THE MODERATE MAN.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 945, 14 September 1901, Page 3

THE MODERATE MAN.

All the world has heard of the two enthusiastic young knights, who fought because they could not agree about the metal of a certain shield j but, familiar as tho story is, there is an incident in it which is not generality known. The knights /jaw different Bid<» of tho Bbield. " 'Tin gold," cried the one. " Silver," said the other. " You lio!" said the first, very nobly. " I wiil hare your blood for that word,'' cried the sesond, who was the Hover of chivalry. As they placed their lances in reßt, praying to all the saintß to help them murder each other, a third knight rade tip. "Hold! gentle sirs," bo criod- "before you fight let me look at the shield," and, dismounting, he ran to tbe tmo on which tho shield was hanging They waited impatiently. " This is strange," cried the new-comer in bewilderment; " it shimmers like silver iu the shade and shines liks gold in the sun." " Gold, yon say," cri«d the Brst. " Come, side with me." " Silver, you acknowledge," cried the second; " then you declare for me." The straoger rubbed his oyos and looked again. " You are both right and both wrong," he Baid. " This thing has two faces, 'tis gold and silver. Look " They paid ne attention to his words, but clamoured—- " Decide, decide." " JJo halting, oo hesitating." " Say boldly that T am right." " Declare that justice is on my side." He bogged them to hear him and stood in the path between them, protesting against their useless quarrel, but they yelled the louder—- " You must choose between us "

As he did not choose, the first knight said to the second, •' Come on," and with cries of "God with me!"thev set their lances and tush Ltd together.

They fought a long time and each received many wounds. At last after they were faint from loss of blood and nearly disabled, they came struggling quite near the shield, and each knighlsaw in the same moment the side he had not seen before. They started away from each other.

" 15.V "' exclaimed the first knight, but he clapped Ins hand over his' mouth. Well, " stammered the second in astonishment, biit ho too chicked bis words. " I still maintain the shield is gold," slid the first; " but 1 am willing to let vou think what you like about it. Ido not want to kill you."

So they made peace and sat down undi r the tree togelher. Before I hem in the ioad lay tho bodv of iho knight who had tried tn prevent then duel. Kach of the combatants had inflicted several wounds upuu him to get him out of their way. Ihey shook their heads. " Why, I had forgotten him," said the first. " Don't you remember ? He would keep on talking and getting iu between us," said the second. ''Uh, yes," replied the first. "A sorry fellnw, ho did not know his mind." " A coward," added the other. "He was afraid to declare for the other side." His fate was, of couiso, entirely his own fault, but in some way the two knights did not care to remember the unfortunate fool, and silently agreed to furgat him. And so it happens that when this story is told the part that refers to the third knight is generally omitted.