The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 9, 26 February 1903, Page 23

The Storyteller

THE MERCY OF A MAIDEN.

Two young men were crawling with slow panting of breath like animals near to their end through the thick furze of the long moor which skirted the outer slope of the hills whose friendly reach they were so anxious to gain. They were worn and weary, and the face of one showed that some great trouble had left a laaik which had triumphed o\er the naturally careless brightness of his countenance. There was something almost boyish in his look, but as he now turned to the older man and spoke gaspingly, the quick deference and concern of the latter betrayed their relative standing. ' It is no use, Dick, I cannot get on. If I had the art of crawling on my stomach, its emptiness would defeat me. 1 am sure 1 would give my kingdom — ' he laughed, a genuine laugh of amusement which suddenly changed into a bitter sob. ' Nay, say not so, dear King,' said the other, rising from the stooping position with difficulty, and rubbing his knees. ' The way will lighten for us after a while. There cannot be continuance of this ill-fortune.' The youth shook his head. ' 1 am chilled through by the dews, nnd the raw flesh is cut by the ground. Do, dear Pendrell, hay that you believe we can now gather some of this stuff and light a fire. We are so many miles from Worcester that it must be safe enough.' ' God knows that if T could warm thee, my King, I would gladly do it at the expense of my life. But we cannot count on the distance. The whole country has been alarmed and there is not one of these long-faced scoundrels who would not sell his nut her to oirry favor with old Noll.' ' Very well. Charles Stuart has Wbrnc so much that he can well summon endurance to bear more. But, oh, Dick, thou dost not know how the thought of that great-nosed rascal in my poor father's place, tho feeling that all is over for me, has struck* the chill of death to rAy heart. My poor mother ! What high hopes were hers, what plans of vengeance had she made ' And how she must resign herself to live on the grudged charity that is doled out by France. Oh, I am not going to be a woman after this ' — tho tears were streaming down his cheeks. ' Dear Dick, grudge me not this moment of weakness.' The elder man said nothing, but pressed his lips firmly together, and rising as if the tumult of emotion was too great to hold him to his caution, ho strode up and down the narrow path they had made, impatiently slashing at the fur?c with his swoid. Charles Stuart snt on tho ground and watched him. Hp felt like a child who had resigned h'jnsilf to the guidance of another, and who has no chance to use his own judgment. To his sense of reliance on tho goodwill of tho other was added as much of affect un as could flourish in the disappointed heart of a king already bitterly familiar with the contempt that common mortals feel for royalty without power. It was good to know here was one on whom ho could depend, who would not sell him like his Scottish subjects, and whose deeds were more significant to his demotion than his woids. It was long enough after the terrible lout of Worcester for Charles to haie taken measure of his chanced circumstances and to understand » hat r e xs absolutely dependent on tho pity and loyalty of others for tho moans of escape from the land that would ha-ve him not ITo had lost his pride, had lost all but the desire to live, to evade tho dutches of that merciless arm which grasped and crushed the weaklings it scr/od, as if they were made of paper. That he might one day be ab!o to return to his own had ot. on left his hope. His whole desire was to find a place of .safety. For a while rendrell raged back and forth, then he turned abruptly to the king ". 'Wo have boon throe days without food. It would be dangerous to try to kill any game even if there wore any for us to kill. We shall rune to risk throwing ourselves on tho mercy of some of the neighboring farmers.' ' Rather try tho gentry.' quickly rejoined Charles, ' I have found tho farmers far more in love with Cromwell thnn with myself.' ' It is not a matter of choice' said rendrell, with a half smile. ' But if we come whore there arc pretty maidens it may bo their hearts will not be so hard to the sight of otic of their own ago m distress.' Charles looked ruefully at his garb. It was a singular compound. Theic was little of royalty in that strange mixture of dejection, dirt, and fatigue that made up the king. He was clad in a long green coat that might hn\e served for a peasant of twice his proportions, and his shapely limbs were concealed in brooches of the coarsest and most primitive country make, while the huge boots in which his small foot wandered had so cut him at every ste?* that his foot were, glued to them by his own blood. His curls wore gathered up under a short and unkempt wig, and only the small, well-formed rest loss hands, the eyes with their look of reliant individuality nnd tho melancholy sweetness that were tho great charm of tho Stuart's rianco bottaved there was behind the uncouth exterior moic than common. Dandy to the heart, ho felt almost a thrill of pain at the suggestion that any maiden of high or low degree should see him thus. Ho said, petulantly :

