon threw a spot of bloody red as 1t shone through the cross in the hands of the archangel, whose figure was DOT trayed trampling upon Satan on the great window.
 A braver man than the Deloraine never couched border spear, but as he and the monk entered the chancel of the abbey, and, seated upon tomb, waited to see where the cross of red would point when the bell struck ], he seemed to feel cold chills running over him and it seemed, almost, as if the hair upon his head stood upright.
 The hour struck; the cross of red was traced upon a broad flagstone and, talk ing an iron bar from secret nook, the monk handed it to Sir William and bade him lift the stone.
 Sir William went to his task with beating heart, and it was only by ar exertion of all his gigantic strength that he at length accomplished his task
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21
Conquered by Love

In the great hall she took the blushing Margaret by the hand and, placing that hand in the hand of Cranstoun, said; Henry of Cranstoun as l am true to thee, be true to me and mine This is your betrothing day and all these noble lords shall stay to grace 1t.
 They did and there was another feast in Branksome that night.
 The secret of the appearance of Crans- toun in the lists was tnis: He had en- tered the chamber of Deloraine, who lay in a death-ile trance, had taken his ar nor, donned 1t and gone to the combat in the knights guise
 Some chance had awakened Deloraine. who, finding out from an attendant what was going on, had rushed, as has been de- scribed. to the lists.
 There is little more to tell except that Margaret and Henry were very happy pair. that the feud between the Scotts and the Cranstouns WAS ended and that the ghost of Michael Scott came and car ried off the goblin page-to what place history sayeth not
 Next weeks one-page classic will bo Robin Hood old English translation.
 Copyright, 1912, by Irving kinrN