Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-07-27

Now, fellows" cried Alfonso, owhat
have he here 2"
''We have brought hither a man who
will speak for himself, sire" said ole of
the peasants, bowling down before his
monarch. "Ne know not his business.
but we could not refuse his earnest
prayers"
And so speaking. the peasant arose and
turned towarGs the litter He removed the
light covering, and the sunbeams fell upon
the form of the pilgrim he was pale and
wan, and bis features were all fallen away
tot mere shadow of what he had been; he
was assisted to sitting posture but he
groaned with pain during the operation
Henry started forward and grasped the
old man by the hand
"Alive alive '' he uttered 80. what
a wonderous blessing is this p
/ "Yes, Henry" returned the pilgrim. in
a hollow tone Il am alive, and that is
all Don't grasp me too hard, for it pains
me !''
"And my mother2" whispered the
youth, hardly daring to listen for the an
swer
"She is safe I"
Henry la Mutt pressed the pilgrims
hand to his bosom and raised his eyes to
heaven, His prayer, whatever it may
have oeen, was a silent one but the sud
den access of Joy made him for the mo-
ment weak. There was one other person
who sprang towards the litter-it was the
duchess, She gazed into the old pilgrims s
face, and then asked him, in a whisper,
if he had done all that be promised.
Lady" he said, while faint smile
broke over his features, 'rest you in peace
God has not forsaken the rightlp
1anthe de la Cara sought the side of
her child, but no questions were asked or
answered. All attention was now called
to Nandon du Chastel That knight had
uttered low cry of horror when the COW
ering was first raised from the form .of the
! pilgrim, and he now stood with his teeth
! closed. his hands clutched. his face fear
( fully livid- and great drops of sweat start
/ ing coldiy from his brow
! Now, what means all this ~ cried the
king, whose whole soul was wrought up
with excitement He had seen the emo
tions of Henry Ia Mutt he had seen the
movement Of the duchess and ne had
noticed, too, the startling effects upon
Nandon du Chastel What can solve
this riddle ?" he continued.
Sire" said La Mutt, this is the old
man whom | was accused of having MUIR
dered. Now let his own lips be the wit
ness i'
'Hal !" cried Alfonso, bracing himself
/ up like man who is about to commence
some heavy task. This is the finger OF
some power higher than ours We will
hear him speak"
The monarch had started to move to-
wards the litter. when Du Chastel ap-
preached, and pulled him by the sleeve.
Sire said he, "let the marriage 60 on
first. Listen not now 20 the tale Of this
crazy old man"
why, Sir Nandon you look half dead
! Upon my soul, you are not ft to be married
in such plight You may recover by
the time the story is told.-No. no you
need not urge me, for, by the heavens
above me, this thing shall be cleared up
! before anything else is done Stand back p
The dark knight said no more but like
a man who feels the iron grasp of death
upon him, he tottered back.
Now, old man. continued Alfonso, ap-
/ preaching the litter, '-let me hear your
story. Some one has attempted your
/ life -
Yes, sire" returned the pilgrim, bis
eye Frightening as he spoke ''and the ct
tempt has proved successful, for [ know
that my life is fast ebbing away"
And DO YOU know who did it 2n
''Yes, sire,-I know too we'll If you
viii listen [ will tell you"
i have come to listen. Now so on
Near the mountains. towards Guidez, .
commenced the old man. "there lived a
/ poor woman-an acquaintance of my ear
licr days,-and | was won't to go to her
cot to comfort and cheer her But that
woman, poor as she was, had enemies One
night, | received from 4 mysterious source
the intelli ligence that her life was in danger
and, Of course, [ set off at once to avert
/ the blow If possible, for had q suspicion
from whence it was to come | reached
there at midnight, but found the woman
gone. | feared the worst | sat down
for l was weak with fear and fatigue, and
while | was thus buried In my painful
/ meditatIOus. [ heard a fo0tstep behind
me. l looked up, and saw Nandon du
/ Chastell He asked me where was the
+ woman who had been there, and | told him
| did not know. He swore that | had Sc
creted her; and then he swore that my
life should pay the penalty | started uI
to seize my staff bat before | could reach
it, he struck at me with his sword, and Gu:
my arm. Then he made lunge at me
and his sword pierced my bosom. | sank
down. and soon all was dark about me
~Will you listen to such tale, sire p
asked Dn Chastel. with a look of one who
tries to draw barbed arrow from his
heart
Yes Z" returned the king. motioGing
him back 4 am prepared now 70 listen
to anything. But you have nothing to
fear, Du Chastel-yoR, who are SO pure
and loyal, so devoted and innocent Go
OF, old man"