The White Horses (Illustrated)

WHO RIDES FOR THE KING?
Up through the rich valley known now as Wensleydale, but in those days marked by the lustier name of Yoredale, news had crept that there was civil war in England, that sundry skirmishes had been fought already, and that His Majesty was needing all leal men to rally to his standard.
It was an early harvest that year, as it happened, and John Metcalf, of Nappa Hall, stood at his garden-gate, watching the sunset glow across his ripening wheat. There were many acres of it, gold between green splashes of grass-land; and he told himself that they would put the sickle into the good crop before a fortnight's end. There was something about Squire Metcalf—six feet four to his height, and broad in the beam—that seemed part of the wide, lush country round him. Weather and land, between them, had bred him; and the night's peace, the smell of sweet-briar in the evening dew, were pleasant foils to his strength.
He looked beyond the cornfields presently. Far down the road he saw a horseman—horse and rider small in the middle of the landscape—and wondered what their errand was. When he had done with surmises, his glance roved again, in the countryman's slow way, and rested on the pastures above the house. In the clear light he could see two figures standing there; one was his son Christopher, the other a trim-waisted maid. Squire Metcalf frowned suddenly. He was so proud of his name, of his simple squiredom, that he could not bear to see his eldest-born courting defeat of this kind. This little lady was niece to his neighbour, Sir Timothy Grant, a good neighbour and a friend, but one who was richer than himself in lands and rank, one who went often to the Court in London, and was in great favour with the King. Squire Metcalf had seen these two together in his own house, and guessed Christopher's secret without need of much sagacity; and he was sorely troubled on the lad's account.
Christopher himself, away at the stile yonder, was not troubled at all except by a pleasant heartache. He had youth, and Joan Grant beside him, and a heart on fire for her.
""You are pleased to love me?"" she was saying, facing him with maddening grace. ""What is your title to love me, sir?""
""Any man has the right to love,"" Kit protested sturdily. ""He cannot help it sometimes.""
""Oh, granted; but not to tell it openly.""
""What else should a man do? I was never one for secrets.""
Joan laughed pleasantly, as if a thrush were singing. ""You speak truth. I would not trust you with a secret as far as from here to Nappa. If a child met you on the road, she would read it in your face.""
""I was bred that way, by your leave. We Metcalfs do not fear the light.""
""But, sir, you have every right to—to think me better than I am, but none at all to speak of—of love. I had an old Scots nurse to teach me wisdom, and she taught me—what, think you?""
""To thieve and raid down Yoredale,"" said Kit unexpectedly. ""The Scots had only that one trade, so my father tells me, till the Stuarts came to reign over both countries.""
""To thieve and raid? And I—I, too, have come to raid, you say—to steal your heart?""
""You are very welcome to it.""
""But do I want it?"" She put aside her badinage, drew away from him with a fine strength and defiance. ""Listen, sir. My Scots nurse taught me that a woman has only one heart to give in her lifetime; that, for her peace, she must hide it in the branches of a tree so high that only a strong man can climb it.""
""I'm good at tree-climbing,"" said Christopher, with blunt acceptance of the challenge.
""Then prove it.""
""Now?"" he asked, glancing at a tall fir behind them.
""Oh, sir, you are blunt and forthright, you men of Nappa! You do not understand the heart of a woman.""
Kit Metcalf stood to his brawny six-foot height. ""I'm needing you, and cannot wait,"" he said, fiery and masterful. ""That's the way of a man's heart.""
""Then, by your leave, I shall bid you good e'en. No man will ever master me until——""
""Until?"" asked Kit, submissive now that he saw her retreating up the pasture.
She dropped him another curtsey before going up the steep face of the hills. ""That is the woman's secret, sir. It lives at the top of a high tree, that 'until.' Go climbing, Master Christopher!""
Kit went back to Nappa, in frank revolt against destiny and the blue face of heaven. There was nothing in the world worth capturing except this maid who eluded him at every turn, like a butterfly swift of wing. He was prepared to be sorry for himself until he came face to face with his father at the garden gate.
""I saw two young fools at the stile,"" said Squire Metcalf. ""I've watched you for half an hour. Best wed in your own station, Kit—no more, no less. No Metcalf ever went dandying after great ladies yet. We've our own proper pride."