to return with the King's army, which passes free.

The next morning I was early at my door, looking for my lady, and not in vain.

She was flushed with riding fast, and could scarce stop her steed till I caught at the bridle.

"It will gladden your heart to know that you will take your toll soon," she cried, tossing back her hair.

I steadied my look and voice with difficulty.

"It is as it should be, lady," I said, "if he is a good man and worthy of you."

"That might easily be," she said, with a bitterness in her voice, "as you think of me. But even you will scarce think so of the Earl of Lanby." She looked across the river, where his earldom lay as far as the eye could see.

"The Earl of Lanby!" I grated my teeth for a moment; for the Earl was well at fighting, and ill at all else. "I have been a soldier, lady, and drilled to hold that the King can work no evil; else I had said that he has done you grievous wrong."

"The wrong is not yet done," she cried. "I will defy the King; and now, will you serve me, John?"

I leaned one arm upon her horse and stared across the narrow gray bridge, and seemed to see myself and a few good men holding it against the army; but I saw them, in my mind's eye, surrounding us by the fords and taking us in the rear, and myself hanged that mattered not-and her men; and I shook my head.

"My life is little to me, madam," I said, "if it would profit you; but it would not. You will but add to your bitterness the humiliation of defeat. Neither will I ask your men to follow me in so hopeless a cause. You cannot resist the King."

"Do I care so little for my brave men-or for you?" she cried. "Ask

them to follow you-and me-across the water. Discipline them into soldiers worthy of the acceptance of the King of France. They would fain serve under you, John; for they say that you are a good soldier, and that there is no swordsman like you in France."

I had, indeed, some skill with the weapon, and her men-at-arms loved to learn from me.

She smiled down at me as she sat on her horse; and I was sore tempted, but steeled my heart against her wiles.

"No, madam," I answered. "I am yours to the death if I can render you useful service; but I will not serve the enemies of my King."

She swerved her horse aside, pulling angrily at the rein.

"You are a poltroon," she cried-"a poor knave with no mind above taking toll at your bridge. Come against me with the army of your King!" And with that she was gone.

I stood gloomily looking after her till she was out of sight; then I walked out upon the bridge and sat upon the parapet, staring moodily at the water and communing with myself.

I was ready enough to fight for her, even against the King, if that would save her from a distasteful marriagefor the thought that I would not have her love her husband I dismissed as unworthy; but this was beyond my power; and even if I refused service against my countrymen, I saw no profit in following her to France. Since my presumptuous love for her grew every day, I should but increase my tortures by seeing her, and at the end should dance at her marriage with some finnicking French nobleman whom I could stifle with one arm. To France, I resolved firmly, I would not go.

There was only one way in which I could free her from the need of flight to escape this hateful marriage. If I

could meet the Earl and kill him! They would kill me afterwards; but that would not matter, for life held nothing but trouble for me since she was out of my reach. But I could not bring myself to so unsoldierly a deed as to take him unaware, and he would disdain single combat with one of my degree. Indeed, they would thrust me from his doors if I sought audience of him.

I pondered all day upon the matter, and, thinking still of it at night, I could not sleep. So I rose and dressed, and went out on the bridge and rested my arms on the parapet and looked down on the river hurrying by. There had been a storm in the evening, and the wreckage of the trees raced down the stream, and sometimes a great bough struck one of the slender piers and made the bridge tremble. The wind blew fiercely towards Lanby, and the keen air and the cold moon peeping through the scurrying clouds chilled my hot passion to a pensive mood.

I had stood there a while when I heard, beyond the far end of the bridge, a sound that I knew. I should have recognized it before but for the contrary wind. It was the thud of horses at a trot-horses that were ridden in close order together.

I thought with a quickness unusual to me-though my wits are apt to wake at times of action-it could not be the King's army, for the mesenger had barely returned. It must be the crafty Earl coming with a force to seize my lady ere she fled to France, as one might well judge she was like to do. There was no time to run back and saddle my mare to give warning. I I could but die for her.

PART II.

I crouched under the shadow of the parapet with my sword in hand, for I had not yet disused my soldier's cus

tom to go always armed. The horses drew nearer and nearer till they clattered on the bridge, and now and then a rough voice reached me against the wind. It seemed as if hours passed instead of minutes, and in a strange fantasy I made pictures out of the black clouds driving in the wind. At last they were upon me, and I leapt up and faced the big Earl.

