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+ "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
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+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">
+ <head>
+ <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" />
+ <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
+ <title>
+ The Project Gutenberg eBook of Keeping Tryst, by Annie Fellows Johnston.
+ </title>
+ <style type="text/css">
+
+ p {margin-top: .75em;
+ text-align: justify;
+ text-indent: 1.25em;
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+
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+
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+ margin-right: 10%;
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+ url("images/titlepage.jpg"); background-repeat: no-repeat;}
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+ /* visibility: hidden; */
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+ .adtitle2 {font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;}
+ .adtitle1 {font-size: 200%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;}
+
+ .author {font-size: 120%; text-align: center;}
+ .center {text-align: center;}
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+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Keeping Tryst, by Annie Fellows Johnston
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Keeping Tryst
+ A Tale of King Arthur's Time
+
+Author: Annie Fellows Johnston
+
+Release Date: May 2, 2012 [EBook #39591]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KEEPING TRYST ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Edwards, Emmy and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 355px;">
+<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="355" height="600" alt="cover: Keeping Tryst" />
+</div>
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+
+<h1><i>KEEPING TRYST</i></h1>
+
+<div class='center'><i>A TALE OF KING ARTHUR'S TIME</i></div>
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<div class='adtitle1'>The Johnston Jewel Series</div>
+<div class='center'>
+<span class="smcap">By Annie Fellows Johnston</span><br />
+</div>
+
+<div class='center'><br />
+Each, small 16mo, cloth,<br />
+decorated cover and frontispiece,<br />
+with decorative text<br />
+borders &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <i>75c.</i><br /><br />
+</div>
+
+
+<div class='center'><span class="smcap">List of Titles</span></div>
+<div class='blockquot'>
+<div class='hang1'>THE RESCUE OF THE PRINCESS
+WINSOME: A Fairy Play for Old
+and Young.</div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>KEEPING TRYST: A Tale of King
+Arthur's Time.</div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>*IN THE DESERT OF WAITING:
+The Legend of Camelback Mountain.</div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>*THE THREE WEAVERS: A Fairy
+Tale for Fathers and Mothers as
+Well as for Their Daughters.</div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING
+HEART.</div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>*THE JESTER'S SWORD.</div>
+
+<p>*Also bound in full flexible leather,
+with special tooling in gold, boxed
+<i>$2.00</i></p>
+</div>
+
+<div class='center'>
+THE PAGE COMPANY<br />
+<span class="smcap">53 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass.</span><br />
+</div>
+<hr class="chap" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 341px;">
+<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="341" height="600" alt="On a quest" />
+</div>
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><div class='center'> <table class="title" summary="title">
+<tr><td align='left'><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
+
+<h1><i>KEEPING<br />
+TRYST</i></h1>
+
+<div class='adtitle1'>A Tale of King Arthur's Time<br /><br /></div>
+
+<div class='poem'>
+"<i>'Tis the king's call. O list!<br />
+Thou heart and hand of mine,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Keep tryst&mdash;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Keep tryst or die!"</span></i><br />
+</div>
+
+<div class='center'><br /><br /><br />BY<br />
+<span class='author'>ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON</span><br />
+
+
+<i><span class='small'>Author of "The Little Colonel Series," "Big</span><br />
+<span class='small'>Brother," "Joel: A Boy of Galilee," etc.</span></i><br />
+<br /><br /><br /></div>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 65px;">
+<img src="images/emblem.jpg" width="65" height="75" alt="fleur de lis" />
+</div>
+
+<div class='center'><br /><br /><br />
+BOSTON<br />
+<span class='big'><i>THE PAGE COMPANY</i></span><br />
+PUBLISHERS<br />
+</div>
+<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td>
+</tr></table></div>
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+
+<div class='copyright'>
+<i>Copyright, 1905</i><br />
+<span class="smcap">By L. C. Page &amp; Company</span><br />
+(Incorporated)<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<i>Copyright, 1906</i><br />
+<span class="smcap">By L. C. Page &amp; Company</span><br />
+(Incorporated)<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<i>All rights reserved</i><br />
+<br />
+<br />
+Second Impression, December, 1906<br />
+Third Impression, April, 1910<br />
+Fourth Impression, May, 1911<br />
+Fifth Impression, February, 1914<br />
+Sixth Impression, April, 1918<br />
+Seventh Impression, June, 1920<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<i>COLONIAL PRESS</i><br />
+<i>Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds &amp; Co.</i><br />
+<i>Boston, U.S.A.</i><br />
+</div><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2><i>Keeping Tryst</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>NOW there was a troubadour
+in the kingdom
+of Arthur, who, strolling
+through the land with only
+his minstrelsy to win him a
+way, found in every baron's
+hall and cotter's hut a ready
+welcome. And while the
+boar's head sputtered on the
+spit, or the ale sparkled in
+the shining tankards, he told<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span>
+such tales of joust and journey,
+and feats of brave knight
+errantry, that even the scullions
+left their kitchen tasks,
+and, creeping near, stood
+round the door with mouths
+agape to listen.</div>
+
+<p>Then with his harp-strings
+tuned to echoes of the wind
+on winter moors, he sang of
+death and valour on the field,
+of love and fealty in the hall,
+till those who listened forgot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span>
+all save his singing and the
+noble knights whereof he
+sang.</p>
+
+<p>One winter night, as thus
+he carolled in a great earl's
+hall, a little page crept nearer
+to his bench beside the fire,
+and, with his blue eyes fixed
+in wonderment upon the
+graybeard's face, stood spellbound.
+Now Ederyn was
+the page's name, an orphan
+lad whose lineage no man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span>
+knew, but that he came of
+gentle blood all eyes could
+see, although as vassal 'twas
+his lot to wait upon the great
+earl's squire.</p>
+
+<p>It was the Yule-tide, and
+the wassail-bowl passed
+round till boisterous mirth
+drowned oftentimes the minstrel's
+song, but Ederyn
+missed no word. Scarce
+knowing what he did, he
+crept so close he found himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span>
+with upturned face
+against the old man's knee.</p>
+
+<p>"How now, thou flaxen-haired,"
+the minstrel said,
+with kindly smile. "Dost
+like my song?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, sire," the youth made
+answer, "methinks on such
+a wing the soul could well
+take flight to Paradise. But
+tell me, prithee, is it possible
+for such as <i>I</i> to gain the
+title of a knight? How doth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>
+one win such honours and
+acclaim and reach the high
+estate that thou dost laud?"</p>
+
+<p>The minstrel gazed a little
+space into the Yule log's
+flame, and stroked his long
+hoar beard. Then made he
+answer:</p>
+
+<p>"Some win their spurs and
+earn the royal accolade because
+the blood of dragons
+stains their hands. From
+mighty combat with these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span>
+terrors they come victorious
+to their king's reward. And
+some there be sore scarred
+with conquest of the giants
+that ever prey upon the borders
+of our fair domain.
