Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-10-14
CHAPTER V


CHAPTER
The Buckler
T was old Nicholas who brought the news
| next morning to the their fast.
4 Lionel should have kept his bed that day;
! but dared not, lest the fact should arouse
! suspicion. He had a little fever, the natural
| result both of his wound and of his loss of
blood; he was inclined to welcome rather
| than deplore it, since it set flush on cheeks
| that otherwise must have looked too pale.
So leaning upon his brothers arm he
! came down to a breakfast of herrings and
| small ale before the tardy sun of that De-
cember morning was well risen.
Nicholas burst in upon them with
white face and shaking limbs. He gasped
! out his tale of the event in voice of terror,
and both brothers affected to be shocked
! dismayed and incredulous. But the worst
part of the old mans news, the true cause
of his terrible agitation, was yet to be an
nounced
"And they do zay," he cried with anger
| quivering through his fear "they do gay that
it were you that killed he, Sir Oiver!"
"I?" quoth Sir Oliver, staring, and sud
denly like flood there burst upon his mind
hundred reasons, overlooked until this mo-
! ment, that inevitably must urge the coun-
| tryside to this conclusion, and to this con-
clusion only.
"Where heard you that foul lie?"
In the tumuIt of his mind he never needed
what answer was returned by Nicholas.
There was one course to take, and he must
! take it instantly-as he had taken it once
before in like case. He must straight to
Rosamund to forestall the tale that others
would carry to her God send he did not
| come too late already
| He stayed for no more than to get his
| boots and hat then to the stables for a
horse, and he was away over the short mile
| that divided PenarrOw from Godolphin
Court, going by bride track and meadow
straight to his goal. He met none until he
fetched up in the courtyard at Godolphin
Court Thence a babble of excited voices
| had reached him he approached. But at
sight Of him there fell a general silence,
ominous and staring. A dozen men or more
were assembled there, and their eyes con-
sidered him first with amazement and GU
riosity then with sulen anger.
He leaped down from his saddle, and
stood moment waiting for of the three
Godolphin grooms he had perceived in that
assembly to take his reins. Seeing that none
stirred
Glow now?" he cried Does no one wait
here? Hither, sirrah and hold my horse"
The groom addressed hesitated a moment,
then, under the stare of Sir divers hard,
commanding eye, he shuffled suIlenly for
ward to do as he was bid. A murmur ran
through the group. Sir Oliver flashed
glance upon it, and every tongue trembled
into silence.
In that silence he strobe up the steps, and
entered the rush-strewn hall. AS he van
ished he heard the hubbub behind him
break out anew, fiercer than it had been
before. But he nothing needed it.
He found himself face to face with
servant, who shrank before him. staring as
those in the courtyard had stared. His heart
sank 1t was plain that he came a little
late already; that the tale had got there
ahead of him.
Where is your mistress?" said he
L! Will tell her you are here, Sir Oil
yer" the man replied in a voice that fall
tered; and he passed through doorway on
the right
Sir Oliver stood moment tapping his
boots with his whip, his face pale, a deep
line between his brows. Then the man re
appeared, closing the door after him.
! mistress Rosamund bids you depart sir
She will not see you"
| moment Sir Oliver scanned the serv-
ants face-or appeared to it, for it is
doubtful If he saw the fellow at all Then
Tor only answer he strobe toward the door
| from which the man had issued. The sery-
ant set his back to it, his face resolute
Sir Oliver my mistress will not see YOU"
"Out of my way" he muttered in his
angry, contemptuous fashion, and as the
man, persistent in his duty, stood his
! ground, Sir Oliver took him by the breast
| of his Jacket, heaved him aside and went in
She was standing in mid-apartment
! dressed by an odd irony all in bridal white
that yet was not as white as was her face
| 11eI eyes LIKE Two DIack stains, solemn and
haunting as they fastened upon this intruder
who would not be refused. Her lips parted
! but she had no word for him. She just
| stared in a horror that routed all his audac-
| ity and checked the masterfuness of his ad-
vance At last he spoke
! Il see that you have heard" said he. "the
/ lie that runs the countryside. That is evil
enough. But I that you have lent an
ear to it; and that is worse"
+ She continued to regard him with cold
look of loathng
"Rosamund!" he cried, and approached
her by another step 'Rosamund! 1 am
here to tell YOU that it is lie"
"You had best 60" she said. and her voice
had in it quality that made him tremble
GO" he echoed stupidity. you bid me
go? You will not hear me-"
II consented to hear you more than once
refused to hear others who knew better than
l. and was needless of their warnings There
is no more to be said between US I pray
God that they may take and hang you"
He was white to the lips. and for the first
great limbs trembling under him.
"They may hang me and welcome since
YOU believe this thing They could not hurt
me more than YOU are doing. nor by hang
ing me could they deprive me of aught I
value. since your faith in me is a thing to
be blown upOn by the first rumor of the
countryside
He saw the pale lips twist themselves into
a dreadful smile.
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