Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-05-12

glorious dark-eyed creature, who glided into
the hall and threw herself into the arms Of her
lover.
GiSla wrung her hands and wept.
"Fie! sister," said Rotrude, turning from
the embrace Of Raoul "Thcse tears are un-
worthy of sister Of Charlcmagne-th mis-
trcsS Of gallant knight. All is not desperate.
The scneSchal is sound asleep. have cor
rupted the guards Four fleet horses arc sad
died in the courtyard. Let us fly while vet
we have the time"
"And wherefore Hy:" asked deep voice.
ROtrude turned in terror. and Louis himself,
issuing from the secret passage, stood before
them.
"ThOu hcre?" cried Rotrudc.
"Ay-SiSter minc," cried the monarch.
"Why, you fly before me, maidens, like star.
tied doves. ] found your nest warm knew
you could not he far off"
" But how could you win your way hithcr:"
f1OuiS SITifcJt.
"Dear girl" said he, "thc secret passages
of the old palace are as well known to me as
the architect himself ! could find my way
through their lahyrinthine windingS blind
folded. Sn," he added turning to the two
knights, lyon are here
"icS. my lirgr," answered Raoul, "and
unarmcd and prisoners by your order"
" NalOr may well be prisoner, when beauty
is his jaior." said the monarch, smiling ".\m
to understand you noble knights, that you
love these dauScl< fair!"
- More tran iitc:: - replied itObcrt and Raoui
simultaneously.
" And you are not disposed to be cruel 2
asked Louis, turning to the sisters.
Their bushes answered in the affirmative.
"Ah!" cried Louis, rcpr0achfully. why
did you not make cOnt1ant of the, and treat
the as friend and brother? You should have
been welded royalty. Now, since it seems to
me that the ceremony must Immediately take
place, there is no room for SplcndOr. have n
priest in waiting. 90, dearest sisters, and
put on yaur braSpEt- attire, aud return to Inc
at once
The sisters Obeyed.
RaOul was a>toniShcd.
"Can have heard Alright" he exclaimed.
" Does your majesty really intend to hestOw
on poor knights the sisters Of your majcstyy"
yOu lire : replied the monarch, "yOu
shall wed them ere the morning dawn. Poor
knights! say youy Those who enjoy SOW
ercign's favor can never bc termed poor. And
as token Of my cOuntcnance, | hereby pre-
SCut NhO COStlN nclitCtS Will luC
ing armor, which pray you to put on mmc-
datcly. a warrior should wed in mail. -
At a signal from the monarch, four attend
ants appeared from the secret passage. bring
ing two complete suits Of arInOr.
These are curious" said the monarch.
You will value them as having once belonged
to my illuStriOus brothcr-may his soul rest in
peace! They were made in Italy, and sent
him from Ravcnna, in return for huge goblet
filled with precious stones"
As he spoke thus, the attendants disnrmcd
the knights, and clad them in their new armOr.
This change accomplished, Louis babe them be
seated, and await in the hall the return Of him
self and their brides.
When, after the lapse Of some time, the two
sisters, apparelled from head to foot in virgin
white, and holding each other by the hand,
re-entered the hall, they found the two knights
sitting motionlcSs in the huge oaken chairs
where Louis had left them. Each lady, dis.
tinguishing her lover by his stature, for the
visOrs of their helmets were closed, repaired ia
his side. The warriors did not rise to welcome
their brides
"Raoul!" said Rotrude, placing her white
hand on the shoulder of her lover.
Raoul replied not-and the cold steel sent a
strange shudder through the frame Of the beau.
tiiul girl.
"Speak to me, Robert" cried the other sis.
ter. 1t is lit is GiSla, beloved one"
Robert dc Guercy neither spoke nor moved
ROtrudc raised the hand Of Raoul when she
relinquishcd it. it fell like lead. wild shrek
burst from the lips Of the heart. broken sisters.
At the same moment both had made the dis.
covery that their lovers were dead.
\ mechanical apparatus, the cOntrivance OF
some malcvOlcnt genius, was contained in each
helmet, the operation Of which excluded the
air, while the throat Of the wcarer was griped
as in an iron vice, and life was speedily cxtin-
guished. Louis had probably decided that the
mere fact Of two humble knights aspiring tO
wed the sisters Of their sovereign, was Sutfi-
cicnt p merit death-but whatever his motive,
his vengeance was speedy and effective. Ot
the two sisters, GiSla died on the spot in dis
covering her lovers death. Rotrudc, removed
to convent by order Of the emperor, soon
lost her reason, and died also, in the course Vi
few weeks, a raving maniac.
Many-many, years afterwards when the
old palace was crumbling away, two suits oI
armor were brought to light, enclosed in a
secret chamber.
On examination, a skeleton was found in
each. But the visor Of each helmet, on being
raised by mechanical agency, discovered a
CHASTITY head in state Of extraordinary pres.
ervatiOn. These were the fatal helmets, and
the heads those Of the illStarred lovers Of Gisla
and Rotrude.
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