+Some, who have gone on far
+crusades to alien lands, and
+there with heart of gold and
+iron hand have proved their
+fealty to the Crown."</p>
+
+<p>Then Ederyn sighed, for
+well he knew his stripling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span>
+form could never wage fierce
+combat with a dragon. His
+hands could never meet the
+brawny grip of giants. "Is
+there no other way?" he
+faltered.</p>
+
+<p>"I wot not," was the answer.
+"But take an old
+man's counsel. Forget thy
+dreams of glory, and be content
+to serve thy squire. For
+what hast such as thou to
+do with great ambitions?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>
+They'd prove but flames to
+burn away thy daily peace."</p>
+
+<p>With that he turned to
+quaff the proffered bowl and
+add his voice to those whose
+mirth already shook the rafters.
+Nor had he any further
+speech with Ederyn. But
+afterward the pretty lad was
+often in his thoughts, and
+in his wanderings about the
+land he mused upon the
+question he had asked.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Another twelvemonth sped
+its way, and once again
+the Yule log burned within
+the hall, and once again the
+troubadour knocked at the
+gate, all in the night and
+falling snow. And as before,
+with merry jests they
+led him in and made him
+welcome. And as before,
+was every mouth agape from
+squire's to scullion's, as he
+sang.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Once more he sang of
+knights and ladyes fair, of
+love and death and valour;
+and Ederyn, the page, crept
+nearer to him till the harp-strings
+ceased to thrill. With
+head upon his hands, he sat
+and sighed. Not even when
+the wassail-bowl was passed
+with mirth and laughter did
+he look up. And when the
+graybeard minstrel saw his
+grief, he thought upon his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>
+question of the Yule-tide
+gone.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, now, thou flaxen-haired,"
+he whispered in his
+ear. "I bear thee tidings
+which should make thee sing
+for joy. There <i>is</i> a way for
+even such as thou to win the
+honours thou dost covet. I
+heard it in the royal court
+when last I sang there at
+the king's behest."</p>
+
+<p>Then all aquiver with his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>
+eagerness did Ederyn kneel,
+with face alight, beside the
+minstrel's knee to hear.</p>
+
+<p>"Know this," began the
+graybeard. "'Tis the king's
+desire to 'stablish round him
+at his court a chosen circle
+whose fidelity hath stood the
+utmost test. Not deeds of
+prowess are required of these
+true followers, with no great
+conquests doth he tax them,
+but they must prove themselves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>
+trustworthy, until on
+hand and heart it may be
+graven large, '<i>In all things
+faithful</i>.'</p>
+
+<p>"To Merlin, the enchanter,
+he hath left the choice, who
+by some strange spell I wot
+not of will send an eerie call
+through all the kingdom.
+And only those will hear
+who wake at dawn to listen
+in high places. And only
+those will heed who keep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>
+the compass needles of their
+souls true to the north star
+of a great ambition. The
+time of testing will be long,
+the summons many. To
+duty and to sorrow, to disappointment
+and defeat, thou
+may'st be called. No matter
+what the tryst, there is but
+one reply if thou wouldst
+win thy knighthood. Give
+heed and I will teach thee
+now that answer."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Then smiting on his harp,
+the minstrel sang, so softly
+under cover of the noise,
+that only Ederyn heard.
+Through all the song ran
+ever this refrain. It seemed
+a brooklet winding in and out
+through some fair meadow:</p>
+
+<div class='poem'>
+"'Tis the king's call. O list!<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Thou heart and hand of mine, keep tryst&mdash;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Keep tryst or die!"</span><br />
+</div>
+
+<p>Then Ederyn, with his
+hand upon his heart, made<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>
+solemn oath. "Awake at
+dawn and listening in high
+places will I await that call.
+With the compass needle of
+my soul true to the north
+star of a great ambition will
+I follow where it leads, and
+though through fire and flood
+it take me, I'll make but this
+reply:</p>
+
+<div class='poem'>
+"''Tis the king's call. O list!<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Thou heart and hand of mine, keep tryst&mdash;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Keep tryst or die!'"</span><br />
+</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Pressing the old man's
+hand in gratitude (he could
+say no word for the strange
+fulness in his throat that
+well-nigh choked him), he
+rose from his knees and left
+the hall to muse on what
+had passed.</p>
+
+<p>That night he climbed into
+the tower, and, with his face
+turned to the east, kept vigil
+all alone. Below, the rioters
+waxed louder in their mirth.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>
+The knife was in the meat,
+the drink was in the horn.
+But he would not join their
+revels, lest morning find him
+sunk in sodden sleep, heavy
+with feasting and witless
+from wine.</p>
+
+<p>As gray dawn trailed
+across the hills, he started
+to his feet, for far away
+sounded the call for which
+he had been waiting. It
+was like the faint blowing of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>
+an elfin horn, but the words
+came clearly.</p>
+
+<p>"Ederyn! Ederyn! One
+awaits thee at nightfall in
+the shade of the yew-tree
+by the abbey tower! Keep
+tryst!"</p>
+
+<p>Now the abbey tower was
+the space of forty furlongs
+from the domain of the earl,
+and full well Ederyn knew
+that only by especial favour
+of his squire could he gain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>
+leave of absence for this
+jaunt. So, from sunrise until
+dusk, he worked with will,
+to gain the wished-for leave.
