Margaret Sherwood

“ Henceforward no man should give him shelter, no woman food or drink, lest they too come under the ban; and should he speak future evil words, his life would be forfeit.
Yet one who loved him—and there were many—hid him; and the next day and the next he wandered in the streets, begging men to rise in vengeance against the Robber Chief. On the third day he was taken by armed men, and the decree went forth that Louis of Lamont should, after three days, be burned at the stake in the square of the Palace of Justice. The youth smiled when he heard his doom ”

“ Wrong hath he done, but all is forgiven for that his gold is bent to holy purposes."
"But wrong he doeth still," said Louis of Lamont, in the stern voice of youth.
The Bishop coughed behind his hand even while he spoke.
"There is much in the ways of Providence that we may not comprehend. God moveth in a mysterious way."
"Had the Robber Chief ceased from his crime and shown true penitence"—began the lad, but the Bishop interrupted.
"God hath need of the man and of all the gold that he will bring, that institutions of learning and holy places may arise in the land." ”

“ He found delight in feeling about his knees the clasp of the thin arms of the naked orphan as it wept for food, for genius knows no distinction of small and great, and yeoman and squire, knight and merchant, widow and orphan alike, thrilled him with a sense of his power, and through their cries sang in his ear the word "success." ”

“ Then a flame of anger shone out in the lad's face, and he waited.
"My son," said the Bishop tenderly, "thou art young and ignorant, yet will I try to teach thee something of right ways of thought. In judging, all depends upon the point of view, and matters that look often black at first statement grow white or gray when thoroughly understood. Let us look upon this question in another aspect. Dost see yonder great cathedral rising?"
Though the youth made no answer, the Bishop saw that he was looking at the gray stones and at the blue-clad workmen. ”

“ That makes all different."
"That makes the need to punish him a thousandfold greater," stammered the lad.
"Tut, tut!" said the Bishop, with the solemn smile he wore. "Thou dost not understand: logic is ever lacking in the young."
"Should not stripes be laid upon him for each cry he hath drawn forth? Should he not lay down his life, if that were possible, for each life he hath taken?"
"I had thought, when I heard the first tale, that he should die for the single crime," the Bishop made answer, "but the case is altered by the later facts. ”

“ Sir Guy listened with "Zounds!" and "’Sdeath!" but the youth said never a word of pity or of blame; yet, when the story-teller had finished, he marveled at the lad's eyes. They were gray eyes, with lashes dark and long, and the look in them was as the look in the eyes of a gentle beast when he is hurt to the death; then came to them the sudden fire of the avenger of misdeeds.
"My hour has come to fight," said young Louis of Lamont to the great stag that licked his hand that evening in the forest as the sun went down in golden haze. "Men do not know this cruel wrong ”

“ Then was there quick tumult and rush and stir through the square, for all rushed forward to see and to hear, and little maids were sorely trampled in the press by the great feet of smith and of husbandman, and women's aprons were badly torn. None cared, for all knew that saving grace was to be won for their own souls if their eyes but caught a glimpse of an heretic that was being burned to death, and when the fire leaped high into the air, they gave ”

“ I do not want the purse," said the young man scornfully; "but how canst thou traffic in crime?"
"I have little time for talking," said the Gentle Robber, with a hurt look on his face; he was extremely sensitive to adverse criticism. "Now I must be off. This great bag of gold is for the orphan hospital at the Abbey. If I may mention it without boasting, it derives most of its supplies from me," and he looked wistfully for approval.
"Its supplies of orphans?" demanded Louis of Lamont, with his stern young lip curved in scorn ”