The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-10-17
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE CRUSADER.
~ Mrs c. II. FORD.

Il WILL return ere three years, dear
cst,-thou shoulds't not wed Il nameess
knight, and STOPPING until his long plume
fell over and mingled with her tresses,
he drew her again to his bosom, and
strovc to soothc her sorrow with all low
crs cloquencc.
But his efforts were in vain. With
the tcnacity Of despair she chung to him,
winding her white arms passionately a.
bout his neck, and sobbing uncontrolla-
bly,. Now her head was buried on his
shoulder, down which streamod her dis
hoyclcd hair, while her long, dark silk
en- lashcs were wet with weeping, and
tears chased each other in quick success
sion along her beautiful checks; and
now she would lit her face to that OF her
lover, and gazing on him wildly for Il
space would burst into fresh passion Of
sobs and tears,
'Oh, YOU viii never return, she said
with choking voice, i know it, lshall
never see you again,
SAY not so, dear Isabel, said the
knight, f3ndly kissing her, my trus, is in
God, and have no fears but that, at the
end o! my probation, | shalt return to
You, and return proudly, as knight oil
fame. Great deeds are to be done a.
round the Holy Scpulchrc, and Henry
de Gniscard will have his fathers fame
aud Your love to spur him on
But how few return from PALESTINE
Oh! Henry as you love me do not 60.
'rhiak ofmy vow, dearest, said he
softly, would you wed lorsworn knight"
'But-but in three long years VIVA.
changes may not occur! You will sec
others more beautiful than me and forget
Isabel Montlort.
Nov, by the holy cross, thou wrong
est me, forget thee Never, dear Isa-
bel. And who is there SO beautiful as
thou;' And he soothcd tie fears of the
girl with Il lovers kiss
Isabel still Hept, however, on his boz
som, wept more iraniicully if possible
than before; and she was still weeping
violently, when the sound of trumpet
irum the courtyard below announced to
the k.igAt that his companions who wait
ed for him were growing inpatient. Has
tly tearing himself from Isabel, who
shrickud and fell almost scnseless as he
LEFT the room, he dashed down the stone
staircase, and not daring to look behind
mr. open his ears to the shriel;s that rung
from t.,o apartment Of his MISTRESS he
was abou' traycrsing the great hall that
opened into the courtyard, when slight
girIsh form stood before him, arrc.ting
his progress.
The intruder was very beautiful, but
her beauty was different from the yolup-
tuous loneliness Of the dark-eycd and
quccnly Isabel. Light sunny hair, soft
blue eyes, complexion Of the lairest
whitcucss, and form slight though ey-
gnisitcly proportioned, were the charac-
tcristcs oftho girl, who seemed still in
her childhood.
You are going, she sand in plaintivc
voice, and extending her small fair hand,
FAREWELL! Sometimes think of Ellen.
Cod bless you, dear child,' said the
knight pausing, and laying his hand on
her head, as father would on parting
from beloved younger daughter, i will
often think Of you. Comfort poor Isabel
when | am away and with these words
he was gone. The young girl stood
where he had left her until she heard
the trumpet sound, and the clattcr Of the
hoois across the stone pavement CT the
court-yard: then sitting down Gil The steps
she buried her face in her hands and
burs, into tears. Directly, however, she
heard footsteps approaching. Springing
up, she bounded away like startled
fawn until she reached her own little |
chamber, where she knolt, still weeping,
before picture OF the Virgin, and pray
cd. Her prayers wore for the safety of
him whom her young heart had already
learned to love.
Ellen was cousin to the proud heir
ess Of Mountior! Castle, where she had
been brought up as sort Of dependant.
As child she had been subject to all the
whims Of her weather. and impcrious
cousin, for Isabel, though of the gentlcst
dcmeanor to her lover, was pas ionate
and wilnl to her interiors, especially
when nnobseryed by other eyes. A wea-
ry lie, therefore, had been that of the
young orphan, and she was ignorant Of
what Kindness was until de Gniscard ar
rived at the castle, whittier he had ZONE
On visit about Two years prior to the
opening OF our tale. The gentle words
he spoke to the poor, half heart-broken 5
child bound her to him forever after
She learned to look on him with strange I
affection long beftre others would have I
thought her capable of love. She hung
on his words, she watched his every mo- l
ton, and often in her sleep she dreamed a
of being loved by him. And once she a
Cancied she stood at the altar at his side. c
Dbl happy illusion. She awokc to re-