+Never before did buckles
+shine as did the buckles of
+the squire entrusted to his
+polishing. Never did menial
+tasks cease sooner to
+be drudgery, because of the
+good-will with which he
+worked. And when the day
+was done, so well had every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>
+duty been performed, right
+willingly the squire did grant
+him grace, and forthwith
+Ederyn sped upon his mission.</p>
+
+<p>The way was long, and,
+when he reached the abbey
+tree, he fell a-trembling, for
+there a tall wraith stood
+within the shadows of the
+yew. No face had it that
+he could see, its hands no
+substance, but he met it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>
+bravely, saying: "I am Ederyn,
+come to keep the king's
+tryst."</p>
+
+<p>And then the spectre's
+voice replied: "Well hast
+thou kept it, for 'tis known
+to me the many menial tasks
+thou didst perform ere thou
+couldst come upon thy quest.
+In token that we two have
+met, here is my pledge that
+thou may'st keep to show
+the king."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He felt a light touch on
+the bosom of his inner vestment,
+and suddenly he stood
+alone beside the gruesome
+abbey. Clammy with fear,
+he knew not why, he drew
+his mantle round him and
+sped home as one speeds in
+a fearsome dream. And that
+it was a dream he half-believed,
+when later, in the
+hall, he served at meat those
+gathered round the old earl's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>
+board. But when he sought
+his bed, and threw aside his
+outer garment, there on his
+coarse, rough shirt of hodden
+gray a pearl gleamed white
+above his heart, where the
+wraith's cold hand had
+touched him. It was the
+token to the king that he
+had answered faithfully his
+call.</p>
+
+<p>Again before the dawn he
+climbed into the tower, and,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>
+listening when the voices of
+the world were still, heard
+clear and sweet, like far-blown
+elfin horn, another
+summons.</p>
+
+<p>"Ederyn! Ederyn! One
+awaits thee at the midnight
+hour beside black Kilgore's
+water. Keep tryst!"</p>
+
+<p>Again to gain his squire's
+permission he toiled with
+double care. This time his
+task was counting all the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>
+spears and halberds, the battle-axes
+and the coats of mail
+that filled the earl's great
+armament. And o'er and
+o'er he counted, keeping careful
+tally with a bit of keel
+upon the iron-banded door,
+till the red lines that he
+marked there made his eyes
+ache and his head swim. At
+last the task was finished,
+and so well the squire praised
+him, and for his faithfulness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>
+again was fain to speed him
+on his way.</p>
+
+<p>It was a woful journey to
+the waters of Kilgore. Sleep
+weighed on Ederyn's eyelids,
+and haltingly he went the
+weary miles, footsore and
+worn. But midnight found
+him on the spot where one
+awaited him, another wraith-like
+envoy of the king, and
+it, too, left a touch upon his
+heart in token he had kept<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>
+the tryst. And when he
+looked, another pearl gleamed
+there beside the first.</p>
+
+<p>So many a day went by,
+and Ederyn failed not in his
+homely tasks, but carried to
+his common round of duties
+all his might, as if they were
+great feats of prowess. Thus
+gained he liberty to keep the
+tryst with every messenger
+the king did send.</p>
+
+<p>Once he fared forth along<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>
+a dangerous road that led he
+knew not where, and, when
+he found it crossed a loathly
+swamp all filled with slime
+and creeping things, fain
+would he have fled. But,
+pushing on for sake of his
+brave oath, although with
+fainting heart, he reached the
+goal at last. This time his
+token made him wonder
+much. For when he wakened
+from his swoon, a shining<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span>
+star lay on his heart
+above the pearls.</p>
+
+<p>Now it fell out the squire
+to whom this Ederyn was
+page was killed in conflict
+with a robber band, and Ederyn,
+for his faithfulness, was
+taken by the earl to fill that
+squire's place. Soon after
+that, they left the hall, and
+journeyed on a visit to a distant
+lord. 'Twas to the Castle
+of Content they came,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span>
+where was a joyous garden.
+And now no menial tasks
+employed the new squire's
+time. Here was he free to
+wander all the day through
+vistas of the joyous garden,
+or loiter by the fountain in
+the courtyard and watch the
+maidens at their tasks, having
+fair speech with them
+among the flowers. And
+one there was among them,
+so lily-like in face, so gentle-voiced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>
+and fair, that Ederyn
+well-nigh forgot his oath,
+and felt full glad when for a
+space the king's call ceased
+to sound. And gladder was
+he still, when, later on, the
+earl's long visit done, he left
+young Ederyn behind to
+serve the great lord of the
+castle, for so the two friends
+had agreed, since Ederyn had
+pleased the old lord's fancy.</p>
+
+<p>Yet was he faithful to his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>
+vow, and failed not every
+dawn to mount to some high
+place, when all the voices of
+the world were still, and listen
+for the sound of Merlin's
+horn. One morn it came:</p>
+
+<p>"Ederyn! Ederyn! One
+waits thee far away. By the
+black cave of Atropos, when
+the moon fulls, keep thy
+tryst!"</p>
+
+<p>Now 'twas a seven days'
+journey to that cave, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>
+Ederyn, thinking of the lily
+maid, was loath to leave the
+garden. He lingered by the
+fountain until nightfall, saying
+to himself: "Why should
+I go on longer in these foolish
+quests, keeping tryst with
+shadows that vanish at the
+touch? No nearer am I to
+a knight's estate than when,
+a stripling page, I listened
+to the minstrel's tales."</p>
+
+<p>The fountain softly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>
+splashed within the garden.
+From out the banquet-hall
+there stole the sound of tinkling
+lutes, and then the lily
+maiden sang. Her siren
+voice filled all his heart, and
+he forgot his oath to duty.
+But presently a star reflected
+in the fountain made him
+look up into the jewelled
+sky, where shone the polar
+constellation. And there he
+read the oath he had forgotten:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>
+"With the compass needle
+of my soul true to the
+north star of my great ambition,
+I will follow where it
+leads."</p>
+
+<p>Thrusting his fingers in
+his ears to silence the beloved
+voice of her who sang,
+he madly rushed from out
+the garden into the blackness
+of the night. The Castle of
+Content clanged its great
+gate behind him. He shivered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>
+as he felt the jar through
+all his frame, but, never taking
+out his fingers, on he
+ran, till scores of furlongs
+lay between him and the
+tempting of that siren voice.</p>
+
+<p>It was a strange and fearsome
+wood that lay between
+him and the cave. All things
+seemed moaning and afraid.
+He saw no forms, but everywhere
+the shadows shuddered,
+and moans and groans<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>
+pursued him till nameless
+fears clutched at his heart
+with icy chill. Then suddenly
+the earth slipped way
+beneath his feet, and cold
+waves closed above his head.
