The Texas Mesquiter. (Mesquite, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 31, Ed. 1 Friday, January 27, 1905 Page: 3 of 8
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The Ward of King Canute |
A Romance of die Danish Conquest.
_By OTTIUE A. LIUENCRANTZ, author ol The Thrall nt Lief the Lucky.
Copyright, 1903, by A. C. McCLURG & OO.
CHAPTER XI.
U
How tho Fates Cheated Randalin.
After that night the deep-set win-
dows of Ivarsdale Tower looked out
upon soma grim sights. The first
morning It was a skirmish In the
meadow beyond the foot-bridge, when
the three-score farmer-soldiers came
loyally to their leader’s aid. Though
Kendred of Hazelford marched brave-
ly at their head, they were practi-
cally uncaptained; with any kind of
weapon in their hands and no kind
of armor over their homespun. What,
chance had they against sixty picked
warriors, led by the fiercest chief of
a race of chieftains? They met, and
there was -a moment of clash and of
clangor, a moment of awful commo-
tion; and when the whirling dust-
clouds settled, the only homespun
that was moving was that which was
flying, sped by Danish arrows. All
the rest of the day the Tower win-
dow looked out upon a litter of
brown heaps here and there, a white
face upturned, or a scarf-end flutter-
ing in the autumn wind.
Wild with helpless misery, the
Lord of Ivarsdale would have charged
the Berserkers with his handful of
armed servants If the old cniht had
not restrained him almost by force;
when he spent his breath In railing
at everything between earth and sky.
“It is the folly of It that maddens
me,” he cried over and over, “the
needless folly! Had I but used my
mind to think with, instead of to plan
feasts—I am moved to dash my
brains out when I remember it!”
“Nay, it is my judgment that was
lacking,” Morcard said bitterly. “I
was an old dog that could not learn
a new trick. I should have seen that
tho old ways no longer avail. The
fault was mine.” His wrinkled old
face was so haggard with self-re-
When the beginning of the Wine
Month came, the bitterest Bight that
the Tower windows gave out upon
was the band of foragers that every
morning went forth from the Danish
campfires. Every noon they return-
ed, amid a taunting racket, with arm-
fuls of aleskiHS, back-loadk of salted
meats, and bags bulging with the
bread which they had forced tho ter-
rorized farm-women into baking for
■them. “They have the ingenuity of
fiends,” Father Ingulpli was wont to
groan after each of these spectacles.
At last the time arrived when it
looked as thought these visions were
to he the only glimpses of food vouch-
safed to them. ,
“Bread for one more meal; and the
last ale-cask has been broached,” the
steward answered in a very faint
voice when Morcard put the nightly
question.
Because it was not possible for the
old man’s face to record more misery,
the light of the guard-room fire over
which he crouched showed no change'
whatever in his expression.
It was the young lord, who sat be-
side him, that answered. After a
pause he said gently, “Go and try to
get some sleep. At least you can
dream of food.”
‘‘I have, done no otherwise for a sen-
night,” the man sighed, as he nurrted
away to snatch the tongS from a serf
who was spending an unnecessary
fagot upon the Are. At any other
time he would have shouted at him,
but it was little loud talking that was
done within the walls these days.
When they- were left alone, the old
cniht threw himself back upon tho
bench and covered his face with his
mantle. “I have outlived my useful-
ness,” he moaned. “I have lived to
bring ruin on the house that has shel-
tered me. "What guilt I lie under!”
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"You will never have a lady wife, Lord! We ahall die together!”
proach that the Etheling hastily re-
canted.
“Now I bethink me, I am wrong,
and it is no one’s fault. It comes of
the curse that lies ovccl the Island.
Was there not something rotten in all
English palisades, It would never have
happened that the pirates got their
first foothold. But we have shaken
off the spell, and they have not mas-
tered us yet. To-night we will try to
get a messenger out to my kinsman
in Yorkshire, and another to my fath-
er’s friend in Essex."
The next day, and for many days
thereafter, the Tower windows stared
out like expectant eyes. But no de-
livering bands ever came over the
hills to reward their watching. From
the moment that he was swallowed by
the outer darkness, the messenger
for Yorkshire was as lost to their
sight as though he had plunged into
the ocean. And a week later the man
who had been sent to Essex crept
back with a dejection that foretold
his ill success. The ealdorman was
taxed, might and main, to protect his
own lands. Ha regretted it, to his
innermost vitals, but these were days
when each must stand or fall for him-
self. He could only send his sympa-
thy and the counsel to hold out un-
flinchingly In the hope that some
fortune of war would call the besieg-
% m aw»y.
when he heard that, Father Ingulpli
forgot his robes to Indulge in a curse.
‘IX>es he we have possession
of the wldoW** blessed oil-cruse? If
the larder had not been stocked for
k week’s feasting, we must Miecds
have been starved under ere this.
