LITERATURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6310, 7 August 1888, Page 1

LITERATURE.

THE OUTLAWS OF TUNSTALL FOREST. [By Robert Louis Stivenson.""! Author of "Treaaure Island," "Kidnapped," "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,"&c. BOOK IV.— THE DISGUISE. Chapter II. — (Continued.) And then "he was recalled to the dangers of the present. In the next room he heard a stir, as of a person moving j then followed a sigh, which sounded strangely near; and then the rustle of skirts and tap of feet once more began. As he stood hearkening, he snw the arras wave along the wall; there was the Bound of a door being opened, the hangings divided, and, lamp in hand, Joanna Sedley entered the apartment. Se was attired in costly staffs of deep and warm colours, suoh as befit the winter and the snow. "Upon her head her hair had been gathered together and became her as a crown. And Bhe who had seemed so little and so awkward in the attire of Matcham, was now tall like a yonng willow, and swam across the floor as though she scorned the drudgery of walking. Without a start, without a tremor, she raised her lamp and looked at the young monk. "What make ye here, good brother ? " she inquired. "Ye are doubtless illdirected. Whom do ye require?" And she set her lamp upon the braoket. "Joanna," said Dick and then his voice failed him. "Joanna," he began again, "ye said ye loved me ; and the more fool I, but I believedifc!" "Dick! "she cried. "Dick!" And then, to the wonder of the lad, thia beautiful and tall young lady made but one step of it, and threw her arms about his neok and gave him a hundred kisses all in one. " Oh, the fool fellow ! " Bhe cried. " Oh, dear Dick ! Oh, if ye oould see yourself ! Alack!" Bhe added, pausing, "I have spoilt you, Dick! Ihave knocked some of the paint off. But that can be mended. What cannot be mended, Diok — or I much fear it cannot! — is my marriage with Lord Shoreby." "Is it decided, then?" asked the lad. "To-morrow, before noon, Dick, in the abbey church." she answered, " John Matcham and Joanna Sedley both shall come to a right miserable end. There ia no help in. tears, or I could weep mine eyeß out* I have not Bpaied myself to pray, but Heaven frowns on my petition. And, dear Dick — good Dick— hut that ye can get me forth of this house hefore tiie morning, we must even kiss and say good-bye." " Nay," said Dick, " not I ; I will never say that word. 'Tis like despair j hut while there's life, Joanna, there is hope. Tet will I hope. Ay, by the mass, and triumph ! Look ye, now, when ye were bnt a name to me, did I not follow — did I not rouse good men — did I not stake my life upon tiie quarrel ? And now that I have seen you for what ye are — the finest maid and stateliest of England — think ye I would turn ? — if the deep sea were there, I would straight through it j if the way were full of lions, I would scatter them like mice." " Ay," she said dryly, "ye make a great ado about a Bky-blue robe ! " "Nay, Joan," protested Dick, "'tis not alone the robe. But, lass, ye were disguised. Here am I disguised ; and, tothe proof, do I not cut a figure of fun— a right lool'B figure ? " " Ay, Dick, an' that ye do ! she answered smiling. " Well, then !" he returned, triumphantly, " so was it with you, poor Matcham, in the forest. In sooth ye were a wench to laugh at. But now!" So they ran on, holding each other by both hands, exchanging smiles and lovely looks, and melting minutes into seconds ; and so they might have continued all night long. But presently there was a noise behind them ; and tbey were aware of the short young lady, with her finger on her lips. " Saints ! " Bhe cried, " but what a noise ye keep ! Can ye not speak in compass ? And now, Joanna, my fair maid of the woods, what will ye give your goasip for bringing you your sweetheart ? " Joanna ran to her, by way of answer, and embraced her fierily. "And you, sir," added the young lady, "what do ye give me ? " "Madam," said Dick, "I would fain offer to pay you in the same money." " Come, then," said the lady, " it is permitted you." But Dick, blushing like a peony, only kißsed her hand. "What ails ye at my face, fair sir?" she inquired, curtseying to the very ground j and then, when Dick had at length and most tepidly embraced her, "Joanna," Bhe added, "yonr sweetheart is very backward under yonr eyes; but I warrant you, when first we met, he was more ready. lam all black and blue, wench 5 trust me never, if Ibe not black and blue ! And now," she continued, " have ye said your sayings ? for I must speedily dismiss the paladin." But at this they both cried out that they had said nothing, that the night was still -very young, and that they would not be separated bo early. •' And anpper ? " asked the young lady. " Must we not go down to supper ? " " Nay, to be sure ! " cried Joan. " I had forgotten." "Hide me, then," said Dick, "put me behind the arras, shut me in a chest, or what you will, so that I may be here on your return. Indeed, fair lady," he added, "bear this in mind, that we are sore bested, and may never look upon each other's face from this night forward till we dio." At this the young lady melted; and •when, a little after, the bell summoned Sir Daniel's household to the board, Dick was planted very stiffly against the wall at a place where a division in the tapestry permitted him to breathe the more freely, and even to see into the room. He had not been long in this position, when he was somewhat strangely disturbed. The silence, in that upper story of the house, was only broken by the flickering of the flames and the hissing of a green log in the chimney; but presently, to Dick's Btrained hearing, there came the sound of someone walking with extreme precaution; and Eoon after the door opened, and a little "black-faced, dwarfish fellow, in Lord Shoreby's colours pushed first his head, and then his crooked body, into the chamber. His mouth waß open, as though to hear the better; and his eyes, which were very bright, flitted restlessly and swiftly to and frof He went round and round the room, striking here and there upon the hangings ,- bub Dick, by a miracle, escaped his notice. Then he looked below the furniture, and examined the lamp; and, at last, with an air of cruel disappointment, was preparing to go away as silently as he had come, when down he dropped upon his knees, picked up somethins; from among the rußheß on the floor, examined it, and, with every signal of delight, concealed it in the wallet at his belt. Dick's heart sank, for the object in question waß a tassel from his own girdle ; and it waa plain to him that thia dwarfish Bpy, who took a malign delight in hiß employment, wouldlose no time in hearing it to.hiaja»ster>,*liej>aroa^ M^i^Jaiil^

