Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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6 THE S E N 10 R £M AGN E T The humiliation of it! He a knight to be carried off by thieves as a child by kidnappers! Perceiving the uselessness of fighting he lay still and tried to find out where he was being taken. Soon he heard a drawbridge being let down and the clank of chains as a gate was opened, then they descended several flights of stairs and soon he was let down, ..roughly to the floor. Before he could get the bag off to see who his captors were, a heavy door was bolted. I'he room was very dark, being lighted only by a small grated window high up near the rafters. There was only a stool and a piece of dirty cloth lying in the corner performing the duty of a pallet. He stretched his cloak out and lay down with his back to the door, not risking the sudden entrance of an assassin, and after thinking over the situation and deeming it useless to do anything until they showed their next move, he went to sleep. He was rudely awakened by the rattling of a trap-door and glanceing up he saw a tray containing bread and water being pushed in and a soft voice was saying “Take it quickly; they are coming to you, don’t do as they ask you. even though death rules a refusal. Astonished, he grasped the tray and endeavored to catch sight of the speaker, but all he saw was a swirl of auburn curls and then far down the corrider he heard voices. He quickly ate the bread and washed it down with the water and then turned to face the two men who had just entered. Both wore helmets thus completely hiding their faces; they were dressed alike, and any hope of identifying them was promptly shattered. The talier advanced and said “Sir Guynme, doubtless you are indignant at your rough usage, nevertheless, it was necessary to get you here and the easiest way was also one consuming least time. Let us get down to the heart of this affair. In a few words this is our proposal, take it or leave it, it is the same to us. “You must lend us your armor until after the Tournament at Lucknow. If you do this 5,000 francs will swell your purse, if you refuse, your soul and body will be separated and we shall use your armor anyhow! Sir Guynme was puzzled. Why all the fuss? W hy did they want his armor especially? He had received his armor from Knight Arthur and would return it to him, unworn by any save himself. He searched the figure before him for some betrayal, but each stood motionless, waiting. He raised his head proudly. “There is only one answer, there could be but one answ-er. No.!” and turning away he sat down on the stool. The spokesman again proferred: “Sir Guynme, be not hasty. Think of it this day and night, and tomorrow we come for your answer. Sir Guynme paid no attention and only the sound of the closing door announcing their departure rang through the corridor. Immediately the knight beheld standing before him, a lady, her head swathed in a white veil but her auburn curls showed her to be the maid who had brought his food. She approached him and in an excited voice said, “Do you know where you are? You are at Broctan Castle. 1 am Lord Brocton’s niece. He is a beast! A wretch! A regicide! He plans to kill King Arthur. “You are to be his tool, he in vour armor will win the Tournament and as he kneels to receive his laurels he will plunge into his sovereign’s heart a dagger! Save him! You just knighted! You yet unstained with crime.

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i I III ■ ini mi ■ iii • ii ■ ■ i mi iiim■; nm ■ i iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii ■ ■ n ninin ■ i n,n nin ii iiii i .; | LITERARY | » niiiii:iiii|iiiiiiii|iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiMiiiiii 2 YE KNIGHT OF ADVENTURE Lucille Gerbf.r AWN was lighting the heavens with a rosy glow, sending its beams searching everywhere to see if it could discover any secrets which dark night had been careless of. One ray pierced the stained glass window of a wayside chapel making a halo of rainbow hues about the olden head of a young man who was kneeling before the altar. He was clothed in snowy white garments bound in bv a silver cincture, an ebony crucifix lay stretched on the bench in front of him. and the beads attached to it were slipping one by one thro’ his fingers. Ilis eyes were fixed on the altar before him where lay a suit of armor, a shining shield and silver spurs; a lance stood upright near by and a scabbard with a sword s jeweled hilt caught the light and cast it back in scintillating sparkles. A bell tolled in the belfry above and simultaneously came a knock, there entered a bishop (so he seemed from his gorgeous array) a warrior clad in mail from head to foot followed by two monks whose bright eyes gleamed from beneath the shadows of their cowls. The man before the altar rose and kissed the bishop’s ring and after receiving permission to do so from the Knight he sat down on a small stool. The Knight advanced and received the armor from the Bishop who had blessed it. He motioned the young man to rise and to slip his white robe from him. then laced the chain jacket about him. placed the plumed helmet on his head, handed him his shield and lance, the while buckling on his sword then bidding him kneel he said, “I dub thee knight, Sir Arthur Guymne; fulfill thy life appointments with courage and be a knight of honor and without reproach,” then lightly touching him with his own sword he bade him rise. The new made knight arose and approached the door where King Arthur was waiting and asked his commands. “Go.forth and seek adventure. Thy life thus far is blameless and worthy of the title of Knight, but before these spurs can be fastened to thy boots, thou must woo the fickle Goddess who so often beckons but does not pause to consider that forgetting mortals have not winged feet to carry them to do her bidding. Three days is your alloted time and seventy-two hours hence we meet again at the Tournament of L.ucknawf. If all goes well, you get your spurs.” Turning he went out of the door followed by the clerical trio. Sir Guynme. in all vigor of his youth mounted his steed and followed the road ahead, lie rode all day, stopping but once for refreshment at a tavern and then pushed on. Night came, cool and sweet the air with odors of spring (lowers. I he horse neighed restlessly and seemed loath to go farther; the knight dismounted, and hearing a noise back of him he turned, but not quickly enough, a bag was slipped over his head and his hands bound behind him. Struggling vigorously, he was carried off.

