The north Mississippi herald., 1920-09-10
"\HERE could be no filter setting
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BY SIR WALTER SCOTT
Condensation By
Res. DR.. r. Penn Bush. CheLsea. Mdss.


1t was the heyday of gorgeous cos
tuning and an age saturated with the
occult. Everyone patronized the as
trologers and the alchemists. The
queen coupled with the dignity and
strength of the monarch the fOibles of
the weak. 1t was her policy to play
one favorite against another and there
by secure the working of her own
strong WILL but she often gave way to
furious temper and she was most sus-
ceptible to fiattery. She was forever
undecided between her duty to her sub
jects and her attachment to Robert
Dudley, the earl of Leicester, whom, it
was commonly reported, che real
ly intended to marry, for he was u
courtier par excellence, and his aHfbi-
ton to share the throne overpowered
every other purpose of his life. He
had, however, been secretly welded TO
Amy Robsart, and so, to further his
chances to be king, he consorted with
one Richard Varney, and plotted the
murder of his wife, which was accom-
plished at Abingdon manor.
These threads Of fact, with many
others of fancy, Scott wove into the
fabric of "KenilwGrth."
The story opens at an inn kept by
one Gosling, whose nephew, Michael
Lambourne, staggering drunkard,
returns after years of absence and
finds that Tony Foster, an old cropY,
who lighted the fires when Latimer am
Ridley were burned, is keeping quail
over a beautiful woman at Cumn1
mansion. Lambourne gains admission
there, accompanied by Tressilian, y
knight of peerless character, who is III
search of her to whom he has been bet
trothed and who has been lured awa1t
from her fathers house. Lambourh
becomes an accompiice in crime with
Foster, and Tressllian meets the mys-
terious lady, who proves to be none
other than Amy I}obsart, for 1T was she
who was his promised bride.
He tries to persuade her to return
to her father, but in vain, and, in at
tempting to escape from the premises
he meets Richard Varney, master of
horse to Leicester, shrewd calcRe1
ing villain, wha-,t ts>a- co sant4xt
tire earl's ambition to be King. NJ
Tressilian naturally concludes that
Amy is this fellows mistress and,
drawing his sword, overcomes and
would have slain him but for the time
ly arrival of Lar bourne. when he was
obliged to flee, and, knowing the
queens interest in such affairs, he re-
solves to obtain her Intervention in
/ Amy's behalf.
And here Scott makes use of Su"
perstitious bent OF the age. Tressilian's
horse loses a shoe and q blacksmith
cannot be found antil an imp of boy
leads the way to mysterious farrier,
named Wayland Smith, who is thought
by those who know him to be an ennis
sary of Satan and who turns out to
be an alchemist with a laboratory un.
derground, and who is persuaded to
enter the employ of Tressilian and with
him visits Sir Hugh Robsart who
signs warrant Of attorney to help
to secure Lecester's powerful intiu
! ence in persuadng the queen to free
/ Amy from Varney.
/ Tressiian and Wayland soon after
| this make a visit to Lord Sussex, and
when he, for a seeming discourtesy to
the queens physician is called to court
! for explanation, they accompany him.
Sussex, upon examination, is fully
exonerated, and thereupon calls the
queens attention to the fact that Amy
| Robsart is cruelty held prisoner, and
| forthwith Varney and Leicester are
summoned into the royal presence.
And before the latter has opportunity
to speak, Varney affirms that Amy ia
his wife; and, as everyone is cog
infant of Leicester's confusion, Var
ney assures Elizabeth that it is due
to the earl's transcendant love for her
gracious self. The case is apparent
Iy settled, and Varney is ordered to
appear at the coming festivities at
Kenilworth, and to bring with him the
woman who has been the occasion of
so much trouble.
Here is probleml Amy will never
consent to be received as Varneys
wife. She must somehow be detained
at Cumnor!
It resolves into a battle of the al
chemists.
Demetrius, in Varney's employ, pre-
pared a drug for Amy, but Wayland
as Tressilian's servant, enters her
apartments as q peddler and provides
an antidote for the poison. He also
apprises her of the enemies by whom
she is surrounded and with him she
fees from Cumnor
The time of thu great carnival at
Kenilworth is nesr at hand. Multi.
tudes are on their way thither. Every
avenue of approach is crowded. Way
land and Amy attach themselves to a
group of strolling players. and after
many interesting experiences, reach
the castle where she is by chance
lodged in a room In Meryyn's tower,
which had been assigned to Tressilian.