Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-12-02
From the NsrsEagl@d Weekly Repieso.
THE TWO BRIDEGRoOMS.

The sun went down on the plains OF pales-
tine, tinllns with a redder hsc the dark stains
Of battle. The laiidel lad retired, aud the
held, from whence but a little tme before,
The clang of arms went up late the skies OF
cyrta, where The 6fazen helm and the pale
crescent gave back heir double iloed of sun
highland where the chlvalerous lances Of
Lhriseneem bore down the Intidel scimetar,
lay silent beneath inc darkncss-saye when
sonie stuffed groan-sr muttered PRAYER Of
the dying, told that the work Of Death was
yet unfinished.
brasely had Rupert Merton and bis be-
som TREND, the young knight of Anselm,
sorns themselves IN the terrible strifcs OF
mat day. But IN the last siruggIe-iust as
the vast sea Of turbans and sclmetar. rolled
backward from the fierce onset Of Christian
chivalry, they had been separated frem each
other; aud Rupert with a boding heart. disco
verea that his fIiend was not among lie wea.
ry and war spent soldiers who gathered To-
gether IN the Syrian twilight, with those
mingled emotionser pain and triumph, which
victory, attained only by bitter sacrifices,
must always inspire. He turned away from
congratulations OF his knightly brethren. and
sought the bloody scene OF the recent en-
~ceuater
Fearful were the sights and sounds which
panied the senses Of Rupert Merton as he
stole watchiully among the CHASTITY wrecks
Of the fierce .eath grapplc On one hand
lay the tall and graceful form of the Moslem.
with his brazen helmet and light armor, and
on the other. the stalwat knight Of Chrisen-
dom, glrdet IN his cumbrous armor, like a
thrown down statute Of iron, with bis cross
handled swsrd still grasped in hand which
might never more liit its heavy gauI tlet. The
writing FERNS Of the dying were around him
their CHASTITY conntenanccs turned upwards
to the dim twil,ght-with here ard there a
friend bending anxiously over them. Ru-
pert hurried onward. A low moan at his side
at length arrested his attention. He paused,
and by the dim light he saw the familiar
countenance OF his friend. The helmet was
eif-and there was a CHASTITY paiencss in the
features which faiatly smiled upon HIM Ro-
bert of Anselm had fallen.
Rupert knelt by his side. The wounded
man, railying his last energies, murmursd
taintly-"Merton tell my lady love how |
have fallen. Let her know that her knight
died in his armor-as a knight should die
There was a struggle In lis ghaslly features
= bis lips moved-the ear Of Rupert listened
in vain
"Peace TO thee, valiant knight" said Rn-
pert Merton, as be rose flom bending over
the inanimate form Of his fricnd-"A drawer
never laid lance in rest, ard n woItbier never
knelt at the shrine OF beauty II anu he left
him TO the loneliness OF the gathering night,
which now hung over the battle field with
the darkness Of n funeral pail
Two years bad passed away; and one Of
England's pleasant villages was enliyened
with the ga!eiy and splendor of a merry bri-
DIAL IT was the bridal Of Rupert Merton 10
1 ft.a faslu lo.. orD ~t..s - -. 4. A !.
who fell with his good sword in hand and bis
armor on, in the wars OF Palestine.
Marve. not, reader, that the bctrothed of
Anselm should 80 soon yield herself 10 the
addresses Of another. Did she forget her To-
scr7-the good knight who had borne her
name on his helmet through the reddcss fse;d
of PalestIne? Did she cease TO remember
him, who had laid at her feet The mressesl
sword and the conquered banner of her emo
mics whose al NOR she had herself laced for
its last him. at the mention Of whose
name her heart had beat prouder, and for
whose return she had looked forward with
the anxiety Of love-: Never. She had wept
sadly al the story Of his fall-glorious as it
was-she had offered at MANY a shrine pray
ers for the noble spirit which had passed A.
way forever. But tears may not always flow
the fountains which have been unsealed
by the rude hand Of ailirtion, may close a.
gain. So it was With the lady Eleanor. The
tide Of agony settled down into the calm me-
lanchOly Of a spirit sanctified and made better
by the iiial Of grief. And, when she knew
that the early love Of Rupert Mertoa-a love
which his friendship for Robert Of Ansclm
had checked in its first reyciations-still re-
manned strong in his bosom, she listened 10
his words Of aiiectionatc consolation and
sympathy. And she gave her plighted troth
TO the dearest friend OF her dearest love.
They stood up together before the altar OF
the village church. and the multitude gazed
on them with gratitied cagcrn,ss. Both were
pale there was a melancholy on their fea
lures, which told how deeply they had both
tasted Of the bitter fountains Of existence
But in the noble bearing Of Rupert, and in
the chasiened beauty Of bis lovely partner,
those who looked on them found much 10 ad-
Inire; and a whisper Of delight ran around
the assembly for one moment, aud then, as
the imposing ceremony commenced, all be-
came silent once more, in breathless atten-
ton.
A clatter Of hoofs, as If a horseman were
hurrying with the speed Of life and death,
startled the assemblage. The next moment
the tall form Of a knight in amor darkencd
the door Of the church The multitude gave
way before his hasty and free stride.
"Holdl" he exclaimed, in the loud tone of
Icommand-"that lady is my betrothcd bride
Lady Eleanor. | adjure thee, remember thy
vow. break it net for a false traitor"