His great black horse, nervous as horses are, snorted and fell back on his haunches. I think the creature wrenched his back, for he did not rise; but the Earl freed himself swiftly, and stood raving and cursing at me, and, taking me for some belated vagabond, bade his men seize me and throw me over the bridge; and when I laughed he smote at me. He knew that I was no yokel when he met my guard, and shouted quickly to his men to keep back lest they hampered his arm. I withdrew a step, and challenged him to come past his horse, which lay between us, if he dared. He came quickly enough, and then we fought.

I would that I had skill of words to tell the story of our sword-play, for I had some renown in the army as a swordsman, and never have I met so strong and skilled an adversary. We feinted and smote and parried and advanced and retired for a quarter of an hour, and sometimes when the moon was hidden for a moment we waited cautiously on guard, resting our arms. I had two flesh-wounds, and a deeper one in the shoulder, and I had touched him thrice, when at last my sword went home, and he fell without a groan, and as he touched the ground his followers rode forward. Happily the body of his charger impeded them, for their horses shied at this and at me, and would not advance. So the men dismounted, but foolishly came on two abreast, hampering each other, as their dead lord had foreseen; and I smote down eight, one after the other,

fighting acros the dead man as he lay on his charger. I can see in my mind's eye his dark, pale face as it stared with glazed eyes and open mouth at the moon; and behind lay the others, and those who still came on had to step on them.

Two stout men were now to the front, smiting not, but pushing me back with their guard, and giving no opening to strike them. Once I was driven off the narrow bridge I knew full well that they would surround me. Therefore, when they paused for a moment I turned and ran, thinking to get to my house. They followed closely, and the bridge filled from the other end till it was full; and since I was faint with loss of blood-for I had received several more wounds-and could not run, I turned to face them as I reached the bank. As I turned I heard a great shriek of many in one, and saw the bridge sway and disappear, broken by age and the unwonted burden; and presently there was a great crash, and the water flew up in clouds. The spray fell on me where I stood. I heard a few shrieks, fewer and fewer, and saw a white face here and there in the stream, and an uplifted arm!

Some few of the Earl's followers had escaped on the bank by my side; but they had no heart to fight further, nor had I. They slunk away, and I staggered to my house, and stanched my wounds and bound them. Then I went to the stable for my horse; but one of the knaves had stolen him while I was within. So I set out on foot to my lady's castle, thinking that some might cross by the fords and take her by surprise. I was faint and dizzy, and the wounds broke out again, and I reeled before the wind that blew upon me. There is an ill dream that I dream yet of a wild moon riding fast in a wild sky, and a fierce wind racing over a bare land, and a wounded man stum

bling on to a place that was always far.

I reached it at last, and leaned against the gateway and knocked; and when they opened it I fell senseless within. When I came to from my swoon my lady, with her hair hanging loose, as she had risen from her couch, and clad in a long wrapper, was bending over me and dressing my wounds; and not till they were all bound would she hearken to me; and then I told her how I had taken toll of the Earl.

She called her men to arms, and set guards upon the walls, and had some tree-trunks hoisted, as I advised her, to let fall upon the enemy where they must crowd to attack the gateways; but they came not. So in the morning I counseled her to flee without delay, since she would not submit to the King; and when she dallied with preparations, as women will, I took matters into my own hands and gave orders for the wagons to be loaded, and sent a troop to the port to secure such ships as were there-they found two, beside my lady's own barge-and bade all march straightway; and they made no demur, but obeyed me.

My lady would have had me embark first, with her; but I refused flatly, telling her that in a retreat the captain's place was at the rear. Then she said she would stay to the end with me; but I vowed that she should go straightway aboard or I would carry her. For a countryman had brought news that the King's army had crossed the ford, and it was no time for courtesy.

Finding me resolved, she yielded with good grace; but before she went she took a little gold brooch from her neck and fastened it at mine.

"Since you have served for no wage," she said very sweetly, "and only my heart can repay. Have a care of yourself, and follow safely, or you will cause me great sorrow."

But I filled the three ships full and saw them go, and bade the men who were left scatter along the shore and save themselves by flight. Then I went back to surrender to the army of the King. For I would not follow my lady to France to see her marry there, and to take service against my King; and I judged surrender better than flight, since the end was speedier. Nor did I care greatly what became of

me.

The captain of the advance-guard, to whom I gave my sword, cursed me for a braggart until one of the men who had fought on the bridge bore witness to my story. Then he cursed me again for coming to him to put my neck in a halter.

"It is the best deed that ever a man hung for," he declared; and he gave me meat and drink before he sent me, under guard, to the King's lieutenant, Lord Marvain.

