Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-06-03
From the illustrated Magazine.
TIL E RE s C UE.
a TALE OF TnE sixTEENrH CENTURY.
NJ HTSRY WILLIAM BERBERr.


the First Of France in the last days Of chiyalry,
that wondrous spirt-dazzling institution which was
even then becoming gradually extinct, and which
very soon thereafter vanished altogether from the
earth, except in far as still held dwelling as
a thing high and holy, and set aside from common
uses, in the souls Of few-the nobemen Of nature.
II was, say. in the latter days Of the reign Of
Francis the First OF France, while that indomilabe
Prince draining his realm Of its best blood in
bootless strife with his imperial rival that, when the
sun was high a'suliry day Of summer. an unusual
degree Of hustle and agitation might have been OBJ
served in the courtyard and about the gate Of
small but beautiful castle, situated in the most ro-
mantle portion Of Auyergne.
This hustle was evidently, however, OF the gayest
and most peaceful description. Banners indeed
Haunted on the towers, and plumes waved and
weapons glittered on the walls but the bearers OF
the par,suns and haberts. which glitIered back the
sunbeams so merrily resplendent, were clad not in
amor OF proof but in rich gala dresses and the
music, which came pouring from the open windows
Of the great hall, was Of soft and festive charac
ter, that spoke Of love and ieasiing rather than
blows and death
II was the beirothal feast OF Blanche Of Nerestan,
with the young lord OF Roche en- Regnier.
Aud all was joy and merrimen,, wild mrth and
loud congratulation. All save one heart, that OF
The fair young bride.
Bstrohed when prattlng infant in her moth
ers arms TO the boy heir OF neighboring seignory,
bound IN the IRON laws OF memorable custom, she
hsd grown up INTO youth, ana beauty, aud the gun
oh, 10 II not curse l-oi hne and delicate sens-
bilies--grown up to find her hand feuered. while
her heart was free soon TO be free no longer, but
irreyocably given TO another.
Reluctance had grown gradually into loathing,
but neither could looks nor words nor scorn de-
Ter the lord oil Roche en- kegnier from insisting
IN his pursuit oil Blanche neither candid expo
slton oil her feelings, nor an appeal 10 all that there
was oil honor and oil generosity IN his nature could
bend him from his iron resolution II was not the
braun yeHI, but the broad lands Of Blanche oil
Neresian, which had liked the heart Of Lord Adrian
And now the day had come, and oil delays were
80 "ie su''s' ~ t'e 49,. s.e'"
despite of anger and disdain mus, sion the Ga,sI
contract at high noon. which must disseyer her
forever from him she loved so ,ruly must give her
soul and BODY TO him whom she abhorred more
and more as she became more intimately acouant
ed with his manners and his mind
The hands of the clock pointed to the half hour
before the fateJ period, the notares we're in the
hall with the broad parchments spread upon The
board, lacking two little signatures alone 10 make
them instruments indissoluble for the veal or woe
OF two immortal beings. The father Of the lady.
tall, stern, straight, gray soldier, with heart al
soft as the steel curass beneath which II had heater
at Marignano, and Payla, and manners as polisheS
as the Spanish blade which hung on his thigh, stooc
IN calm converse with the man, 70 whose arms, the
living tomb OF her affections. he had doomed biz
motherless child. Lord Adrian de Roche en- Reg
nier, slender, falr-halTed, and eiemlnate youth
whose long, light ringlets, and soh, blooming cheek
might have rendered him the curled darling Of som,
light ladies'. but whose expression was neithe
dlgnfed nor gentle, characteristic neither Of mine
nor manhood, appeared TO listen TO the cour
phrases Of his future fathcr.in.law but il was clea
from the wandering of his eye, and the nervous
futter with which he kept his cap and plume. a
they hung by his side, in constant agitation, tina
wha' '"'ie in'eiiec' ne nau was Jar away rom IN
uiseouise' anu 'ha' NC answered "eohah''a''y'
moi al iahuom'
lie seemed to be listening with sharpened ca
: Tor some distant or imaginary sound, nor would
have been very Wild CONJECTURE which should nav
set him down as one awake 10 the possibility o
some coming peril perhaps afraid OF the return Q
some D0'a anu suecess'u, s'a'
And VINO was Inc riyal VINO was tna' haPPy
unhappy man, VINO owned as Lord de iacto' 'houg
Adrian owned as LORD de Jure' the rue neart
Blanche Of NeIes'ant
, Who had not heard in those days Of Raoul d
+ Ventador, the winner of that title when all wer
forward and all gallant Of being still in every 6gf
he foremost Of The foremost, and the bravest Of III
. braye'-of Raoul de Veniador, who when boy
fourteen years. fighting as page beneath his fail
er's banner in that combat Of giants, as old Thas,
:, chal Trioulso well styled Marignano, had kile
y three Switzers with his own hand, relieved an