Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-10-03
Sikh Protects
the Honor of
Captain Peter
By H. M. EGBERT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

~ his young wife in the old manor
house In the West country; and 1t was
very lonely there.
Captain Peter was fifteen years old
er than Elizabeth, who seemed hardly
more than child. There had been
little girl, but she had not been
able to live in the hot, deadly ell
mate of the Punjaub; and when Cap
tain Peter saw that the mother was
likely to follow the child he sent her
home to await his coming when his
year Of absence arrived.
Captain Peter had sent Rustum with
her. Rustum was only the butler, but
the captain knew that he would guard
his young wife as the apple of his eye.
Take care Of her, Rastum' he said.
It'll death, Sahib |" answered the
old Sikh.
But 1t was lonely In the old house,
and, after she was strong again, Eliz-
abeth had gay house parties there.
Men and women came and stayed and
went again, but Philip Field came
more often than any, and stayed
longer.
In the hall, high up on the paneled
wainscotting, hung an ancient Cru
sader's sword. 1t was so old that the
rust had eaten out the shining steel
like fretwork. And under 1t was en-
graved, in ancient Gothic script in
the wood, a legend:
when ! hapg here let peace abide
Ger manor hall and countryside,
But when my blade slips from this
woll
Guard thou the honor of thy hall"
Rustum knew of the legend, for
there were many such In his own coun-
try.
And he would look ksenly at Philip
Field, as he sat chatting with his mis-
tress, and the memory Of Captain
Peter would grow very strong in him,
and of his promise.
do you know, don't think that
black man quite likes me-" he said,
laughing.
Rustum had gons to his quarters,
and Elizabeth sat quite alone until
Till she heard gentle tapping at
the French windows, and started up,
to see Philip Field standing upon the
lawn outside.
He opened the windows and came
in, and he and Elizabeth stood star
ing at each other. He advanced two
PAGES and clasped Elizabeth In his
arms
Elizabeth caught her breath. She
knew that she was powerless TO re-
slst Philip Field. The memory Of
Captain Peter had become very dim
and distant
II love you" said Philip Field
''Tell me you love me too, Elizabeth !"
IT love you" murmured Elizabeth,
and her head dropped from shame
81 love you, Philip" she said.
crash
Something had clattered on the
wooden flooring Of the hail. with
sound that seemed to shake the manor
house. They started apart In terror.
Then-because she was plucky-Ellz-
abeth ran out into the hall Upon the
floor lay the rust-eaten crusadlng
sword.
Philip Field followed her, and the
two stood staring at each other in ter
ror. Philip Field also knew the story
Of the sword.
Something had fallen with 1t. II
was the section Of the paneling which
had been set into the wall hundred
wears before. Elizabeth picked I'D
the panel mechanically and read the
inscription softly, with a dry throat.
She handed II to Philip Field, and
he too. read II, Then she went back
into the receptIon room. and Philip
Field followed her She turned and
foced him with white face and
trembling lIps.
"ElIzabethl What OF tn" he cried.
"You must 20. phIlip." said Eliza
beth buskIly
"I cannot 90"
"You must 20. Philip" repeated
Elizabeth Inexorably. and opened the
French windows.
He nleaded and he might have been
nleadInq with n eeure OF stone. Pres.
emily he saw that all was over. Soft
10 no stenned ont
Elzoheth shut the windows and
wont out NJ tho room. Standing In
tho boll she saw something she had
not nerce,ved before. The edge OF the
foIler nanel was frayed as though
,y,,h saw ana thare was a unv
lanoth NJ wire that had been snapped