Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-05-12
THE FATAL HELMETS.
BY FRANCIS A. DURIVAGR.

complete arm0r, ana mounted on t1ect anu
powerful chargers, rode rapidly towards one
Of the gates of the city Of Paris. They were
young and gallant knights, favOrites of Charlie
imagine, and now bound for the ancient palace
of Thermes, with sealed dispatches for its
seneschal, from the new monarch, Louis, the
brother and successor Of the great Emperor.
"Look, Raoul!" said one of the riders,
Robert de Guercy, addressing his companion,
RaOuI de LyS, the clouds have lifted little,
and through a rent in the murky canopy Of
heaven, one star beams out, presage Of good
fortune"
"Ay, Robert" replied his brOther-in-n arms,
land mcthinks behold, rising in the distance,
the hoary battlements and time-worn towers Of
the old palace. Dearer to me, that old Roman
pile, in all its rude severity, than the fairest
citadel of other landS-for is il not the bower
Of my ladye love, ROtrudc the PrerlcsS:'
"NOt peerless" answered Robert dc Guercy,
you forget her sister GiSla."
"Thcy are twin sisters Of beauty" said
RaOul. "Worthy Of the blood that courses in
their veinS-worthy sisters Of the imperial
Charlemagne."
"What think you the new monarch will say
to our attachment y''---~--------
81 know not have not learned to read
his character But fear his austcritt and
pride Yet little while. Hubcrt, must our
love be hidden. We have wOed and won our
Inistresses- in Seeret-let- -HS- still shraHd- our
passion in the veil Of mystery. The hour will
come, believe me, when we can avOuch it in
the face Of day. When We have carved out
fortunes with our swords, and earned with our
blood the highest honOrs Of chivalry, each can
claim the hand of an Empcror's sister as his
guerdOr. But here We are at the gate"
Raising his bugle to his lips, RaOu blew a
vigorous and martial blast The gate was
opened and the knights, setting spurs to their
horses, dashed under the archway, Tie fiam'
beaux Of the guard throwing a ruidy light
upon their cleaning armOr and white plumeS.
Recognizing the companions as royal mcsScn
gers, few cavaliers mOuted in haste, and
offered their escort as far as the palace Of
Thermes.
The party gGlloped on at full speed. the iron.
shOd feet Of the horses dashng fire from the
stones that lay scattered in tie narrow unpavcd
and ill-kept streets. At length they reached
the old palace, where the knights dismissed
their escort. The scneSchal, an old man, whose
white beard descended half way to his giFlle,
received them with the honor due to cOuriers
from the emperor, and gave orders that their
chargers should be cared for, while he himself
marShalled the way into long, vaulted hall,
wainscOtted with oak. upon the walls Of which
hung panOplies of arms and banners of all
nations, many Of them wrcStcd from their
original PossessorS by the galantry Of Charlie
magnc. Yet it was a drcary place, and the
night wind, that found its way through the
lOop-hOles, swayed the rulting banners to and
fro with dismal, moaning sound, like that Of
the voice Of prophet of evil.
The old scneSchal. having conducted the
young knights thus far, halted and said:
YOn are from Aix.a Chapclley'
"Ycs," replied Raoul. And we have rid
den all the way on the spur-Sccuring fresh
horses all along the route. know not how
my companion feels, he will answer for himself;
but for my own part, am as weary in limb as
after day spent in looping off heads upon a
field Of battle. But venisOn paSty and a
fiagon Of wine before retiring to rest would
not come amiss What say you, Robert!"
have made no vow Of abStincnce-Or
might be tempted to break it. for my necesSi-
ties are great" answered De Guercy.
Blu: your dispatches, noble knights, said
the seneschal.
"By the mass! had almost forgotten, "
said Raoul, producing the packet from his
breast 81 Here is the miSSive sealed with the
imperial arms, and he placed it in the hands
Of the old man.
The aged senesehal carefully broke the seal,
and unfolding the parchment, began to read
its contents. The young knights watched his
cOuntenance, and saw surprise depicted in his
features When he had read every word, the
seneSchal raised his head, and addressing the
bearer Of the despatch, said:
You are named RaOul dc Lys?"
RaOul inclined his head.
And you =" the scneSchal continued, turn
ing to the second knight.
my name is Robert dc Gucrcy."
Then. Robert de Gucrcy aud RaOul de
Lys," said the Sencschal, 81 arrest you both. "
"By whose authOrity:" demanded RaOul
fcrccly.
"By the empcrOr's," replied the seneschal,
striking the parchment with his withcrcd hand.
The two knights looked at each other with
aStOnishment.
You will surrender your swords" said the
sencSchal. ---------.-----.-
Raoul and Bobcrt disdainrully gave up their
weapons.
AT least tell US of what crime We are ac.
cusc," said RaOul.
at is not specified in the letter." replied
the scncSchal, "onIy that you are to be i'm.
priSoncd, and my orders command your Scpa.
ration"
"Our separation! :" cried Raon, throwing
himself into the arms of his friend Robert
is my brother inarIns-my companion in peril
and pleasure. Part us not"
compel me not TO use violence" said the
Seneschal. gravcly. "Obcy-and trust to for.
tune"
"Good night, then, Robert" said RaouI
sadly. "What may be the issue of this affair
Heaven only can decide"
! The SeneSchal departed with his other priS.
oner, and RaOul de LyS heard the door barred
and locked behind him. Throwing himself
upon an Oaken bench, he reflected painfully
upon the sudden change which had fallen on
his fortunes. few days since, he was fa.
vOrite of the greatest monarch Of the earth
now, he was a prisoner by command Of his
successor. A few moments before, he looked
forward to rapturOuS meeting with ROtrude
now he was separated from her and perhaps
forever. AS these painful thoughts passed
through his mind, the iron tongue Of the beliry
Of St. James struck twelve; n secret door
swung open on its hinges, and Robert de
Guercy, holding lamp in his hand, and fol-
lowed by female figure, entered the hail.
Raoul started to his feet
RaOul! brother friend!" cried the knight
1--WE must up and act The emperor has
doomed US to perpetual imprisonment"
How know you this?"
Robert de Gucrcy pointed to the shrinking
figure Of Gisla.
Is this true, lady ?"
"TOo true" replied GiSla. "Andere many