How much longer can we endure,
•yen at one meal a day?” He sighed
H he draw Ua befc In another notch.
’• ~ - -
For a time he lay as stark and rigid
as though death had already closed
about hiritf*^ The guard-room seemed
to become a funeral chamber, with
a mass of hovering shadows for a
pall. The fir<? held up funeral tapers
of flickering flame, and the whispers
of tlie starring men who warmed
themselves in its heat broke the si-
lence as dismally as the voices of
mourners.
. But the Lord of Ivarsdale said
steadily: “Not so, goodfrieid; and it
hurts my prido sorely that j*m should
speak as if I were still of no import-
ance in my father’s house. That
which I called myself lord of, it be-
hooved me to rule over. If ever 1
get out of this"—checking himself, he
rose to his feet. “The smoke makes
my wits heavy. Methinks I will go
up into the air a while.”
He took a step toward the door,
but halted when the red-cloaked page,
who had been stretched near him on
the bench, started up as though pre-
paring to accompany him.
“Stay where you are, lad. These
fasts from sleep will parch your young
brains. I go up to the platform be-
cause I would rather walk than rest;
but do you remain her® iby the fire
and try to catcll a^firowslness from
its heat.”
But the page advanced with the old
wilful shake of his curly head. “I
also would rather walk, if you please.”
Aa he looked at hiqi, compassion
came into the Etbeling's face. The
hollowntoS of their socket* made the
boy’s large eyes, look-larger, and' his
fever-flush trebled their brightness.
Bchert said, with a poor attempt, at a
smile, “Llule did I think that my hos-
pitality would ever produce such a
guest. Poor youngling! You would
bett.» hu»«* crept <out to your come
try men, as 1 bade you.”
Again tbe dark head ap.nok obsti-
nately. “Rather would I curve with
you than feast with then*, i gc no*
oub till you go."
Something seemed to come into the
young man’s throat as he was about
to speak, for he shallowed hard and
was nllent. Putting an arm about the
slender figure, he drew it to his side;
and so they left the room and began
to climb the stairs. ,
As soon a»> ttie curtain fell at their
heels a stifling mustiness came to
their rostrils, and a chill that was
like the flat of a knife-blade pressed
against . their cheeks. They, draw
breath thankfully when they had come
up into the sweet freshness of the
night air. Flashing on the weapons
of the pacing sentinels, a glory of
silver moonlight lay like a visible si-
lence over the parapets. In the wark-
ness below, a sea of forest trees wa»
murmuring ,e.ud splashing at the pass-
ing of a wind. Yet deeper down in
the dark glowed tho fires of tHh Dan-
ish camp—red eye3 of tho dragon
that would rise jere long and "crush
them under his iron claws.
After they had twice made the
round without speaking, the page said
Ctravely, 1“ I heard what Brithwald
told you about the bread, lord. What
will overtake us when that is gone?
Shall we charge them, so that we
may die fighting?” When the Etheling
did not answer immediately, hfs com
panlon looked up at him with loving
reproach. “You forget that you need
conceal nothing from me, dear lord. I
am not ns those clowns below. You
have even said that you found plea®
ure In telling me your mind.”
Sebert’s hand was lifted from the
red cloak to touch tho thin cheek
caressingly. , “I should be extremely
ungrateful were I to say less, deal
lad. There is a man’s courage in your
boy’s body', and I think a woman
could not be more faithful in her love
--How! Are you cold that you
shiver so? Pull the corner of my
cloak about you.”
But the page east it off impatient-
ly. “No, no, it is nothing; no more
than that one of those men out there
may have walked across the spot that
is to be my grave. Sooner would I
bit® my tongue off than Interrupt you
I ask you not lo let it hinder vour
speech.”
Again a kind of affectionate , pity,,
came into the young noble's face.
“Does Jt mean so much to you to hear
that you have been faithful in your
service?” '
“It means—so much to me!” the
bey repeated softly; and if the man’s
ear had not been far afield, he might
have devlned the secret of the green
tunic only from the tenderness of the
low voice. But when his mind came
back to his companion again, the lad
was looking at him with a little smile
touching the curves of his wistful
mouth.,
“Do you know why this mishap
which has occurred to you seems
great luck for me? Because other-
wise it is not likely that you would
have found out how true a friend I
could be. If it had happened that I
had gone with Itothgar’s messenger
that night, you would have - remem-
bered ine only as one who could en-
tertain you when it was your wish to
laugh. But now, since it has been
allowed me to endure suffering with
you and to share your mind when it
was bitterest, you have given me a
place in your heart. And to-morrow,
when we go forth together, and the
Dane slays me with you because it
-will be open to him then that for your
sake I have become unfaithful to him,
you will remember our fellowship
even to-”
But Robert's hand silenced the
tremulous lips. “No more, young-
ling! I adjure you by your "gentle-
ness,” he whispered unsteadily. “You
owe me no such love; and It makes
my helplessness a thousandfold more
bitter. Say no more, little eomrade,
if you would not. turn my heart into
a woman’s when it has need to be of
flint. Sit you here on the ledge the
while that I take one more turn. You
will not? Then come with me, and
wo will make the round together, and
apply our wits once more to the rid-
dle. Until swords have put an end
to me, I shall not cease to believe
that it has an answer.”
