Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 12, 1927 — page 142: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

616 you might adopt the land of your Saxon ancestors; but you have much of the Ro- man in you, and we who dwell in Britain because it is home to us can scarcely know how savage and primitive our country seems to you.” “Tf I go home,” said Conrad, casting a reproachful elance at Edith, “it will be with a broken heart. Life never can be the same again, and I may find solace in studying for holy orders.” “A worthy object for any man,” ob- served the king, “ but surely not one to be taken as a desperate measure. Heart- breaks are painful things, but the recu- perative powers of youth are great. Most passionate and heroic lovers have their hearts broken, and get them mended so that they love again.” “At any rate, I would not stay here,” said Conrad sullenly. ‘‘ Edith has cast me out and shown me that her love was never strong enough to endure a test. Her majes- ty the queen came here to this wilderness and was cheerful under hardship and pri- vation because she loves so deeply.” “But Edith came here too,” the king reminded him patiently, “and braved the dangers of the warlike country and the for- est to be at your side. Then my beloved queen was not leaving her home, you see: all Britain is her home, as it is mine, and even the wilderness is dear to us.” “Even now,” said Conrad, with furtive glances at the melancholy maiden, “ at one word from Edith I would remain here, and renounce my rights of citizenship and all my fortune.”’ “JT am not so selfish that I would speak the word,” said Edith, “and I fear that the memory of your great sacrifice would ever stand between us as a barrier.” “The romance of the Druid temple is over!” the young man declared tragically. “For you it was an adventure, but I thought that a great love had come to me. You will be happier, I can see, if I am gone, so I shall go—but with all earnest prayers for your happiness through all your life, my dear. In my home I shall live alone—the quiet life of a student, a re- cluse.’ Beyond that the world has nothing more to give me.” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Tf you are determined, then,” said the king, “ I would urge you to lose no time. The winter is almost gone, and spring is bringing us war. ‘If you leave us at once, the good Loris will guide you by safe routes to the coast. In Somerset you should find mariners who will make the voyage to some port in a peaceful country, and the journey overland to your home will be easily made. We shall miss you sorely, my friend, but if you tarry here the war is likely to come upon us, and your escape will be cut off.”’ “My mind is made up,” said Conrad, “and Ill be off at once. An hour’s delay would make no one happier. Ill find Loris and prepare for the journey now.” He left the cottage, walking erect with an air of grim defiance, and before dusk his white horse stood before the door, sad- dled and harnessed for a long march. Loris, the clown, was mounted on a_ pony, equipped for the task in hand and as cheer- ful as usual. Conrad knocked on the cottage door and begged leave to say farewell to his friends. The king, the queen, and Edith joined de- voutly in a prayer for his safety and health, then tenderly wished him Godspeed on his journey. He raised the girl’s hand to his lips in parting. “All my life I shall think of you every day,” he said, “and pray continually for your happiness.” ‘And I for yours,” she whispered. “And if you are ever in need of a champion,” he. added, a little grandly, “I will come across the world to you. Wherever I am, one word will bring me to your side. Farewell!” He bowed low and saluted the king and the queen as humbly as he would have paid homage to Rome’s emperor, then he marched stiffly out of the cottage, snatched the bridle from the hand of Loris, and vaulted into the saddle. “Farewell!” he cried again, to the grave and silent Edith, as he saw her face framed in the doorway, and he touched the charger with the spur and galloped off. Edith turned then from the door, and when she saw the king and his consort CEOPMIG OOO KS (EO)