The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-07-02
SIR NIGEL,
BY SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
Condensation by Alice G. Grozier

Evil times fell upon England in the
year 134s, when the great plague dew
astated the land. 1t was during this
period that the story of Sir Nigel
takes place.
| The house Of Loring, like many an
other noble family, felt the heavy
hand Of misfortune; for after the
Barons War and lawsuits with Waiver
ly Abbey the men of the church and
the men Of the law left nothing but
the manor of Tilford for the remain
ing members of the family, Lady
Ermyntrude and her grandson Nigel
| Nigel Loring came of race of he
roes, his grandfather having fallen at
the battle of Stirling, and his father
in the sea fight of Sluys. Nigel, his
veins thrilling with the blood Of
hundred soldiers, was filled with the
desire for adventure and combat;
having been trained at the desire of
his grandmother in skill at arms, and
courage, he became also a daring rid
er. At times fierce bitterness as
sailed Nigel at the thought of the
wrongs done by the Abbot of Waiver.
ly whom he believed had robbed the
Lorinss of much Of their estate.
On the first day Of May, the Fes-
tival of the Apostles Philip and James,
CONSERVATION reigned at the Abbey,
when it was found that a large pike
had eaten the carp in Abbot Johns
fish pond, Nigel being accused of put
ting the pike in the pond. Abbot
John and the sacrist, Brother Samuel,
were in consultation upon the subject,
when they were rudely interrupted by
a hy1v r. ont ha
monks in the cloister. A white-faced
brother flung open the door and rush
ing into the room cried, Father Alb
bot, alas, alas. Brother John is dead.
and the Subprior is dead, and the
Devil is loose in the five virgate
field"
Now what the brother called the
Devil was a great yellow horse,
held at the Abbey for the debt of his
owner, Franklin Aylward; such
horse, it was said. was not to be
found betwixt the Abbey and the
Kings stables at Windsor.
1t was a sorry day that brought the
horse to the Abbey, for no one there
could be found who would or could
ride him or conquer him; he had in
deed nearly killed the Brother and
| the SubpriOr.
|
upon seeing, with their own eyes, this
terrible creature, hurried down the
stairs and gained the wall of the
meadow, where looking over its top
they beheld the magnificent horse
standing fetlock deep in the meadow
grass. Upon this wild scene there ar
rived riding his pony the young Squire
Loring, small of stature, but with
muscles of steel, and soul of fire;
his face, though tanned with the
weather. was delicate of feature. His
whole appearance made him a mark
for the sight of any passer-by, but at
the first glance, the brown face set
in it's golden hair and beard, and the
daring light of the quick, reckless,
laughing eyes, made the one strong
memory left behind.
The horse was at the moment
trampling his latest victim, and Nigel,
springing from his pony, was over the
wall and at battle with the creature,
proving himself master. Some dis.
cussion arose among the monks as to
the killing of the yellow horse, or the
giving him to Nigel as a punishment;
the last suggestion finally won, and
Nigel proceeded to further subdue the
heretofore untamable creature called
"Pommers."
The horse tried to unseat his rider,
but Nigel held fast and at last they
were over the four-foot gate and
away. Then took place the most no.
table ride ever known to that part Of
the world, and the authors descrip-
ton recording it is gem worth read.
} ing; also it is the key to Nigel's whole
character. A nearly forgotten ballad
upon the subject has the following re-
frain:
The Doe that sped on Hinde Head,
The Kestril on the winde,
And Nigel on the Yellow Horse
Can leave the world behinde"
After a long battle of wills, the
. horse was broken and conquered; he
fell in the heather with a sobbing
sigh, throwing his rider over his head
stunned, The young Squire was first
to recover and kneeling by the pant
ing, overweight horse, he gently
passed his hand over the foam-flecked
face, and the whinnying Pommers
thrust his nose into the hollow of
Nigel's hand.
you are my horse, Pommers," Nj
gel whispered, and laid his cheek
against the craning head. 81 know you,
Pommers, and you know me, and with
the help of Saint Paul we shall teach
some other folk to know us both"
The monks of Waverly Abbey held
Nigel for debts and wrongs against
them and he was hailed before the
Abbot for trial, was judged guilty and
sentenced to imprisonment. but
when they would have restrained
him. Nigel drew his sword, which an.
gered the Abbot, who charged his
bowman to draw his bow and defend
, holy church and her DEGREES. Trage.
dy was imminent, when Samkin Ayl.
ward, famous archer, came to NigePs
rescue. at once attaching himself to
the young Sources service, and after.