+He knew now he had fallen
+in the pool that lies upon the
+far edge of the fearsome
+wood,&mdash;a pool so deep and
+of such whirling motion that
+only by the fiercest struggle
+may one escape. Gladly he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>
+would have allowed the waters
+to close over him, such
+cold pains smote his heart,
+had he not seemed to hear
+the old minstrel's song. It
+aroused him to a final effort,
+and he gasped between his
+teeth:</p>
+
+<div class='poem'>
+"''Tis the king's call! O list!<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Thou heart and hand of mine, keep tryst&mdash;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Keep tryst or die!'"</span><br />
+</div>
+
+<p>With that, in one mighty
+struggle he dragged himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>
+to land. A bow-shot farther
+on he saw the cave, and by
+sheer force of will crept
+toward it. What happened
+then he knew not till the
+moon rose full and high
+above him. A form swathed
+all in black bowed over him.</p>
+
+<p>"Ederyn," she sighed,
+"here is thy token that the
+king may know that thou
+hast met me face to face."</p>
+
+<p>He thought it was a diamond<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>
+at first, that sparkled
+there beside the star, but
+when he looked again, lo,
+nothing but a tear.</p>
+
+<p>Then went he back unto
+the joyous garden by slow
+degrees, for he was now sore
+spent. And after that the
+summons came full often.
+Whenever all the world
+seemed loveliest and life
+most sweet, then was the
+call most sure to come. But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span>
+never once he faltered.
+Never was he faithless to
+the king's behest. Up weary
+mountain steps he toiled to
+find the sombre face of Disappointment
+there in waiting,
+and Suffering and Pain
+were often at his journey's
+end, and once a sore Defeat.
+But bravely as the months
+went by he learned to smile
+into their eyes, no matter
+which one handed out to him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span>
+the pledge of Duty well performed.</p>
+
+<p>One day, when he no
+longer was a beardless
+youth, but grown to pleasing
+stature and of great brawn,
+he heard the hoped-for call
+of which he long had
+dreamed: "Ederyn! Ederyn!
+The king himself awaits thee.
+Midsummer morn at lark-song,
+keep tryst beside the
+palace gate."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>As travellers on the desert,
+spent and worn, see far
+across the sand the palm-tree's
+green that marks life-giving
+wells, so Ederyn
+hailed this summons to the
+king. The soul-consuming
+thirst that long had urged
+him on grew fiercer as the
+well of consummation came
+in sight. Hope shod his
+feet with wings, as thus
+with every nerve a-strain he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>
+pushed toward the final tryst.
+So fearful was he some mishap
+might snatch the cup
+away ere it had touched his
+thirsty lips, that three full
+days before the time he
+reached the Vale of Avalon,
+and sat him down outside
+the entrance to the palace.</p>
+
+<p>Now there came prowling
+through the wood that edged
+the fair domain the gnarled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span>
+dwarfs that do the will of
+Shudderwain. And Shudderwain,
+of all the giants
+thereabouts, most cruel was
+and to be feared. Knowing
+full well what pleasure it
+would give the bloody monster,
+these dwarfs laid evil
+hands on Ederyn. Sleeping
+they found him, and bound
+him with hard leathern
+thongs, and then with gibes
+and impish laughter dragged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>
+him into a dungeon past the
+help of man.</p>
+
+<p>Two days and nights he
+lay there, raging at fate and
+at his helplessness, till he
+was well-nigh mad, bethinking
+him of all his baffled
+hopes. And like a madman
+gnawed he on the leathern
+thongs till he was free, and
+beat his hands against the
+stubborn rock that would
+not yield, and threw himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span>
+against the walls that held
+him in.</p>
+
+<p>The dwarfs from time to
+time peered through the slatted
+window overhead and
+mocked him, pointing with
+their crooked thumbs.</p>
+
+<p>"Ha! ha! Thou'lt keep
+no tryst," they chattered.
+"But if thou'lt swear upon
+thy oath to go back to the
+joyous garden, and hark no
+more for Merlin's call, we'll<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>
+let thee loose from out this
+Dungeon of thy Disappointment."</p>
+
+<p>Then was Ederyn tempted,
+for the dungeon was foul indeed,
+and his heart cried out
+to go back to the lily maiden.
+But once more in his ears he
+thrust his fingers and cried:</p>
+
+<div class='poem'>
+"'To the king's call alone I'll list!<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Oh, heart and hand of mine, keep tryst&mdash;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Keep tryst or die!'"</span><br />
+</div>
+
+<p>On the third night, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span>
+the quiet of despair he threw
+him prone upon the dungeon
+floor and held his peace, no
+longer gnawing on his thongs
+or beating on the rock. A
+single moonbeam straggled
+through the slatted window,
+and by its light he saw a
+spider spinning out a web.
+Then, looking dully around,
+he saw the dungeon was
+hung thick with other webs,
+foul with the dust of years.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span>
+Great festoons of the cobweb
+film shrouded his prison
+walls. As up and down the
+hairy creature swung itself
+upon its thread, the hopeless
+eyes of Ederyn followed it.</p>
+
+<p>All in a twinkling he saw
+how he might profit by the
+spider's teaching, and clapped
+his hand across his mouth
+to keep from shouting out
+his joy so that the dwarfs
+could hear. Now once more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>
+like a madman rushing at
+the walls, he tore down all
+the dusty webs, and twisted
+them together in long
+strands. These strands he
+braided in thick ropes and
+tied them, knotting them and
+twisting and doubling once
+again. All the while he kept
+bewailing the stupid way
+in which he wasted time.
+"Three days ago I might
+have quit this den," he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>
+sighed, "had I but used the
+means that lay at hand. Full
+well I knew that heaven always
+finds a way to help the
+man who helps himself. No
+creature lives too mean to
+be of service, and even dungeon
+walls must harbour
+help for him who boldly
+grasps the first thing that he
+sees and makes it serve him."</p>
+
+<p>So fast and furiously he
+worked that, long before the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>
+moonbeam faded, his cobweb
+rope was strong enough to
+bear his weight, and long
+enough to reach twice over
+to the slatted window overhead.
