Page 328 (1/1)

"Yolande!" he whispered, "now thou art one aet not thy most unworthy Benedict God--O God! Father to whom all hearts are open, Thou dost kno as child and maid I loved her, how as a wife I loved her still--how, insaint and woman, bade me to my duty So, by her purity, kept shescabbard struck the carven panelling, a soft blow that yet echoed and re-echoed in vaulted arch and di swiftly up, Sir Benedict beheld hirave of the woman he had loved, Sir Benedict looked up into Beltane's face with eyes wide, eyes unflinching but dirief and pain

Quoth he, firm-voiced: "My lord, thou hast learnedere thy princely father rew up together Then cahty lord; and her uileful-- and she--but a n wars seeking death--but death tookever withthe sadness in her eyes I spake etful of honour and all save her sweet soul and the glory of her beauty, I tempted her--aye, many times!--tempted her in fashion merciless and cruel insomuch that she wept many bitter tears, and, upon a day, spake me thus: 'Benedict, 'tis true I loved thee, for thou wert a noble knight--but now, an thy love forme to this shame, then-- take me where thou wilt--but--ne'er shall all thy love nor all my tears thereafter cleanse us from the shame of it' Thus went I from her, nor have I looked on wo and all ht much--fierce foes within me and without, and lived--a very solitary life And to-day she lieth dead--and I aed of as ye will"

Then came Beltane and looked down into Sir Benedict's pale, sad face And beholding hirief, needs must Beltane kneel also and thereafter spake thus: "Sir Benedict, who ae of such as thou?"