Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-19
Masbington Ssntinsl.
THE RIVALS.
AN OLD STORY OF FLANDERS.

were under the dominion, in the thirteenth and
fourteenth centuries, of two baronial families,
who habitually viewed each other with feelings
Of jealousy and dislike. The people Of Chimay
shared in the sentiments of their count in this
respect, as did those of Couvin in the preju-
dices of their marquis and hence originated
many scene of bloody dssension and strife,
continued with little intermission for long
period of years.
AT a time when the towns of Couvin and
Chimay were both under the dominion Of youth
full and high-spirited lords, a new incident oc-
CURED to widen the hereditary breach between
the two families, an animosity which was al
ready excessive. The Marquis de Couvin and
the Count de Chimay chanced to be both pre-
sent at an assembly, where the nobility Of the
province had met for festive purposes. The
daughter of q neighboring baron was pre-
sented on the occasion, for the first time, to So
ciety. She was q creature of surprising
beauty, both as regarded form and face and
an air Of languor, almost of melancholy, was
apparent in her large dark eyes, which made
her charms more touching and resistless. So
felt, at least, the young barons of Couvin and
Chimay. Love for the first time dawned on
the souls of both--love, ardent and strong rs
the morning sun Of midsummer but with it
came also its too frequent attendant, jealousy,
like the cloud which often dms the brightness
Of the orb Of nature, even amidst its July splen-
dors. The count and marquis had their eyes
respectively sharpened by the strength of their
feelings, and each was conscious of the others
state of mind and heart. Though, as may be
imagined, their feudal enmity was by no means
diminished by these circumstances no visible
results ensued, until the fate Of their passions
was determined by its common object. The
4 l.I fanxs
val, and the fair she had to fix upon one Of the
the choice was for life and so it was felt to be
by all parties The Lord of Chimay was the
fortunate man.
Not long afterwards the Count and Countess 0
Chimay were spending the first weeks of their
welded life at the castle of the bridegroom.
These weeks were in all respects happy though
the Count was obliged to keep guard on his
movements, for the marquis and his vassals
evinced and avowed burning thirst for re-
venge. In enjoying the pleasures of the chase,
the count was compelled to confine himself to
the precincts of his castle, and to have guard Of
huntsmen constantly about him. However, as
a month or two rolled away, he grew less eau
tious; and one day, when his dogs had started
q large wild boar, he allowed himself to become
so hot in the pursuit, that he lost sight of all
his huntsmen. 1t was not long ere the latter
took the alarm, and searched for him every
where, but in vain.
They then repaired to the customary place Of
| gathering, and waited for their master there
Hour after hour few past however, and the
count reappeared not. Again, they sent out
scouts in every direction, but with the same
want Of success. Finally, after great part O
the night had been spent in these fruitless
searches, the huntsmen returned to the castle
clinging to the slight hope that the count NIGH
| have reached home by a circuitous route. He
had not been heard Of, and they were then un
der the necessity Of communicating the tidings
of their masters loss to the countess Already
much alarmed by his delayed return, the lady
was thrown into a state of inexpressible an
guish. For a time she was incapable of any
exertion, but at length, arousing herself, she
insisted upon commencing in person the search
for her husband. They searched every hill and
plain, every glade and thicket; inquired of
all persons in the neighborhood; but every
effort was unayailing. The count could not be
heard Of.
Eight days passed away and found the coun-
tess still in state of widowed suffering and
sorrow At last, as an extreme step, she re-
solved to address her formidable neighbor of
Couvin. To him all thoughts turned, as the
party most likely to know the truth if the counts
disappearance had been the result Of violence;
but there was not vestige OF proof against
the marquis. The poor countess knew what
her influence over him had once been, and she
hoped not to invoke his aid, at least, in vain.
She believed him to be honorable.
Dressed in deep mourning, and all in tears,
she presented herself, with numerous suite at.
tired in the same way, before the Marquis of
Couvin, and called upon him to say, "on his
word as a knight, if he knew aught of the lost
count of Chimay The marquis swore to her,
upon his honor, that he knew naught of her
husbands fate" "Oh, my lord" said the coun
tess. "shew then to the world, in these melan-
cholly circumstances, the magnanimity of your
heart. Grant me your generous assistance in
discovering the fate Of my husband, who, though
once your rival, will become, if found, your
friend forever. Order search to be made over
your domains; be the protector of the un-
fortunatel Honor commands it, and a lady en-
treats it!'
The lord of Couvin, with great apparent SYM
pathy and compassion, promised to do every
thing in his power to aid the countess, and
pressed her to stay ut Couvin till new search
had been made. But perceiving the anxious
looks of her old vassas, and herself feeling little
confidence in the professions of the marquis,
the countess returned directly to her own castle.
There she awaited the result of the new inqui-
ry. II was the same as the last--the lord of
Ghimay remained undiscovered.
Several years elapsed without changing the
position of affairs. The mateless countess
lived in her castle, lonely and sorrowful, wear
ing ever her MORNINGS, and praying that the
truth might yet be revealed. She could not
believe her lord to be dead. It may be con-
ceived, therefore, what her answer was, when
she ultimately received proposal of marriage
from the Marquis de Couvin, upon the plea Of
uniting the long divided yassals of 'Couvin and
Chimay. Her reply was brief: IL have no
hand to dispose Of Had ] thought myself free,
/ should long ago have ceased to i've" e
In the seventh year after the disappearance
of the lord of Chimay, it chanced that a young
shepherd lad, a vassal Of the demesne, saw o
rabbit in the grounds bordering the estate Of
Couvin. He had his bow and arrows, and shot
at it, but missed. Still he pursued it, and get
ting heated in the chase lost all thought Of time
or distance. His last arrow was fred at the