The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-10-17
member that he was aflianced to Isabel,


ture, knight, armed cap-a-pie, and at
tended by solitary follower, rode up
the old road leading to the castle ofMount-
fort, His visor was up, revealing face
of high manly beauty, whose deeply sun
burnt complexion spoke olpong exposure
to tropical climate. The face was light
ed up with Joy, and ever and anon as a
turn of the road brought him in sight Of
the old castle, trowning from its eminence,
he would prick his steed anew and adj
vance at swiitcr pace.
AT length he reached the foot of the
ascent which led up to the castle. There
noatcd the old banner, there irowned the
ancient gateway, and as these familiar
objects met his eye, de Guiscard-ior 1t
was he--lelt his heart thrill within him;
for within those well remembered walls
dwclt his Isabel, whom in il few moments
he should clasp to his bosom. Oh! how
the contemplation Of this hour had cheer
ed him during many weary march on
the Syrian deserts: and when, sick and
wounded and ready to die, with no friend
near to sootho his illness, how had the
vision of his early love revived and res
tored him. And now the blissful moment
had come. lie plunged his rowels into
his steed and galIopcd gaily up to the
gateway, At the sight of his crest the
huge gate swung open, the portcullis a
rose, and throwing his horse on his
launches in the courtyard, he lcapt down
and hurried to that part OF the castle
where he knew he should find Isabel
As he travcrsed the passages what a
crowd circumstances arose to his mind,
Here he had often walked with Isabel
there they had sat and sung together
from yonder window they had gazed on
the unryallcd landscape below. AT
length he heard a voice from an apart
ment directly before him, and the first
tone of tic speaker made his blood dance.
He flung open the door, and beheld be-
fore him Isabel.
Never had she seemed more beautiful
than at that moment when, after the lapse
of years, dc Guiscard bcheld her again,
She was lounging on scat IN the win
dow, lightly touching a lutte, and her
dark complexion admirably set off by the
crimson robe in which she was attired,--
As the door opened, she turned her eyes
toward it, with smile Of happiness IRA
dating her expressive face.
Isabel, my own, ut length meet thee
exclaimed de Guiscard, advancing with
oustrctched arms.
But Instead Of the glad exclamation,
the forward bound the passionate caress
which not only his hopes but her glad
smile had led him to expect, Isabel turned
suddenly pale, AID shrank from him with
cry of terror,
30 you not know me, Isabel he en-,
claimed iaIteringly, for sudden fear al
most chokcd his utteruncc.
Still she did not answer, and though
her lips were half parted it was in terror.
De Guiscard stood speeches. before her
at these signs. The strong man, who
had braved the fcrce,t shock of battle,
was moved; for u trial like this he was all
unused to. At length Isabel uttered Il
faint cry and sprung past him. Turning
to follow her flight with his eye, de Guis-
card saw that she had fallen on the bo-
som of man Of noble presence, who had
entered the apartment unpcrccivcd.
what means thisi' said the new COM
or, turning sternly to the knight, 'by
what right, sir, do you penetrate into my
wlc's apartment? Sweet Isabel fear not,
he said, soothing the false but beautiful
being on his bosom, 4 am here
your wife, said de Guscard slowly,
as if talking in a dream, 'oh! Isabel, lsa-
bel, he exclaimed in a tone of the most
moving pathos, is it for this ! have en-
durcd all--tor this that ! have counted
the weary hours--lor this that ! dared
shipwrcck and death; False girl | curse
thee. PICKLE as thou art thank God !
am not thy victim, and with these words
he left the room.
Though dc Guiscard had spoken thus
boldly in lsabel's presence, no sooner
was he alone than he leaned against the
wall Of the corridor, and his manly frame
shook with agony. Hearing step at
length approaching, he nervcd himself to
move on. The step followed him, and
directly hand was laid softly on his
arm. Turning he saw girl in the first
warm beauty of womanhood, with u face
of uncommon loneliness, which now was
full of pity.
Have you forgotten me- she saIdtim-
idly.
lie hesltatcd moment, and then re-
piled,
'Ellenp he could utter no more for the
Of their last meeting and Of the
high hopes then entertained, but now
crushed forever came over him, and his
uttcrance failed him. There stood the
strong man bowed down, like a woman,
with grief; and there, beside him, was
she who had kept her love pure and I'M
dimned, all hopeless though it was.
Deep wounds are long in curing, and
months passed before dc Guiscard's al
lection for Isabel, unworthy though she
was, could be eradicated. But the gen
lie nature of Ellen, and the knowledge of
ler faithful love at length worked
change in his bosom, and he grew at