We need not expect any mercy from the louts hereabouts. .Let us tighten our belts and push on.' As you say,' responded Pendrell, briefly. ' There is some support in the embrace of leather.' The two plodded on, but at each step Charles faltered and only by resolution could he repress the cry of agony that came to his lips as his tortured feet stumbled in then- vain endeavor to keep up with his companion s stride. At last he said, pantingly : ' Dear Dick, thou wert right and I am wrong, as it seems to be my fate. let us stop, if only to lie in the bush. I cannot go a step farther in these boots.' L/ven as he spoke Pendrell with a quick movement dragged him down to tho ground and placed his hand aver his lips. A shiver went through Charles. The love of life sprang into being, and, quivering with fear, all thought ot his sufferings forgotten, he hugged the earth while hi 9 companion sat by his side with eager strain of every nerve. His quicker ear had caught the sound of voices not far below them. The two remained motionless for what seemed to tho king an eternity of suspense, then Pendrell, with a gesture that he should remain where he was, arose, and creeping to the top of the slope, looked over. There was no attempt on the part of those who had set up their encampment below to conceal themselves. They were talking loudly, and busily engaged gathering brush to make a fire. The cry of a child attracted attention to the great waggon which stood at one side. Tho horses to which the covetous eye of Pendrell instantly went were tethered near by, a strong pair of draught animals, , .and just than feeding; them I from a dish of oats was a young woman of comely presence whose fa«e he eagerly scanned to see if there was aught of her disposition to be read. But as far as Pendrell could ace it was heavy and coarse, and there was little chance that the coquetry of her sex would aid Charles He nearly laughed, forlorn as was their plight, at thought of the appearance of the latter, and the small chance there was of his being able to play the gallant. On the ground at a short space from the waggon wore many bags, and these and the dusty frock of a man who came from the back of tho waggon, bearing in his arms the crying child, told him it was a miller who was carrying grain from some distance to his mill. Tho company had evidently withdrawn from the road for the greater safety, and were preparing to pass the night lucre. Pendroll thought rapidly. Neither the garb nor the movements of the four persons who now stood around the fire wore that of tho region. The huge travelling van, the quantity of grain, showed they had come from a distance It might be safe for them to throw themselves on their mercy to the extent of begging a part of the meal whoso preparation already made his mouth water. ITo went back to Charles and briefly related what ho had soon, concluding by saying : ' It is the horses that we want, and if we can get thorn wo can manage to go a good distance towards safety ' But Charles shook his head. ' Tho sight of tho little money that we have with us would at once betray us, for no matter how ignorant the«e louts they know enough to suspect the possessors of French coin. Besides, we could not travel on horseback Our only safety is in crawling like insects in such places as those.' ' Curse it, thous speak est truth,' said Pendrell, mortified that ho should seem to Charles to have overlooked tho groat fact that tho safety of tho king should bo the first thought With the keenness of mind that seemed to gi\'o him insight to tho thoughts of others, the king said gently ■ ' Nay, dear Dick, do not reproach thyself with having forgotten thought of me. lam ever first in thy heart, and there could be none who could do more than thou hast done for me ' Pendrell took tho hand which he extended to him, and kissed it, then helped him to arise. Charles bravely smothered the groan that wanted utterance, and said :' ' Dick, wo shall go to them, for I swear there is such enticement in tho smell of that roasting meat that it would make mo almost an Esau. We shall have to trust to their compassion as a pair of footsore beggars.' ' And to mv sword,' said Pendroll, grimly. ' Beggars do not usually carry swords with diamond studded hilts,' said Charles, touching that of Pendrell, and smiling slitrhtly. ' T must conceal it, but how ? ' Charios laughed - ' Easily enough can T do that to mine, thanks to tho cunning of the French artificer who made me a present of it and wished it to bring me good luck. It hath failed in that, but, who knows ? ' As ho spoke he took his sword, and with a wrench detached the hilt and blade, and «-hoved the latter up into tho former till it seemed as if be carried a short club. Pendroll looked half enviously as ho lovingly handled his own, then, taking off his cloali, he wrapped tho sword in it and bound it about as woll as be could with a piece of cord, and slung it over his shoulder. ' Forward,' said Charles, with a lightening of his heait and sonio of tho merry curiosity of youth. His volatile disposition was already aiding him to forget gis niisory. There was more in action than in passive endurance, and no matter how their adventure turned out it might be a groat relief from the pressure of maddening thought. They did not descend the abrupt hill down which they looked into the dell, but cautiously skirted it and came

