Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-08-27
" ELAINE AND THE
VI :: KINGS KISS. ::
By MARY HASTINGS BRADLEY.

could scream-she saith the breath had
all but gone out Of her with the fright
I-the woman, for it was a woman, very
shriveled and in rags, crept out from
the hedge and sat down on the grass
staring ever at my mother. Have no
fear she called out, and my mother
says 1t was a frightsome voice, scarce
human, am but a woman, a wan
dering. accursed woman, but a woman
like yourself-and once a mother, like
yourself-once a mother So she said
over and over again, and then she came
closer and begged my mother that she
arms, so she should again feel child
| against her heart. My mother snatch
ed me to her, clasped tight, while the
dreadful creature came closer and
closer, holding out her skinny arms and
crying that her children hung too high
in the kings highway for her to reach
up to them-most like they were hor-
rid robbers, hung in chains,-and ever
L
then my mother found her voice, and
the men came running, but still the
creature begged and prayed till, as
they were hustling her forth, she slip
screech that brought them all to an
| amazed standstill. She raised her skim
ny arms above her head, and, shaking
her clenched fists up against the sky,
the day of St John, when evil things
have power. And she cried out that
whatever man I first saw on Saint
Johns day, after I had passed my six
teenth year, him would give my soul
to. I would be his, and not mine own.
My heart would go out to him like a
wave. I would long for him with an
| endless longing, and all this to be
whether the man were young and come
ly or a tottering grandsire, or indeed
the boy who fed the swine! Whatever
man I first saw on Saint Johns day af-
ter my sixteenth year would be my
| master"
The maiden paused, drawing a long
breath. Sir" she resumed, "in April,
a year agone, reached sixteen. pass
ed Saint Johns day that May in an old
hunting lodge in the midst Of this for
est, shut in my chamber not looking
even at the picture Of a man, lest the
curse should fall. The day was spent
in safety, and untouched returned to
the castle. That summer I was be-
trothed to the son Of Northumberland
a pleasing, comely youth, for whom I
remember" she owned with a sigh, u
entertained some fondness. The youth
went to Rome on a pilgrimage, from
which he returns in a months time
now, after which the wedding is agreed
to take place. Last month, before Saint
Johns day, went again to the lodge.
and was shut again in my chamber.
More wonted 1 had become to the men
ace Of the day, and bore it more easily,
for we'll I knew that the good old for
ester was at the gate on watch for all
intruders, though intruders are rare In
so deep a wood, while his wife sat guard
at my door, had closed my easement,
and I sat there. dreaming through the
long hours of my wedding, and how
safe l would be on next Saint Johns,
for then would I wake to gaze upon
my husband; but there are so many
hours in a day, and so wearily long
when a maid is alone, that I slept. A
horn reused me, and still heavy from
slumber, remembering naught but my
waking surprise. flung open the case
ment and looked out. / saw on a ridge,
at the top of the wood, knight riding
| furiously in chase. His hair was yell
low like broom flower. / saw the sun
| shine on it, and dance on the silver of
his horn, which he held to his lips. He
was a splendid. tall figure, clad in scar
let and gold. and his charger was black,
| with name and tail that streamed in
| the wind. watched him, leaning from
| the easement, and then, as he went
| over the ridge and out of sight 1t SEEM
ed as If my heart had gone out of my
| bosom, and I sank down with a moan.
And then remembered"
| The maiden. pausing, pressed her
| hand to her side as If she felt again
that pain of loss. Her eyes were ever
on the kings face He waited curious
ly, but as she did not at once proceed,
he commented in wonder, This is in
| deed strange tale, and reveals pite-
| Gus plight for one so young and fair,
If indeed the curse fell true"
"True?" she echoed with a sobbing
sigh. "Ah, good, my lord, the grief of
it hath never left me night or day. /
know but one thing; feel but one de-
sire. All day I strain mine eyes to the
| forest to see again that knight in scar
let and gold, and at night dream Of
him as once beheld him, flashing in
the sunlight, setting horn to his lips.
| I live but in that memory, yet ever /
strive against it. My lutte, whereon I
once made sweet sound, is now a grief
to me, for it unlooseth the strings of
sorrow, and would fain keep back my
tears. For days l told not my lady
mother, knowing of her affliction, but
seeing me so changed from my gay
wont, she pierced to the core Of the
matter. And then we took counsel with
Robin, the good forester, and his wife,
| for mine uncle she does not trust, being
a shifty man. So hearing thou vert to
hunt in this part of the forest, they
brought me here again to the lodge,
that we might rush out on thee and
crave thy aid"
| Surely, as a true knight, I would
strive for thy succor." said the king,
but what might force Of arms avail
against witchery? Rather shouldst
thou repair to the good fathers"
The maiden shook her head. There
is a remedy" she said: for indeed
when the wild woman had ended her
curse my mother broke out in such
piteous sobbing that even the creature
herself was affected. and she sobbed
too, craving forgiveness. for her heart
she said, was broke. and given to the