True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-11-04
2. RAGAN, Editor and Proprietor


had him borne to his own fastness, and
tended through the long illness
ensuing on his wounds. There in the
freight Of every evening, the most beau
tiful face that ever crossed his vision
haunted him, and the long fair hair and
radiant brown eyes of the Duchess May,
the Dukes wife, dropped over him in
tender pity. She had learned stories Of
southern magic and northern fays, and
with these, adding charm by her recital,
she beguiled long mornings. She had a
wild dramatic talent, and with her women
and the hunters, enacted for the invalid's
amusement, tiny dreams and comedies
Her heralds coming home from wander.
ings through the kingdom, brought news
which entertained them in duller hours.
She had learned music before coming
from her more southern home. and FIRE.
quenlly with her redundant yellow tres
ses streaming over it, she drew pathetic
melodies from her great harp and charm
ed all tedium away. She was beautiful,
and Conrad had keen perception of
lovliness she was young, not nineteen,
and Conrad also, was in the first fire CT
youth the Duke was old; but if these
thoughts crossed the minds of either, re-
specting themselves, they courageousIy
repreSsed them, One night there had
changed outside the gates, the retainers of
Baron Stahl he entered with certain
sarcastic ease and received his welcome,
and at midnight, when Conrad had been
assisted away by his squire, and the
Duchess had Withdrawn with her maidens
he remained alone with the feeble old
Duke, who rec!ined in his great chain,
propped up by pillows. :
" Ah," said the Baron Stahl, they
60 together :" ....
Who! I" asked the Duke.
"The lord of Swaba and thy wife -
he returned with bitter sneer on the last
words. @
&" Sir. respect the rights of hospital-
ty !" thundered The Duke. Otherwise" "
and his eyes fulfilled the threat.
The whereabouts of Conrad were un-
known abroad, many fearing him to be
dead, others thinking him TO have sought
other adventures. This, Of course Ba-
ron Stahl knew, but he raised his eyes
without any .discomposure, saying:
Wis highness doth not then know
that the beautiful Duchess and Conrad
are coupled in rumor most unplessantly."
The Duke kept moments silence.
"Baron Stahl," said he, then slowly,
and raising his fiery eyes, "thou art a
liar !"
The Baron sprung to his feet, and
would have seized the old mans throat
had not couple of his knights at that
momeut entered.
"Craven hounds" cried he, /" listen
while I challenge your master! Ilie
Duke Rolf! Thou dotard I! challenge
thee to meet me ere twenty days in NOR
tai combat, and prove that thy wife is
not "a"
A stunning blow on the ear, from the
old man, who, endowed by his ange,
with sudden strength, leaped TO his feet
stretched him on the floor with an un6n
ished sentence, and almost as li(eless, the
duke fell back into his seat. That hou
the baron left the castle, the next day the
challenge was proclaimed through the
district by his myrmidons. 1t was agans
the rules of chivalry for the duke Of Sc
vast province 10 descend and enconnte,
any petty noble, ever had his strength
been sufficient, but the Baron had cause
10 tremble when he knew that Conrad
who also took precedence in rank, woult
take up the gage in the dukes stead, fo
weak as the latter might be, his strength
through skilfulness and innocence, wer,
an adamantine panoply against so vile
slanderer And thus before half Germa
ny, with al! the beauty of the land gain!
down into the arena, ere the twentieth
day the two met. The duke occupied ;
conspicuous place, sitting surrounded by
cushions, and the brown eyes of the
duchess where she stood by her husband
side, smiled down on Conrad as he enter
ed the lists, but shouts of execration
greeted his opponent though none knew
the real cause that provoked the contest.
Perhaps this general confidence CAV
Conrad more strength than at that mo
ment belonged to him, for at the first til
the lances were shivered, and the Barol
dismounted. Oonrad's squire courte
ously offered him the stirrup, which h
angrily refused, and Conrad springin,
to the ground to meet him, in few Sc
conds had overpowered him, and stoo
with his foot on his breast and his swor
point at the liars throat.
Retract," said he, low and hoarsely
Never" returned the Baron, Will
quickly lifting his hands he wrenched tn
sword from Conrad's grasp, and tossed
away.
Qnick as light, Conrad stopped, snatch
ing the Baron's presented it. In the in
slant deadly fear blanched the Baron
face, his lips quivered, and great vein
started out, purple aud swollen in hi
forehead. Conrad perceived the advar
tage gained.
/" Poisoned, is jl'' said he. "Retrac