+By many trials he at
+last succeeded in throwing it
+around a spike that barred
+the window, and, climbing
+up, he forced the slats apart
+and clambered through.
+Then tying the rope's end to
+the window, he slid down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>
+all the dizzy cliffside in
+which the dwarfs had dug
+the dungeon, and dropped
+into the stream that ran below.</p>
+
+<p>Lo, when he looked around
+him it was dawn. Midsummer
+morn it was, and, plunging
+through the wood, he
+heard the lark's song rise,
+and reached the palace gate
+just as it opened to the blare
+of trumpets for the king's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span>
+train to ride forth. When
+Ederyn saw the royal cavalcade,
+he shrunk back into
+the wayside bushes, so ill-befitting
+did it seem that he
+should come before the king
+in tattered garments, with
+blood upon his hands where
+the sharp rocks had cut, and
+with foul dungeon stains.</p>
+
+<p>But that the king might
+know he'd ever proven faithful,
+he sank upon his knees<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>
+and bared his breast at his
+approach. There all the
+pledges glistened in the sunlight,
+in rainbow hues. There
+Pain had dropped her heart's
+blood in a glittering ruby,
+and Honour set her seal
+upon him in a golden star.
+A diamond gleamed where
+Sorrow's tear had fallen, and
+amethysts glowed now with
+purple splendour to mark his
+patient meeting with Defeat.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>
+But mostly were the pledges
+little pearls for little duties
+faithfully performed; and
+there they shone, and, as the
+people gazed, they saw the
+jewels take the shape of letters,
+so that the king read
+out before them all, "<i>Semper
+fidelis</i>."</p>
+
+<p>Then drew the king his
+royal sword and lightly
+smote on Ederyn's shoulder,
+and cried: "Arise, Sir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span>
+Knight, Sir Ederyn the
+Trusty. Since I may trust
+thee to the utmost in little
+things as well as great, since
+thou of all men art most
+worthy, henceforth by thy
+king's heart thou shalt ride,
+ever to be his faithful guard
+and comrade."</p>
+
+<p>So there before them all
+he did him honour, and
+ordered that a prancing
+steed be brought and a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span>
+good sword buckled on his
+side.</p>
+
+<p>Thus Ederyn won his
+sovereign's favour. Soon,
+by his sovereign's grace
+permitted, he went back to
+the joyous garden to woo the
+lily maiden. When he had
+won his bride and borne her
+to the palace, then was his
+great reward complete for
+all his years of fealty to his
+vow. Then out into the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>
+world he went to guard his
+king. Henceforth blazoned
+on his shield and helmet he
+bore the crest&mdash;a heart with
+hand that grasped a spear,
+and, underneath, these words:</p>
+
+<div class='center'>
+"<i>I keep the tryst!</i>"<br />
+<br /><br /><br />
+
+
+THE END.<br /><br /></div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Keeping Tryst, by Annie Fellows Johnston
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+</html>
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Keeping Tryst, by Annie Fellows Johnston
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Keeping Tryst
+ A Tale of King Arthur's Time
+
+Author: Annie Fellows Johnston
+
+Release Date: May 2, 2012 [EBook #39591]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KEEPING TRYST ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Edwards, Emmy and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Cover]
+
+
+
+
+_KEEPING TRYST_
+
+_A TALE OF KING ARTHUR'S TIME_
+
+
+
+
+The Johnston Jewel Series
+
+BY ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON
+
+ Each, small 16mo, cloth,
+ decorated cover and frontispiece,
+ with decorative text
+ borders _75c._
+
+
+LIST OF TITLES
+
+ THE RESCUE OF THE PRINCESS WINSOME: A Fairy Play for
+ Old and Young.
+
+ KEEPING TRYST: A Tale of King Arthur's Time.
+
+ *IN THE DESERT OF WAITING: The Legend of Camelback
+ Mountain.
+
+ *THE THREE WEAVERS: A Fairy Tale for Fathers and
+ Mothers as Well as for Their Daughters.
+
+ THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING HEART.
+
+ *THE JESTER'S SWORD.
+
+*Also bound in full flexible leather, with special tooling in gold,
+boxed _$2.00_
+
+
+ THE PAGE COMPANY
+ 53 BEACON STREET, BOSTON, MASS.
+
+[Illustration: I am Ederyn come to keep the King's tryst]
+
+
+
+
+_KEEPING TRYST_
+
+A Tale of King Arthur's Time
+
+ "_'Tis the king's call. O list!
+ Thou heart and hand of mine,
+ Keep tryst--
+ Keep tryst or die!_"
+
+BY ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON
+
+ _Author of "The Little Colonel Series," "Big
+ Brother," "Joel: A Boy of Galilee," etc._
+
+[Illustration]
+
+ BOSTON
+ _THE PAGE COMPANY_
+ PUBLISHERS
+
+
+
+
+ _Copyright, 1905_
+ BY L. C. PAGE & COMPANY
+ (Incorporated)
+
+
+ _Copyright, 1906_
+ BY L. C. PAGE & COMPANY
+ (Incorporated)
+
+
+ _All rights reserved_
+
+
+ Second Impression, December, 1906
+ Third Impression, April, 1910
+ Fourth Impression, May, 1911
+ Fifth Impression, February, 1914
+ Sixth Impression, April, 1918
+ Seventh Impression, June, 1920
+
+
+ _COLONIAL PRESS_
+ _Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co._
+ _Boston, U.S.A._
+
+
+
+
+_Keeping Tryst_
+
+
+NOW there was a troubadour in the kingdom of Arthur, who, strolling
+through the land with only his minstrelsy to win him a way, found in
+every baron's hall and cotter's hut a ready welcome. And while the
+boar's head sputtered on the spit, or the ale sparkled in the shining
+tankards, he told such tales of joust and journey, and feats of brave
+knight errantry, that even the scullions left their kitchen tasks, and,
+creeping near, stood round the door with mouths agape to listen.
+
+Then with his harp-strings tuned to echoes of the wind on winter moors,
+he sang of death and valour on the field, of love and fealty in the
+hall, till those who listened forgot all save his singing and the noble
+knights whereof he sang.
+
+One winter night, as thus he carolled in a great earl's hall, a little
+page crept nearer to his bench beside the fire, and, with his blue eyes
+fixed in wonderment upon the graybeard's face, stood spellbound. Now
+Ederyn was the page's name, an orphan lad whose lineage no man knew,
+but that he came of gentle blood all eyes could see, although as vassal
+'twas his lot to wait upon the great earl's squire.
