Year: 1871

Dut clear ana SOFT, the moon nlgn 10 the
full, and the sea like the fair pool down yon-
der. [ knew there would be no living soul
in the yard at midnight The big loft
would just do for my evil charm, could
but get hold of the keys. They we're al
ways on nail in the kitchen of Williams
house. So there went at night falling to
seek a chance Of getting my fingers on
them. And faith, the chance was easy
found. The kitchen was empty, and the
keys hung handy to the door. | took
them down, when wee Nora's voice said
behind me


Where are you going tonight, Shaun
To the grain loft or to the meal room
Or are ye going to. the barn, and may
go with you to look after my pigeon ? My
white pigeon will roost there, and it must
not Oh, Shaun dear, catch it for me!'


am going to the barn, ahaska,tt and
I'll look for the pigeon. But [ am not
going yet. Sit down a bit. Is your mother
out? Well, Just sit here on the creepy
stool, and L will put some bog wood on to
blaze for US


And SO saying, | slipped the keys in
my pocket and we talked away there by
the fire, she telling me of the wonderful
shells the coast-guards wife at the point
had showD her. And Shaun, they are all
green and gold and silver. Do you think
they are made Of all the old rain-bows that
fall into the sea they look just like
that And then | told her of the book
my lady had lent me- How brave, good
knight was angry and black hearted to his
beautiful, innocent wife, because he be-
lieved lie of her how he forced her to
ride, one long summer day, on ahead Of
himself and charged her not to dare to
speak to him, but to ride on in silence /;
how three robbers came on him, and she
screamed to let him know the danger and
how he vanquished them, and then blamed
her for her disobedience in speaking the
word even to warn him.


All said Norah, sure his anger had
darkened his heart and his eyes. And
she didn't know why he was that wild with
her Then, if | had been her, would
have clung tight, tight hold Of his arms,
and made him tell me and love me again.
Did be love her again, Shaun p


And told the child that he had loved
the whole time, hard and hot and how,
when he was wounded and half killed, he
found out all his thoughts of her badness
were false that she was brave and as
pure-hearted as even his mad love would
ask for her TO be how they rode home on
the one horse, her cheek lying against his
shoulder, and her hand pressing the scarf
to his wounded side.


Come again and tell me more about my
Iady's books, Shaun. Come again, won't
you p


And so 1 said L would indeed, and
soon but and the voice of the strong
man sank to so low cadence that the
listeners bent forward to catch his words
-' but never again did sit by the coach
-nan's fire. Only once more did l ever
hold wee Norah's hands in mine, and hear
her sweet, pretty words. And that once
oh, Virgin Mother can | ever cease to
see her as she was then =?


Shaun and it was Madge's voice that
spoke, don't ye 90 on. 1t is hurting ye
cruel, and She stopped ; her own eyes
we're full of tears.


No, Madge, lass. wanted to tell
this to you. I'd best tell it qnick, and be
done with it. Its long years since l spoke
VI IL 10 LlOI ldl ludu VI hOLdnB anu tLC
words stick in my throat.


L went to the barn, and opened the big
doors wide, and the silent moonlight came
in in a broad path along the floor. [ stood
waiting for the stable clock to strike
twelve. [ can hear often now in my sleep
the loud, deep sound which made me
start, even though it was waiting for it l
was. l winnowed the corn upon the floor,
and God forgive me | spoke the evil
name When there l saw, standing with
the broad II moonlight on her white dress wee
Norah | stood still in a strange kind of
stony fear Oh, if that had been the only
dread that l was to feel that night
stood, and she stood and then softly and
gIidingly she came up along the moonlight
track right fornenst me.


| suppose l thought it was a spirit,
for | sprung back, knocking with all my
weight against something behind me.


There was a terrible crash, and heard
wee Norah's sharp scream and / myself
gave the echo of her cry in loud shout.
They heard it il the house, and when they
found US | was holding the pretty child in
my arms, calling madly on her to open her
eyes. And there beside us lay the heavy
long ladder which my wild spring had
brought crashing down on her innocent
head. The yellow hair was all stained
with blood, and on her white-But there,
| can't say more about it She spoke to
me once Shaun, come tomorrow even
ing, and tell me more Of the gentle lady
and the knight who loved her


: suppose she was raviDg. Certainly
she did not groan or sigh or seem to know
she was hurt. She lifted herself from my
arm when William came. Father she
said, oh, father and that was all


There was an inquest. They did not
blame me. How L wished they would
| did not much care what became Of me.
But there was no trial They said at the
inquest the darling was accustomed to walk
in her sleep, and must have unbolted the
door, come into the open barn, thinking,
perhaps, of her pigeon. But | knew bet
ter. Not one inch did she stray. She was
led by the Black King, whose evil name
my guilty lips had spoken. She was SO
lily pure he could not harm her so he
made me do it-me who would have died
for her.


l could not face the father and mother
who had loved her, though they never said
one hard word to me. Could | 60 and
feed the dogs, and see the horses stepping
along, and watch the dumb brutes waiting
for her, and longing for her? Could l
meet their eyes-I who had killed her ?
And so 1 came away. His lordship was
rare and kind, and got me this place here
with Mr.. Heygate. And my lady-if it
hadn't been for that angel l should have
died [ think | must have died. though
hearts don't break as often as folks say
my lady, she wrote to me two whole let
+org oS Lind apd ac 0ood oc barealf Cba