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Forthwith Beltane paused, and presently beheld one that sat by the wayside--a man who crouched 'neath a dusty cloak and kept his white head down-bent and who now reached out a hand to grope and grope for the staff that lay near; wherefore Beltane took hold upon this hand and raised the white-haired traveller, and thereafter put the cudgel in his grasp

"Messire," said the blind , for thy clasp is strong and quick with life, yet wondrous gentle God bless thee, youthful sir, for 'tis well to entleness within a world so cruel Tell me, I pray, doth this road lead unto Belsaye town?"

"Verily," answered Beltane, "but 'tis a long day's march thither"

"Yet needsood God, in His sweet clemency, made sharp mine ears So do I know thy voice,er, and sent me unto the saintly Ambrose"

"Ha!" cried Beltane joyously, "and is it thou indeed? Tell me, how doth my father?--is he well?--what said he?--how looked he? O, I do yearn for word of hi sir, is he indeed thy father? Then is thy name Beltane, for I have heard him name thee oft--"

"Forsooth, and did he so? But how came you here, and wherefore?"

"To seek thee, lord Beltane, according to thy saintly father's word And the ether of a certain fair noon within Holy Cross Thicket, there ca, methinks, and fair, for her speech was soft and wondrous sweet in mine ears And she did hail thy father 'Duke,' and thereafter spake thy naether up and down before the hut Anon, sudden and silent as she ca oft as one that rejoiceth greatly, and oft as one in deep perplexity In a while coave me scrip and therewith food and money, and bade me seek thee in Belsaye and speak thee thus: 'Tell Beltane, reat and knightly deeds and that I do glory in theth are renewed and reat sin made easier to bear Tell him that the woes of Pentavalon draw to an end, and that ere long she shall arise above her sorrows Bid hier, for the lion is waked at last, and the leopard also' Behold now, messire, all's said" And the blindthe staff, his other arer watched him furtive and askance, and rasp; as for Beltane, he stood as one lost in happy thought, upon his lips a s yet, he turned and touched the blindshoulder Quoth he: "Greatly welcoreatly would I thank thee Pray you no ratitude?"