Below, in the denso 'warhness of
the forest, an occasional owl sounded
his echoless cry. From still deeper
In the dark, wheve the Danish camp-
fires glowed, a harp-note floated up
on tho wind with a fragment of wild
song. Put It was many a long mo-
ment before the silence that hovered
over the doomed Tower was broken
by any sound but the measured tramp
of the sentinels.
(To be continued.)
Condensed Horses.
Small Willie had accompanied his
unoi* *o the Circus, and was especially
plenaud wi-.ii the antics of the Shet-
land ponies.
“Well, Willie, what did you see el
the show?” asked his mother upoa
hlB return.
“Oh lots end lots of things,” repl'efl
the IJttl^ fellow, “bat the condone*#
horses were the best of aU."
2kd
V \ M - ti
■ $8
FALL vOF FRENCH CABINET.
End of Combe’s Regime Brought
About by Natural Means.
The developments of tho last three
months have prepared intelligent oh
servers for the announced resignation
of tho Combes cabinet.; At the outset
it had a majority of eighty, and it
could count absolutely on one of forty
or fifty—a margin deemed sufficient
in the group-ridden parliament of
France. Four distinct and coherent
groups were behind Combes originally,
zzkjcm? jpo&rzse
M. ilouvler, who 1 was minister ot
finance In tho French cabinet which has
just resigned, is looked upon as the most
likely man for the head of the new cab-
inet. He. lias long been a distinguished
figure in French rpolltles, and lias been
highly successful as minister of-finance,
receiving much praise for his work in
converting government rentes front a 3t<!
to tiie present 3 per cent basis.
as they had been behind Waldeck-
Rousseau, and not tho least Influential
of them was the socialist group. Rous-
seau was unable to organize a purely
republican ministry, as the moderates
under Meline were bitterly opposed to
the reopening of the Dreyfus case,
and he was obliged to Invoke socialist
aid. Socialist votes kept him in power
for the extraordinary term of three
years, from June, 1899. to June,- 1902,
and the same votes have enabled the
obscure Combes to weather many
storms and retain office in a country
of short-lived cabinets, for thirty
months.
Combes’ programme included the
rigorous application of the anti clerical
associations law passed under Rous-
seau. old-age pensions for workmen,
the reduction of the term of military
service to two years and an income
tax. His conflict with the Vatican
and his gradual conversion to dises-
tablishment (the repeal of the century
old concordat) will he regarded as the
feature of his careef as premier. Sep-
aration projects approved by him, arc
now pending in the chamber of dep-
uties.
Whether tho retirement of Combes
spells a decided change of legislative
policy time will show. Much will de-
pend on the fate of the “bloc.” If It
remains fairly intact t he next ministry
will continue tlie work of the retiring
one. If It dissolves and the socialists
'ffZ7/£/ J&/550W'
Henri Brinson, who Is wild to be fa-
vored by Premier Combos as ills suc-
cessor in the French cabinet, 1ms been
for many yeais a prominent figure In
French politics. Three'yekrs ngo, at tho
time that Combes succeeded to the gov-
ernment, BrtBROTT was first offered the
task of forming a cabinet, but he de-
clined. At the present time France thinks
that M. Rouvk-r is the man to straighten
out the cabinet tangle, but it is the cus-
tom when the premier retires voluntarily
for him to have a strong voice In the
naming of his successor.
are excluded from the government ma-
jority, as many republicans wish, there
is likely to be a new policy.
'aJ
-
MB. 4tArffizm
Chinese Cooke and Cooking.
A German epicure comes to tho res-
cue of the Chinese In regard to their
alleged habit of eating rotten eggs.
The eggs, he says, are simply pre-
served in lime until they , get a con-
sitency like that of hard butter and
they-taste somewhat like lobster. He
declares them one of the choicest deli-
cacies he has ever eaten.' He thinks
there are no better cooks in the world
than the Chinese. When he went to
live among them his friends predicted
he would starve, hut he liad a good
time and gained weight—more than
h« wanted to.
I GREAT SUFFERER
LAY HELPLESS AND SPEECHLESS
FOR HOURS AT A TIME.
Sinking llcadarhci, KhtMiumtivn,
All ('aimed hyj’oof l>lood—Coved by
l>r. Wllllum*’ Pink rills.
