The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-11-24

day arrived, and long, long day it was
1t was the 21st day of June, the longest
day in the year. 1t seemed as if it
would never come to an end. a thous-
and times did the duchess and her ladies
watch the sun from the windows of the
palace, as he slowly climbed the vault of
heaven, and seemed still more slowly to
roll down. They could not help OK
pressing their wonder, now and then,
why the duke should have tagged this
supernumerary day to the end of the
year, as if three hundred and sixty-five
days were not sufficient to try and task
the fidelity of any woman. 1t is the
last grain that turns the scale-the last
drop that ovcraows the goblct-the last
moment of delay that cxhausts the pa
tience. BY the time the sun sank be-
low the horizon, the duchess was in ii
idget that passed all bounds, and though
several hours were yet to pass before
tho day regularly expired, she could
not have remained those hours to gain a
royal crown, much less ducal coronet.
For she gave orders, and her palfrey
magnifcently comparisoncd, was brought
into the court yard of the castle, with
palfreys for all her ladies in attendance.
In this way she sailed forth just as the
sun went down. 1t was u mission of
picty-a pilgrim cavalcade to convent
at the foot of Il ncighboring mountain
to return thanks to the blessed Virgin,
for having sustained her through the
fearful ordeal.
The prisons performed, the duchess
and her ladies returned, ambling gently
along the border of forest. 1t was
about the mellow hour of twilight when
night and day are mingled, and all OBJ
jects are indistinct. Suddenly some
monstrous animal sprang from out the
thicket with fearful howlings. The fe-
male body-guard was thrown into confu-
sion, and fled different ways. 1t was
sometime before they recovered from
their panic, and gathered once more to-
gcther; but the duchess was not to be
found. The greatest anxiety was felt
for her safety. The hazy mist of twi-
light had prevented their distinguishing
perfectly the animal which had alright
ed them. Some thought it wolf, Others
Il bear, and others wild man Of the
woods. For upwards of an hour did
they beleaguer the forest, without dar-
ing to venture in, and were on the point
Of giving up the duchess as torn to pieces
and devoured, when, to their great joy,
they bchcld her advancing in the gloom,
supported by a stately cavalier.
He was Il stranger knight, whom no.
body knew. 1t was impossible to dis
tinguish his countcnancc in the dark;
but all the ladies agreed that he was Of
noble presence and captivating address.
He had rescued the duchess from the
very fangs Of the monster, which, he as
sured the ladies, was neither wolf nor
bear, nor yet wild man of the woods,
but a vcritable fiery dragon, species of
monster peculiarly hostile to beautiful
females in the days of chivalry, which
all the efforts of knight-errantry had
not been able to cxtirpate. g.
The ladies crossed themselves when
they heard of the danger from which
they had escaped, and could not enough
admire the gallantry of the cavalier
The duchess would have prevailed on the
deliverer to accompany her to her court,
but he had no time to spare, being
knlght-errant who had many adventures
on hand, and many distressed damscls
and afflicted widows to rescue and re-
licve in various parts of the country
Taking an extremely respectful leave,
therefore, he pursued his wayfaring, and
the duchess and her train returned to
the palace. Throughout the whole way
the ladies were UNMARRIED in chanting
the praises of the stranger knight; nay,
many of them would have enjoyed the
happy dclivcrancc of the duchess. AS
to the latter, she rode along and said
nothing.
ITO be COutiDucd)