out. for a moment on the highway. Pendrell glancing about him with more anxiety than did Charles, so completely had the latter yielded to the anticipation of some good from the miller's party. They soon plunged into the little clearing and as they made their way it came suddenly to Pendrell that no one who was not familiar with the region could have selected the spot. It was a most cunningly contrived hiding place, for the ordinary traveller would never have dreamed there was aught but tangled underbrush beyond the formidable hedge of briars. As they pressed forward he whispered a few words of rapid caution to the king, and then they were in the midst of the clearing. Near the fire stood a tali, strong woman of the early evening of life. She was busy .adding to the savory compound which had so tickled their nostrils, and tho younger woman was hushing one child to sleep by a tender crooning while a boy of 10 stood by her side, gazing at the miller. The latter was sharpening long poles which he had cut down among the saplings and so intent on his task that it was onlyi the sharp exclamation of the child that made him raise his head. He paused and straightened up while he eyed the intruders with frowning suspicion. The slight figure of Charles was a little in advance, and the king tried to put as engaging and supplicating a smile on his face as he could muster, but the effect on his begrimed and briar-torn visage caused the boy to set up a howl of terror. ' What brings ye here, ye rogues ? ' roared the miller, lifting his voice to give himself the more courage. 'What do ye mean to intrude on honest people who are journeying to their homes ? Get ye gone at once or 1 will bore a hole through ye ! ' Cansidering that he was weaponless his speech savored more of intent than ability, and Pendrell smiled grimly, almost unconsciously fondling his concealed sword. But he took on himself to answer quickly, for he feared the quick pride of Charles. ' Sir, we are honest men in search of work. We have had the misfortune to fall in with some thieves, who despoiled us of our little store of provisions, and wo ask you Tor the help of food to give us strength for outjourney.' ' Faith, if your tongue can move so glib, your legs ought to follow suit,' said the millej abruptly, and with a keen look at the speaker. '1 am not much of a meddler with other folks' business, but I never heard an honest working man speak as you do. Get you gone There is no room for you here. Nay,' answering the light that came into Pendrell's eyes, ' do not reckon on being two to one, for my nephews who delayed a little will soon be with us.' ' We cannot go on,' said Charles, breaking the silence or the first time, and instinctively tinning his eyes to the younger woman. 'We are starving if for nothing but the sake of the child you have in your aims, that m time some one may do him a kindness ' ' What, you young limb of Satan,' roared the miller, 'do you mean to hint that a son of mine will e\er be travelling the road? Get out of here at once, do \e hear ? ' 'That we will not.' said Charles, coolly, 'had \o» as many nephews as there are devils in hell we must have food.' The younger woman, who had not spoken, now interposed : ' It is easy enough to give them something,' she said in a conciliatory tone, ' and let them go.' 'No,' thundered the miller, 'I dent woik to feed lazy vagabonds or maybe worse : maybe they aie smpo of the band of the Stuart who tried to bring his accursed followers to eat the substance of the land ' He suddenly seized Charles by the arm and drew him into the circle of the fire for the light of day was waning fast. The king made no resistance, and Pendrell who had been about to spring on the miller, held backAs the two women saw the utter weariness and emaciation of the boyish figure, they both sprang lorward as by one impulse and took him from the hold ol the miller. < ' Stay, father,' said the younger one, using the same term that her children gave to her husband ' l'e do be ready to drop with hunger, and he's naught but a lad, you might say. What matter be they vagabonds ? A little of our plenty won't hurt us to lose Lie down, lad,' indicating a couch that had been made of hay and empty bags, ' I'll tell ye now that his bark is worse than his bite.' ' I thank you.' said Charles, faintly, for tho revulsion had almost deprived him of voice, 'you will not regret ' The miller had turned to his poles again after listening to the gentle words of the elder woman who motioned Pendrell to a seat. The latter curtly expressed his thanks and sank down on the spot she indicated, though his eyes and heart were with the king, whom the two women seemed to haA'e suddenly received into their very hearts. (To be continued )

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