+
+It was the Yule-tide, and the wassail-bowl passed round till boisterous
+mirth drowned oftentimes the minstrel's song, but Ederyn missed no word.
+Scarce knowing what he did, he crept so close he found himself with
+upturned face against the old man's knee.
+
+"How now, thou flaxen-haired," the minstrel said, with kindly smile.
+"Dost like my song?"
+
+"Oh, sire," the youth made answer, "methinks on such a wing the soul
+could well take flight to Paradise. But tell me, prithee, is it possible
+for such as _I_ to gain the title of a knight? How doth one win such
+honours and acclaim and reach the high estate that thou dost laud?"
+
+The minstrel gazed a little space into the Yule log's flame, and stroked
+his long hoar beard. Then made he answer:
+
+"Some win their spurs and earn the royal accolade because the blood of
+dragons stains their hands. From mighty combat with these terrors they
+come victorious to their king's reward. And some there be sore scarred
+with conquest of the giants that ever prey upon the borders of our fair
+domain. Some, who have gone on far crusades to alien lands, and there
+with heart of gold and iron hand have proved their fealty to the Crown."
+
+Then Ederyn sighed, for well he knew his stripling form could never
+wage fierce combat with a dragon. His hands could never meet the brawny
+grip of giants. "Is there no other way?" he faltered.
+
+"I wot not," was the answer. "But take an old man's counsel. Forget thy
+dreams of glory, and be content to serve thy squire. For what hast such
+as thou to do with great ambitions? They'd prove but flames to burn
+away thy daily peace."
+
+With that he turned to quaff the proffered bowl and add his voice to
+those whose mirth already shook the rafters. Nor had he any further
+speech with Ederyn. But afterward the pretty lad was often in his
+thoughts, and in his wanderings about the land he mused upon the
+question he had asked.
+
+Another twelvemonth sped its way, and once again the Yule log burned
+within the hall, and once again the troubadour knocked at the gate, all
+in the night and falling snow. And as before, with merry jests they led
+him in and made him welcome. And as before, was every mouth agape from
+squire's to scullion's, as he sang.
+
+Once more he sang of knights and ladyes fair, of love and death and
+valour; and Ederyn, the page, crept nearer to him till the harp-strings
+ceased to thrill. With head upon his hands, he sat and sighed. Not even
+when the wassail-bowl was passed with mirth and laughter did he look up.
+And when the graybeard minstrel saw his grief, he thought upon his
+question of the Yule-tide gone.
+
+"Ah, now, thou flaxen-haired," he whispered in his ear. "I bear thee
+tidings which should make thee sing for joy. There _is_ a way for even
+such as thou to win the honours thou dost covet. I heard it in the royal
+court when last I sang there at the king's behest."
+
+Then all aquiver with his eagerness did Ederyn kneel, with face alight,
+beside the minstrel's knee to hear.
+
+"Know this," began the graybeard. "'Tis the king's desire to 'stablish
+round him at his court a chosen circle whose fidelity hath stood the
+utmost test. Not deeds of prowess are required of these true followers,
+with no great conquests doth he tax them, but they must prove
+themselves trustworthy, until on hand and heart it may be graven large,
+'_In all things faithful_.'
+
+"To Merlin, the enchanter, he hath left the choice, who by some strange
+spell I wot not of will send an eerie call through all the kingdom. And
+only those will hear who wake at dawn to listen in high places. And only
+those will heed who keep the compass needles of their souls true to the
+north star of a great ambition. The time of testing will be long, the
+summons many. To duty and to sorrow, to disappointment and defeat, thou
+may'st be called. No matter what the tryst, there is but one reply if
+thou wouldst win thy knighthood. Give heed and I will teach thee now
+that answer."
+
+Then smiting on his harp, the minstrel sang, so softly under cover of
+the noise, that only Ederyn heard. Through all the song ran ever this
+refrain. It seemed a brooklet winding in and out through some fair
+meadow:
+
+ "'Tis the king's call. O list!
+ Thou heart and hand of mine, keep tryst--
+ Keep tryst or die!"
+
+Then Ederyn, with his hand upon his heart, made solemn oath. "Awake at
+dawn and listening in high places will I await that call. With the
+compass needle of my soul true to the north star of a great ambition
+will I follow where it leads, and though through fire and flood it take
+me, I'll make but this reply:
+
+ "''Tis the king's call. O list!
+ Thou heart and hand of mine, keep tryst--
+ Keep tryst or die!'"
+
+Pressing the old man's hand in gratitude (he could say no word for the
+strange fulness in his throat that well-nigh choked him), he rose from
+his knees and left the hall to muse on what had passed.
+
+That night he climbed into the tower, and, with his face turned to the
+east, kept vigil all alone. Below, the rioters waxed louder in their
+mirth. The knife was in the meat, the drink was in the horn. But he
+would not join their revels, lest morning find him sunk in sodden sleep,
+heavy with feasting and witless from wine.
+
+As gray dawn trailed across the hills, he started to his feet, for far
+away sounded the call for which he had been waiting. It was like the
+faint blowing of an elfin horn, but the words came clearly.
+
+"Ederyn! Ederyn! One awaits thee at nightfall in the shade of the
+yew-tree by the abbey tower! Keep tryst!"
+
+Now the abbey tower was the space of forty furlongs from the domain of
+the earl, and full well Ederyn knew that only by especial favour of his
+squire could he gain leave of absence for this jaunt. So, from sunrise
+until dusk, he worked with will, to gain the wished-for leave. Never
+before did buckles shine as did the buckles of the squire entrusted to
+his polishing. Never did menial tasks cease sooner to be drudgery,
+because of the good-will with which he worked. And when the day was
+done, so well had every duty been performed, right willingly the squire
+did grant him grace, and forthwith Ederyn sped upon his mission.
+
+The way was long, and, when he reached the abbey tree, he fell
+a-trembling, for there a tall wraith stood within the shadows of the
+yew. No face had it that he could see, its hands no substance, but he
+met it bravely, saying: "I am Ederyn, come to keep the king's tryst."