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TIIE SENIOR £MAGNET 7 “Sir Lotter is his accomplice. I lere, take this key! Go, your horse is ready, he waits outside the moat. “At the gate say, ‘Rege Missus,’ and you will be allowed to pass. Here is a sword, hasten!” Sir Guynme asked no questions, he accepted his sword and followed the white figure. Receiving his instructions, he walked until he came to the gate; there he saw one of the persons who had visited his cell that morning. Quickly he laced his helmet and trusting to luck walked on. lie gave the password to the guard who opened the gate for him. The drawbridge was down and he saw his horse tied to the staple. He mounted and started off. He had gone quite a distance when he chanced to glance around and saw a troop of horsemen riding swiftly after him. He spurred his horse, and dashed on regardless of the shouts to stop. He must get there before they! He must save his king! He prayed, “Oh, adventure, I begged to meet you. now I have tasted of your cup. still more do I demand they swiftness, to leave these murderers behind me as the swallow doth the sparrow.” The riders were gaining on him and he felt the sharp sting of an arrow, followed by a falling sensation, but he grasped the reins and rode on. Another arrow, this time in his wrist, it paralyzed his arm, and dropping the reins, he let the horse go where it would. Instantly it turned aside from the main road and galloped down a lane. A numbness was stealing over him, the arrow in his back didn’t hurt, it only made it hard to breathe; vainly trying to keep his seat he at last slipped forward. The next thing he knew he was in bed, in a pleasant white room, with the sun streaming across the floor and a gentle faced monk was bending over him. It was too great an effort to speak, so he just lay still watching the sunbeams gradually climb to the bed and then to the rafters. But suddenly the thought struck him. How long had he been sleeping? He called the monk to him and asked him but he only replied. “Be not uneasy, you are with friends.” Sir Guynme watched the sun; it had been late after noon when he had been wounded, but the sun indicated morning now. The old monk had left the room believing the knight asleep and soon Sir Guynme rose and clasped on his armor and staggered from the room. How queer he felt! His eyes were dull, his feet were heavy. That couldn’t continue for only by hard riding could he reach Lucknow in time to prevent the disaster. His horse was in the stall and saddling it. he mounted with difficulty, and starting the horse on the road he hastened off. The sun wras so hot and beat pitilessly on his aching head. Black spots danced before his eves and again slipping into unconsciousness he left the horse to his own devices. The cold beat of rain on his warm face revived him and sitting straight in his saddle he saw himself to be in a dense forest and night had fallen. He heard the cool tinkling of a sparkling brook and a great thirst surged up in him. He half fell from the saddle and hurried his face in the moist leaves. The sun in his eyes awakened him, and the shouts of men and clicking of spears, and the fall of horses and their shrill cries startled him. Where was he? I le recognized Lucknow woods. He w as so near he could hear the clapping of the crowd. W as he too late? No, the tournament was still on. He got to his feet and calling his horse he lead him through the woods into the open. The tournament was finished and the victor before the King was kneeling to receive his laurels.