Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-13
familg Circle
The Red and White.

gold. Yet the counts riches were MOTH
ing to his pride. When the king struck
by the beauty of the old counts daughter
asked her in marriage Of her father, the
latter seemed to think he was doing the
king a great honor to accept him as his
%son-inlaw.
The young countess was beautiful, and
more modest and gentler still than beau
tiful and when the count said to her
one day Daughter you are to become
the. kings wife, SO be ready to obeyl-
the countess only replied, my honored
father, l am your obedient child"
But a little while after she went to
saunter under the tall beach trees, and
wept, though she scarcely knew why. 1t
Glanced that she was seen by a young
knight, who had lately entered the counts
service, when he appeared with a courte-
Gus greeting, and entreatcd her not to
weep, saying she might command his SER
| vices, and that he would revenge her on
any one who had dared to vcx her. On
hearing this, the countess smiled, and
went back into the castle.
Next day, when they met under the
| beech trees, she was not weeping, neither
did the knight speak any words of com
fort, but they walked side by side in deep
silence. Bat, the day after they found
their speech and if the birds, who had
built their nests in the beech trees, could
have spoken, they might have told a pref
ty tale.
One day it happened that the knight
remarked a kerchief as white as snow, in
the lady's hand ; and having long wish
ed for some token of love, he obrserved
this kerchief was a fit emblem of the pur-
ity of her mind, and that he. would be
happy beyond measure if she would be-
stow it upon him. The Countess became
as pale as the kerchief herself but she
could not bear to refuse the handsome
youths humble entreaties, and therefore
gave it to him. And then there came
another day, when they met in the beech
en- grove, and this time the Countess
held a kerchiefin her hand that shone
still brighter and redder than the sunset
across the ocean. When they parted the
knight seized the tip of the kerchief say
ing, beautiful lady, this kerchief is the
image of the love we feel for one another,
therefore give it to me as an everlasting
keepsake ?"
Then the Countess's glowing cheeks
became redder than the kerchief /; but
she loved the young man so dearly that
she could not say nay, and gave him rot
only the token he coveted but her beat
ing heart also.
While all this was taking place there
came a message from the king, amour
cling that he was about to repair to La
land to VOC the fair Countess himself.
When the proud Count heard this news,
he made great preparations to receive
his royal guest, and the whole caste was
turned topsy-turvy /; and as he was com
ing and going and overlooking everything
himself, he happened to enter the beech
en- grove, whittier he scarcely ever went,
and surprised the young knight at his
daughters feet. In his rage he, was at
the point Of telling him to the earth, when
he recollected that he would be confer
ring an honor rather than a punishment,
and therefore determined to have him
executed in a ~disgraceful manner before
all the people. He now called to his sa-
%telites, who seized upon the culprit, and
the lovers had only time to give each
other to understand by a hasty word,
that neither would o%utlive the other. A
faithful maid bribed the goaler to let her
speak to the knight before the execution,
in order to bring him a last greeting
from his beloved.
Tell your lady" said the knight, that
l shall die to morrow. The Count means
me to be executed on the other side of the
moat surrounding the castle. i entreat
my sweet lady to do me the favor to an.
pear at her window, that I may see her
once more before I die. My companions
in arms are now waiting on the Count
to beg for my life. Should he grant It.
contrary to my expectations, then will I
wave the white kerchief my lady rave me
even as a white flag. But, if I am doom.
ed to die, | will display the red kerchief
and then she will do as she sees fit"
The young knight had two brothers
In arms one OF whom was as true as gold
as he proved in this instance for no
sooner had he heard his friend was sen.
fenced to die, than he fastened to the
s~eashore, and steered to the kings vessel
which he saw afar off on the high seas.
in order to ~entreat the greater lord of
the two to interfere and obtain his friends
pardon. But the other comrade, who
himself entertained a secret passion for
the beautiful Countess, envied him his
happiness, and had sworn to compass his
ruin He therefore ~insinuated himself
into the unfortunate knights confidence
and having obtained permission to spend
the last remaining hours in prison with
him, he wormed all his secret out of him.
not excepting that of the red and white
kerchiefs.
On hearing this, though glad at heart.
he said with a sorrowful countenance. II
will accompany you on your last walk,
would to heaven, | may be able to hand
you the white kerchief.n
When the hour for the execution had
nigh drawn near, the Countess stood at
the window pale as death, but perfectly
calm. Beside her lay a dagger. The
old Count had refused the petitioners.
and ordered the execution to take place
at the appointed hour. But it had been
decided otherwise. The king had listen
ed to the entreaties Of the knights friend
and touched by his devotion, had sent
him with his signet ring to the Count.
with the command to spare the knight.
Thestrusty messenger fastened back to
the shore, mounted a swift horse and. flew
RI 1hn aanA1o