+
+And then the spectre's voice replied: "Well hast thou kept it, for 'tis
+known to me the many menial tasks thou didst perform ere thou couldst
+come upon thy quest. In token that we two have met, here is my pledge
+that thou may'st keep to show the king."
+
+He felt a light touch on the bosom of his inner vestment, and suddenly
+he stood alone beside the gruesome abbey. Clammy with fear, he knew not
+why, he drew his mantle round him and sped home as one speeds in a
+fearsome dream. And that it was a dream he half-believed, when later, in
+the hall, he served at meat those gathered round the old earl's board.
+But when he sought his bed, and threw aside his outer garment, there on
+his coarse, rough shirt of hodden gray a pearl gleamed white above his
+heart, where the wraith's cold hand had touched him. It was the token to
+the king that he had answered faithfully his call.
+
+Again before the dawn he climbed into the tower, and, listening when
+the voices of the world were still, heard clear and sweet, like
+far-blown elfin horn, another summons.
+
+"Ederyn! Ederyn! One awaits thee at the midnight hour beside black
+Kilgore's water. Keep tryst!"
+
+Again to gain his squire's permission he toiled with double care. This
+time his task was counting all the spears and halberds, the battle-axes
+and the coats of mail that filled the earl's great armament. And o'er
+and o'er he counted, keeping careful tally with a bit of keel upon the
+iron-banded door, till the red lines that he marked there made his eyes
+ache and his head swim. At last the task was finished, and so well the
+squire praised him, and for his faithfulness again was fain to speed
+him on his way.
+
+It was a woful journey to the waters of Kilgore. Sleep weighed on
+Ederyn's eyelids, and haltingly he went the weary miles, footsore and
+worn. But midnight found him on the spot where one awaited him, another
+wraith-like envoy of the king, and it, too, left a touch upon his heart
+in token he had kept the tryst. And when he looked, another pearl
+gleamed there beside the first.
+
+So many a day went by, and Ederyn failed not in his homely tasks, but
+carried to his common round of duties all his might, as if they were
+great feats of prowess. Thus gained he liberty to keep the tryst with
+every messenger the king did send.
+
+Once he fared forth along a dangerous road that led he knew not where,
+and, when he found it crossed a loathly swamp all filled with slime and
+creeping things, fain would he have fled. But, pushing on for sake of
+his brave oath, although with fainting heart, he reached the goal at
+last. This time his token made him wonder much. For when he wakened from
+his swoon, a shining star lay on his heart above the pearls.
+
+Now it fell out the squire to whom this Ederyn was page was killed in
+conflict with a robber band, and Ederyn, for his faithfulness, was taken
+by the earl to fill that squire's place. Soon after that, they left the
+hall, and journeyed on a visit to a distant lord. 'Twas to the Castle of
+Content they came, where was a joyous garden. And now no menial tasks
+employed the new squire's time. Here was he free to wander all the day
+through vistas of the joyous garden, or loiter by the fountain in the
+courtyard and watch the maidens at their tasks, having fair speech with
+them among the flowers. And one there was among them, so lily-like in
+face, so gentle-voiced and fair, that Ederyn well-nigh forgot his oath,
+and felt full glad when for a space the king's call ceased to sound. And
+gladder was he still, when, later on, the earl's long visit done, he
+left young Ederyn behind to serve the great lord of the castle, for so
+the two friends had agreed, since Ederyn had pleased the old lord's
+fancy.
+
+Yet was he faithful to his vow, and failed not every dawn to mount to
+some high place, when all the voices of the world were still, and listen
+for the sound of Merlin's horn. One morn it came:
+
+"Ederyn! Ederyn! One waits thee far away. By the black cave of Atropos,
+when the moon fulls, keep thy tryst!"
+
+Now 'twas a seven days' journey to that cave, and Ederyn, thinking of
+the lily maid, was loath to leave the garden. He lingered by the
+fountain until nightfall, saying to himself: "Why should I go on longer
+in these foolish quests, keeping tryst with shadows that vanish at the
+touch? No nearer am I to a knight's estate than when, a stripling page,
+I listened to the minstrel's tales."
+
+The fountain softly splashed within the garden. From out the
+banquet-hall there stole the sound of tinkling lutes, and then the lily
+maiden sang. Her siren voice filled all his heart, and he forgot his
+oath to duty. But presently a star reflected in the fountain made him
+look up into the jewelled sky, where shone the polar constellation. And
+there he read the oath he had forgotten: "With the compass needle of my
+soul true to the north star of my great ambition, I will follow where it
+leads."
+
+Thrusting his fingers in his ears to silence the beloved voice of her
+who sang, he madly rushed from out the garden into the blackness of the
+night. The Castle of Content clanged its great gate behind him. He
+shivered as he felt the jar through all his frame, but, never taking
+out his fingers, on he ran, till scores of furlongs lay between him and
+the tempting of that siren voice.
+
+It was a strange and fearsome wood that lay between him and the cave.
+All things seemed moaning and afraid. He saw no forms, but everywhere
+the shadows shuddered, and moans and groans pursued him till nameless
+fears clutched at his heart with icy chill. Then suddenly the earth
+slipped way beneath his feet, and cold waves closed above his head. He
+knew now he had fallen in the pool that lies upon the far edge of the
+fearsome wood,--a pool so deep and of such whirling motion that only by
+the fiercest struggle may one escape. Gladly he would have allowed the
+waters to close over him, such cold pains smote his heart, had he not
+seemed to hear the old minstrel's song. It aroused him to a final
+effort, and he gasped between his teeth:
+
+ "''Tis the king's call! O list!
+ Thou heart and hand of mine, keep tryst--
+ Keep tryst or die!'"
+
+With that, in one mighty struggle he dragged himself to land. A
+bow-shot farther on he saw the cave, and by sheer force of will crept
+toward it. What happened then he knew not till the moon rose full and
+high above him. A form swathed all in black bowed over him.
+
+"Ederyn," she sighed, "here is thy token that the king may know that
+thou hast met me face to face."
+
+He thought it was a diamond at first, that sparkled there beside the
+star, but when he looked again, lo, nothing but a tear.