WUcu Mrs. Williams was nskml for
some details of the fearful illness from
which she had so long suffered, she spoke
as follows i
“ Ever since I hud nervous prostration,
about thirteen years ago, I have had (
periodical spells of complete exhaustion.
Any excitement or unusual activity
would throw mo into a state of lifeless-
tiess. At tho beginning my strength
Avoulcl como back iu a moderate time, *
hut tho period of weakness kept length-
ening fin til nt tyst I ^ould Tie lielplosn
ns many as three hours at a stretch,"
“ You were under medical treatment;
of course ?. ’
11 Yos, when I became BO had that 1
had to give up my housework, in May ol
1903, . I was being treated for kidney
trouble, and Inter tho doctor thought my
difficulties came from change of life. I
was not only weak, hut I find dizzy
feelings, palpitation of the heart, misoiy
after eating, liot flashes, nervous lira* •
aches, rheumatic pains in the hade an !
hips. The doctor did mo so little good -
thnt I gave up his treatment, and r< all,/
feared that my case was incurable "
“ What savod yod from y<>ur stale <.
Lopelessiiess?”
“ Iu July of 1903 I had a very ha !
spell, and my husband came In one da •
with a little hook which told of remark
able cures effected by a remedy for the
blood-and tha norves, Dr.Williams’ Pink
Pills. He bought n box for me, and
that was the beginning of my return to
health. .My appetite grew keen, my food
no longer distressed me, my nerves were
quieted, and my strength began to re-
five.”,.
“How long did you take this remedy?"
“For two months only. !At tho end
of that time I lmd regained my health
and cheerfulness, and my friends say
that I am looking better tlmn I have
done for the {Mist fifteen years."
Mrs. Lizzie Williams is now living nt
No. 41(1 Cedar street. Quincy, Illinois.
The pills which she praises so highly,
euro nil diseases that come from im-
poverished blood. If your system is all
rundown, Dr. Williams’Pink Pills are
the very best remedy to take. Any drug-
gist-cun supply thorn.__
A Mountain of Iron.
A mountain which Is said to be tho
most remarkable in the world is sit-
uated in the State of Durango, Mexico,
it certainly has a claim to this repu-.
tation, for it is 2,000 feet high, about
three-quarters of a mile In thickness
at the base, and is almost solid Iron.
Naturally, It has boon the dream of
Iron manufacturers ever since its dis-
covery to lease the mountain and so
work it. But this the government has
refused to let them do till quite recent-
ly, when a contract was signed be-
tween It and some New York capital-
ists for tho operation and development
of the mountain on a partnership
basis. Tho ore obtained from this *
mountain is :;a!d to yield about 87 per
ute.
Insects and Snakes as Food.
In Arizona Indian children may be
seen catching ants and eating them
and In Mexico the honey ant is eager
ly sought after by tho natives, who
eat tho well-rounded, currant-like, ah^
domefi. In South America the large
lizard, the Iguano, is a'delicacy, not
to speak of the larger snakes, which
in taste are like chicken. The ordi-
nary rattlesnake, it is said, is very
good eating if one can overcome tho
inborn prejudice.
HI8 EXPERIENCE TEACHES THEM
Xhat Dodd’s Kidney Pills will cure
Bright* Diseaee. Remarkable case
of George J. Barber—Quick recov-
ery after yeara of suffering. /
Estherville, Iowa, Jan. 23d.—(Spe-
cial)—The experience of Mr. George
J. Barber, a well known citizen of this
place, Justifies his friends In making
the announcement to the world
“Bright’s Disease can be cured." Mr.
Barber had kidney trouble and it de-
veloped into Bright's Disease. Ho
treated It with Dodd’s- Kidney Pills
and to-day he Is a well man Iu an
interview he says:
“I can’t say loo much for Dodd's
Kidney Pills. I had Kidney plseaso
for fifteen years and though I doctor-
ed for it with the pest doctors here
and in Chicago, it developed' into
Bright’s Disease. Then I started to
use Dodd’s Kidney Pills and two boxes
cured me completely. I think Dodd’s
Kidney Pills are th® best in the
world.”
A .remedy that will cure Bright’s
Disease will euro any- other form ol
Kidney Disease. Dodd’s Kidney Pills
never fail to cure Bright’s Disease.
A wise man does a great deal of
silent thinking and a fool man does a
great deal of thoughtless talking.
A basket full of gold is not so val
ualde for a son as Instruction Iu one
ot the classic*. .
i
1
• i
£j(4d
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Davis, John E. The Texas Mesquiter. (Mesquite, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 31, Ed. 1 Friday, January 27, 1905, newspaper, January 27, 1905; Mesquite, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth501619/m1/3/: accessed May 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Mesquite Public Library.