Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-04-10

fhn
pleased an imal capered about with upmistakahie
manifestations of loy. =
Now, mind you said the abbess, once more
addressing the Black Knight, until Won reach
the castle of Everhard the Lady Agnes 70 my
charge to you.n tF ."| - - 20 ny
Then the Wild knight has some control over
her, the Black Eagle said, in tone so low that
| the maiden could not hear it.
DARK shade rested upon the face Of the alb
| bess, and slight shudder passed through her
| frame as she replied
| now IL "''''ii''
Once more our hero promised to watch we'll
MS charge, and then the abbess turned TO her
| niece There were a few sincere blessiugs-a
| away. H.... IN r~-'
! After the laps of several hours. AZ a .bof, at
Ience ensued, the Crusader gazed upon his fair
companion with an earnest, playful look She
looked up and met his gaze, and warm glow
| suffused her face. She knew not that he was
| looking upon her, or she would not have yazed
1 up then. for her eyes were beaming with the tale
OF love, and she knew 1t. And less interested
person than herself and one with less percpp.
tion, could not have failed to see that the KNIGHTS
gaze was one Of pure, devoted affection
| IL was moment of strange emotions Each
mad detected the other In the act of pouring out
| the silent language Of love The KNIGHT was
| the first to speak ""'
',Gentle lady he said in tone made rich
| 1t, why should two honorable people whom
fate has thrown together, hide the deepest, holi-
est emotions of their souls, / will not hide
mine. You shall not say ] could look what
dared not speak Agnes Of Luxemburp. | love
| thee with the whole strength of my heart, and
with the undivided power of my hearts first
love. Thou art the first maiden who ever awoke
the sweet whisper in my soul and to thee / give
my poor heart with all its hopes, its aspirations
and its joys. trust have not offended
For some moments the fair girl gazed down on
the arching neck Of her steed without speaking
she trembled violently, for there was mighty
struggle in her soul "-
H.
'moistened eyes to her companions face, sswould
that my love and my duty were united.n
" How, lady Speak plainly, would beseech
- knowest thou not that my father willed that
should wed with the Count Of Baden %,
= knew he had so tcishsd. Did he lay the
command upon thee.
: He never commanded me, sir. His wish was
always my law. When he expressed to me his
desire he knew If it Were in my power to 10 It his
desire would be accomplishment -
But thy love, lady -
. Thou art the first man who ever won INV
young heart. See-I am frank, because thou
hast been.'i
@ Bless thee. gentle Agnes-bless thee forever.
Thou dost love me, then? - -,
l. . With all my hearth
" Then see We still have ground for hope If
the Lord OF Baden be an honorable man he will
not surely hold thee to union from which love
must ever be absent. He would not have such +,
wife if he could" -
- Ah, you know him not -, said Agnes with a
slight shake of the head ''Nor do YOU know the
man my father placed over me as INV guardian
Alas they have no hearts of love or sympathy -
The knight gazed upon his companion as she
spoke, and when she ceased speaking he bowed
his head There was i cloud upon his brow and
his lips were compressed; yet he seemed more
worked upon by some firm purpose OF his own
than by any fears Of the powers of others. When
he again raised his head his bright eye beamed
with more than ordinary meaning
"Gentle Agnes, - he said, =. love me-loye me
well-love me as love thee-and leave the rest TO
me. In this universe of good there must be power
enough TO overcome all evil il it could only be
properly applied and SO why may we not hope
that right and justice shall triumph here?'
My love | cannot CONTROL" the maiden an
swered- '"Were never to see thee again, from
this hour my heart could never give mp thine i'm
agony soul could never forget this, its first holy
love. As true as live speak frankly and truth
FULLY now Were the painful clause removed
G 'uld the barrier be brokea down-honorablys So
would place my hand within thine own, and be
thine forever, ~
The noble knight raised his hand to his cheek
and brushed away tear, and when he spoke his
voice was low and sweet.
Among the blessings of God, and standing
second only TO the pure faith OF the tried Chris.
tian, Is bright sunny hope. Let cling to Il -
Half the afternoon had passed away, and the
travellers had just entered upon a broad table of
level land; when Engelbert,s horse, which was
ahead, suddenly stopped and placed his nose to
the ground and in a moment more he raised his
head and gave wild, startling snort.
''Ah-that means that we are to meet some
body said the Black knight, as Agnes gazed
inquiringly towards him.
For moment expression of fear dwelt upon |
the maiden's face; but it quickly passed away.
"We have nothing to fear, surely the Knight !
resumed. :" If they be robbers we have nothing |
to lose, and if they be not robbers they must be
friends. Yet I'll don my casque and take my |
shield, for war sometimes comes when we least |
expect tit
for the black steel helm with its triple plume, |
and then calling to his esquire, he took his shield
Just as En9elbert had made the same arrange
ment party Of three knights appeared upon the
opposite side Of the plain, which was nearly half
mile distant. As the distance became less an
exclamation of fear dropped from Agnes's lips
and when her companion looked upon her, he |
found her pale and trembling.
What is it :" he asked, eagerly.
The Count of BadsR ~ she uttered
The Count, Which one 20
- He that rides upon the right hand--the short
est one''
And do you know who are those other two,n
Agnes looked few moments, and then she re-
knights that ever broke knightly vows There
is Sir Frederick Bondorf, who came from
Bavaria to save his head from the law; and Sir
Marco MOntani, a crafty, bloody and unscrupu-
lOus Italian. They are the Counts tools and do
his bidding for hire.
They look like scout knights, )" said the Ea-
gle. half to himself.
And so they are, = responded Agnes
But you tremble, dearest.n
"Aye-the Count may be on his way to Saint
Fulvia.'
"Ha. For thee Now see And why should
he have come, Think you Everhard sept him!n
The maiden pondered few moments ere she
replied, and during her hesitation the knight
stopped.
Z" III tell thee all in few words +" she at length
said, - and thus save thy questions. My guardian
will do much for the Count Of Baden He would
not for worlds directly do a deed to harm me vet
he looks upon my marriage with the Count as
fixed fact, and he will help II on. Thrice have
I refused to go to Baden's stout castle of Heidel-
berg, and Rudolf has sworn that he would take
me to his dwelling by force, If would not 90
otherwise The last time saw my guardian he
told me, In laughing moOd-he laughed because
ne thinks my coyness Of the Count only the result
ol whim he does not know that despise him
he told me to beware Of Rudolf OF Baden, for that
he meant to kidnap me on the first opportunity.
so think he has come now for that purpose
The newcomers were now within Few rods,
and as the Count of Baden recognized Agnes, he
put spurs to his horse. As he did so the Unknown
dropped his vizor, and secretly looSened the trap
pinas OF his battle-axe. He Of Baden was In full
arulor only he Wore his viZor up. -.---,-..
" Hl--my little truant ~ the Count cried, rs