The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-07-24


blending over the inanimate form Of his
friend. A braver never laid lance in
rest, and worthier never knelt at the
shrine ofbeauty 70 And he left him to
the loneliness Of the gathering night,
which now hung over ! the battle
field with the darkness Of q funeral
3lpall. ..s as,.s.,..e .aiD.g
i Two years had passed away and
one of England's pleasant villages was
enlvened with the gaiety and splendor
of merry bridal. 1t was the bridal of
Rupert Merton, to the lady love of
! Robert of Anselm-.the knight who fell
with good sword in hand and his ar
mour op, in the wars of Palestine.
Marvel not, reader, that the bethroth-
ed of Anselm should so soon yield her.
self to the addresses Of another. Did
she forget her lover-the- good knight
who had borne her name on his helmet
through the reddest fields of Palestine !
Did she cease to remember him, who
had laid at her feet the wrested sword
taifd the conquered banner of his enc
mies--whose armor she had herself
laced for its last trial I; him, at the mem
tion 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 at
the story of his fall--gIorious as 1t was
she had offered to many shrine,
prayers for the noble spirit which had
passed away forever, But tears may
not always fow--the fountains which
have been unsealed by the rude hand of
tafiliction may close again. So it was
with lady Eleanor. The tide of agony
settled down into the calm melancholy
OF spirit sanctifed and made better
by the trial Of grief. And, when she
knew that the early love of Rupert Mer-
ton--a love which his friendship for
Robert of Anselm had checked in its
first revelations-still remaining strong
in his bosom, she listened to his words
lof affection, consolation, and sympathy,
And she gave her plighted troih to the
dearest friend of her dearest love.
| They stood up together before the al
tar of the village church, and the multi
lgerness. Both were pale-there was a
melancholy on their features, which
Told how deeply they had both tasted of
the bitter fountains of existance. But
in the noble bearing of Rupert, and in
1.-THE chastened beauty of his lovely part
ner, those who looked on them found
much to admire and whisper of de-
light ran around The assembly for one
moment, and then, as the imposing
lceremony commenced, all became silent
once more, in breathless attention.
Aclatter Of hoofs, as if a horseman
4erc hurrying with the speed oflifc and
fdeath, startled the asssmblage. The
kt moment the tall form of knight
lin armor darkened the door of the
church. The multitude gave way be-
fore his hasty and fierce strides.
| Hold y he exclaimed, in the loud
/ tone of commando that lady is my be-
rothed bride. Lady Eleanor, adjurc
| tiee, remember thy vow-break it not
4 br false traitor y
4 All started, and Rupert laid his hand
ON his sword. Sir Knight he said
sternly, the hot blood rushing up to his
pale forehead-at another time thon
shalt be fitly answered, if it SO prove
that thou art worthy of knightly deal
lings.' And he turned again to the
priest at the altar. y t,n F-'s~
| The eyes of the stranger shone like
fire beneath the bars Of hrs vizor.-
t.Rupert Merton !! he shouted, in a
4 AL t,<t
ny be staid, or the sanctuary Of the liv-
ing God shall not protect thee 7
bastard ptreturned Merton, con-
veying his, trembling bride to the hand
of his kinsman, and confronting the
intruder-Rupert of Merton asks no
other protection osave his own good
sword. If thou hast the spirit Of a
knight, follow y '-- -" -
They strdde through the church yard
together--and in another moment the
quick clash of steel rung sharply in the
ears of the horror stricken assembly,
The struggle was short !; but desperate.
Reckless of his own life, each seemed
only to seek that of his enemy. Rupert
covered with wounds reeled forward and
grasped the throat Of his enemy, with
that fierce strength which passed lends
10 the last struggles Of existence. His
glazing eye blazed widely open as he
passed his sword like lightning through
the body oftho stranger. 1t was a fatal
blow. Both fell at the same instant
and when the multitude gathered about
them,, they were dead. a A.t'' ~
sr'Uhhelm the stranger said the priest
as with shudder. he surveyed the dead
forms before him. The helmet was un-
bound and the naughty md dark fea-