tempted to throw aside the arras, fall npon the sconndrel, and, at the risk of his life, remove the tell-tale token. And while he waa Btill hesitating, a new cause of concern was added. A voice, hoarse and broken by drink, began to be audible from the Btair; and presently after, uneven, wandering, and heavy footsteps sounded withont along the passage. "What make ye here, my merry men, among the greenwood shawß? " sang the voice. " What make ye here? Hey! sots, what make ye here?" it added, with a rattle of drunken laughter ; and then, once more breaking into song : If ye should drink the clary wino. Fat Fri ir John, ye friend o' mineIt I should oat, and ye should drink. Who shall sing the mass d'ye think ? " Lawless, alas ! rolling drunk, was wandering the house seeking for a comer wherein to slumber off the effect of his potations. Dick inwardly raged. The spy, at first terrified, had grown reassured as he found he had to deal with an intoxicated man, and now, with a movement of cat-like rapidity, slipped from tiie chamber, and was gone from "Richard's eyes. What was to be done? If he lost touch of Lawless for the night, he was left impotent, whether to plan or carry forth Joanna's rescue. If, .on the other hand, he dared to address the drunken outlaw, the spy might still be lingering within sight and the most fatal consequences ensue. It was, nevertheless, upon this last hazard that Dick decided. Slipping from behind the tapestry, he stood ready in the doorway of the chamber, with a warning hand upraised. Lawless, flushed crimson with his eyes injected, vacillating on his feet, drew atill unsteadily nearer. At last he hazily caught sight of his commander, and, in despite of Dick's imperious Bignals, hailed him instantly and loudly by his name. Dick leaped npon and shook the drunkard f ariously. "Beast!" he hissed— "beast and no man ! It is worse than treachery to be so witless. We may all be stent for thy sotting." But Lawless only laughed and staggered, and tried to clap young Shelton on the back. And just then Dick's quick ear caught a rapid brushing in the arras. Ec leaped towards the sound, and the next moment a piece of the wall-hanging had been torn down, and Dick and the spy were sprawling together in its folds. Over and over they rolled, grappling for each other's throat, and still baffled by the arras, and still silent in their deadly fury. But Dick was by much the stronger, and soon the spy lay prostrate under his knee, and, with, a single stroke of the long poniard, ceased to breathe. {This Story uill be continued in our issue 0/ Saturday next.)