His lordship examined me with no more harshness than his duty demanded, and ill concealed his pleasure that I had slain the Earl. I owed it to his favor, I make no doubt, that I was not sent before the King till the morrow, when his anger had cooled somewhat; and he gave me a veiled hint to plead that I had but held the bridge against those who would cross it for purpose of unlawful and unauthorized violence. His wife, I learnt afterwards, was a second cousin of my lady's, and I credit him with some voice in the strange events which followed.

He sent me to a tent, on parole to stay within; and I slept most of that day and night, being spent and sick of my wounds. The next morning they led me forth to a court which the King held in my lady's hall; and when I was seated-for I was not able to stand long-I discovered my lady seated beside me. Some of the King's ships had sailed round the coast and

captured her. She was greatly angered that I had not followed her, and turned her back on me; and when I whispered would not answer.

An usher called for silence, and the King turned to us sternly.

"You, lady, we know," he said, "and your proud, rebellious spirit; but who, sir, are you?” He looked severely at

me.

"John Rix, sire," I answered, "some years captain of a company, under Sir William Evesham, in your service; and lately, for service of my ancestors, unworthily warden of the Loar Bridge, which I guarded with my life against those who would pass it unlawfully to commit violence upon your Majesty's subjects."

Lord Marvain nodded approval; but the King's gaze did not relax.

"Did you risk your life for my sake, John Rix?" he demanded, striking his hand upon the table in front of him, "or for-my subjects?"

"For this lady, sire." I said steadily; "but I chose to surrender to you rather than to seek service with your enemies in France."

"Did she invite you to such service?" he asked quickly; but I did not answer, although his eyes pierced me. "Well, I will not force you to accuse her, only yourself. You aided her flight?" "Yes, sire."

"Knowing that she fled from my

will?"

"Yes, sire."

"What is your excuse?"

"To you, sire, none."

He pulled his beard and frowned. "Did you know that Lord Lanby had no warrant of mine to pass the bridge when you fought him and slew him?"

"No, sire."

"But you thought so?"

"I did not think about it, sire." He smiled grimly.

"I think it would have made little

difference if you had, Master John. preferred this Yet in all else

It is plain that you lady's service to mine.

I judge you to be a loyal servant, and a brave one. It shall rest with yourself what punishment you suffer." His look upon me was not unkindly; but his face was stern again when he turned to my lady. "You, madam," he said, "have openly defied my will; neither have you submitted your error to my judgment; neither have you held to me against my enemies. If you were a man your life were surely forfeited. As you are a woman, I will cure your wilfulness in another way. Since you demur to my choice of a husband, you shall choose one for yourself-from my scullions! Unless"-he leaned forward and shook his finger at her "unless the sturdy knave beside you, whom you have seduced from his duty, will take pity and marry you.— Come! will you take her for punishment, Master John, or shall she put up with a kitchen-knave?"

King thundered. and that without another word." There was but one choice that I could make; for though it irked me to be the instrument of her punishment, and I could but expect that she would hate me and revile me, yet it was surely less shame for her to marry me than a kitchen-knave; and I answered speedily lest I should seem to put scorn on her.

"Make your choice,

"I will marry the lady, sire," I said; "and but for the wrong I do her my punishment would be great reward. For I think there is none to compare with her on earth.”

And then my lady did a thing at which I marvelled; for she rose and bowed to me very courteously.

"I thank you, sir," she said calmly. "You do me no wrong."

I thought first that she spoke but to anger the King; and then I thoughtknowing her noble nature that she spoke to show courtesy to me, since she knew full well I would have died

"The lady is nobly born, sire," I pleaded; "and I am but a poor yeoman. Punish me more, I pray you, and her less. She is but young, and""Dare not to parley with me," the

Chambers's Journal.

she held at my jacket with both her hands, and smiled the sweetest of smiles in my eyes. And then I knew that her punishment, like mine, was light!

Owen Oliver.

The ignorance of medical matters that prevails among the Irish peasantry is a source of unfailing wonder to those who come in frequent contact with them. The belief that if one tablespoonful of physic will do you good, five, six, seven tablespoonfuls will do you still more good is very popular, and often leads to queer results. In the old days this was not very much to be wondered at, as reading and writing do not come by nature in spite of Dog

berry's assertion to the contrary, and among an ignorant, unlettered people anything may happen; but in these days when the national school sends its pupils out into the world to fill all manner of positions, from farm-laborer to priest or doctor, the colossal ignorance of individuals is amazing. I have often heard my father tell the following story, for the truth of which he vouches.

When Bianconi's cars did for Ireland