+
+Then went he back unto the joyous garden by slow degrees, for he was now
+sore spent. And after that the summons came full often. Whenever all the
+world seemed loveliest and life most sweet, then was the call most sure
+to come. But never once he faltered. Never was he faithless to the
+king's behest. Up weary mountain steps he toiled to find the sombre face
+of Disappointment there in waiting, and Suffering and Pain were often at
+his journey's end, and once a sore Defeat. But bravely as the months
+went by he learned to smile into their eyes, no matter which one handed
+out to him the pledge of Duty well performed.
+
+One day, when he no longer was a beardless youth, but grown to pleasing
+stature and of great brawn, he heard the hoped-for call of which he long
+had dreamed: "Ederyn! Ederyn! The king himself awaits thee. Midsummer
+morn at lark-song, keep tryst beside the palace gate."
+
+As travellers on the desert, spent and worn, see far across the sand the
+palm-tree's green that marks life-giving wells, so Ederyn hailed this
+summons to the king. The soul-consuming thirst that long had urged him
+on grew fiercer as the well of consummation came in sight. Hope shod his
+feet with wings, as thus with every nerve a-strain he pushed toward the
+final tryst. So fearful was he some mishap might snatch the cup away ere
+it had touched his thirsty lips, that three full days before the time he
+reached the Vale of Avalon, and sat him down outside the entrance to the
+palace.
+
+Now there came prowling through the wood that edged the fair domain the
+gnarled dwarfs that do the will of Shudderwain. And Shudderwain, of all
+the giants thereabouts, most cruel was and to be feared. Knowing full
+well what pleasure it would give the bloody monster, these dwarfs laid
+evil hands on Ederyn. Sleeping they found him, and bound him with hard
+leathern thongs, and then with gibes and impish laughter dragged him
+into a dungeon past the help of man.
+
+Two days and nights he lay there, raging at fate and at his
+helplessness, till he was well-nigh mad, bethinking him of all his
+baffled hopes. And like a madman gnawed he on the leathern thongs till
+he was free, and beat his hands against the stubborn rock that would not
+yield, and threw himself against the walls that held him in.
+
+The dwarfs from time to time peered through the slatted window overhead
+and mocked him, pointing with their crooked thumbs.
+
+"Ha! ha! Thou'lt keep no tryst," they chattered. "But if thou'lt swear
+upon thy oath to go back to the joyous garden, and hark no more for
+Merlin's call, we'll let thee loose from out this Dungeon of thy
+Disappointment."
+
+Then was Ederyn tempted, for the dungeon was foul indeed, and his heart
+cried out to go back to the lily maiden. But once more in his ears he
+thrust his fingers and cried:
+
+ "'To the king's call alone I'll list!
+ Oh, heart and hand of mine, keep tryst--
+ Keep tryst or die!'"
+
+On the third night, with the quiet of despair he threw him prone upon
+the dungeon floor and held his peace, no longer gnawing on his thongs or
+beating on the rock. A single moonbeam straggled through the slatted
+window, and by its light he saw a spider spinning out a web. Then,
+looking dully around, he saw the dungeon was hung thick with other webs,
+foul with the dust of years. Great festoons of the cobweb film shrouded
+his prison walls. As up and down the hairy creature swung itself upon
+its thread, the hopeless eyes of Ederyn followed it.
+
+All in a twinkling he saw how he might profit by the spider's teaching,
+and clapped his hand across his mouth to keep from shouting out his joy
+so that the dwarfs could hear. Now once more like a madman rushing at
+the walls, he tore down all the dusty webs, and twisted them together in
+long strands. These strands he braided in thick ropes and tied them,
+knotting them and twisting and doubling once again. All the while he
+kept bewailing the stupid way in which he wasted time. "Three days ago I
+might have quit this den," he sighed, "had I but used the means that
+lay at hand. Full well I knew that heaven always finds a way to help the
+man who helps himself. No creature lives too mean to be of service, and
+even dungeon walls must harbour help for him who boldly grasps the first
+thing that he sees and makes it serve him."
+
+So fast and furiously he worked that, long before the moonbeam faded,
+his cobweb rope was strong enough to bear his weight, and long enough to
+reach twice over to the slatted window overhead. By many trials he at
+last succeeded in throwing it around a spike that barred the window,
+and, climbing up, he forced the slats apart and clambered through. Then
+tying the rope's end to the window, he slid down all the dizzy
+cliffside in which the dwarfs had dug the dungeon, and dropped into the
+stream that ran below.
+
+Lo, when he looked around him it was dawn. Midsummer morn it was, and,
+plunging through the wood, he heard the lark's song rise, and reached
+the palace gate just as it opened to the blare of trumpets for the
+king's train to ride forth. When Ederyn saw the royal cavalcade, he
+shrunk back into the wayside bushes, so ill-befitting did it seem that
+he should come before the king in tattered garments, with blood upon his
+hands where the sharp rocks had cut, and with foul dungeon stains.
+
+But that the king might know he'd ever proven faithful, he sank upon his
+knees and bared his breast at his approach. There all the pledges
+glistened in the sunlight, in rainbow hues. There Pain had dropped her
+heart's blood in a glittering ruby, and Honour set her seal upon him in
+a golden star. A diamond gleamed where Sorrow's tear had fallen, and
+amethysts glowed now with purple splendour to mark his patient meeting
+with Defeat. But mostly were the pledges little pearls for little
+duties faithfully performed; and there they shone, and, as the people
+gazed, they saw the jewels take the shape of letters, so that the king
+read out before them all, "_Semper fidelis_."
+
+Then drew the king his royal sword and lightly smote on Ederyn's
+shoulder, and cried: "Arise, Sir Knight, Sir Ederyn the Trusty. Since I
+may trust thee to the utmost in little things as well as great, since
+thou of all men art most worthy, henceforth by thy king's heart thou
+shalt ride, ever to be his faithful guard and comrade."
+
+So there before them all he did him honour, and ordered that a prancing
+steed be brought and a good sword buckled on his side.
+
+Thus Ederyn won his sovereign's favour. Soon, by his sovereign's grace
+permitted, he went back to the joyous garden to woo the lily maiden.
+When he had won his bride and borne her to the palace, then was his
+great reward complete for all his years of fealty to his vow. Then out
+into the world he went to guard his king. Henceforth blazoned on his
+shield and helmet he bore the crest--a heart with hand that grasped a
+spear, and, underneath, these words:
+
+ "_I keep the tryst!_"
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Keeping Tryst, by Annie Fellows Johnston
+
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