Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1863-02-12

The Tragedy of Rievau!x Abbey.

Tits was the first abbey of the Cistercian
order founded iu Yorkshire in the year ll3l
by Walter LESpec 1t is situated at the
distance of about three miles from Duncombe
Park, in a solitary place near HelmsIey, sur
rounded by steep hills, and covered with wood
aud ling near the angles Of three different
ya.es, With each rivuIet running through
tlem-that passing by where the abbey was
built being called Rie, whence this vale took
its i&ne and this religious house was thence
called The Abbey Of Ricyol-or Ritvauix-
The motive which mpelIed Sir Walter LES
Pee 10 make over castle and lands to the Cis,
tercians may be gathered from the following
Legend
The last rays of an autumnal sun had ting
ed the limpId waters of the Re, and iIIumined
The Ho0d which fringed its banks with a ruddy
glow, when a small but brilliantly caparison-
ed train was seen approaching the entrance
OF RjeveU(X Castle The banner of the Cru
iadt waving in conjunction with the standard
q SF Walter L'Aspec proclaimed that the
StteTlng cavalcaGo belonged to EuStace L.
A,p.c, his only child and heir who had just
returned from Palestine.
Oc.ferous and sincere was the welcome
Which EGStace received from his father as
Sen0I(d VaSSalS though the number Of East
] eIa followers, Saracens and Nubans, with
Iser Wild eyes and swarthy faces, was Aot al
'osether an agreeable sight to the Saxon ser
'oF> who supposed their own comforts and
PAGES in danger from the importation of these
9audiIy dressed OrientaIs.
Vi hIlst the welcome of the newly arrived
aer Of Rievaux was being celebrated in the
great hall below, a lady sat alone at the case
aent OF a richly tapestried chamber, situated
. tnTret and overlooking the courtyard
I1e Lady Alice de Courcey was the ward of
'le Lord of Rieyaulx, and the destined bride
v Dis son, the gallant young Crusader.
fFior to his departure for the Holy Land,
-stace LESpec and the Lady Alice were
Ceply attached to each ether, and, as in duty
olnd, had exchanged VOWS Of everlasting fl
Edty, But time, which in some case deep
N the channel of affection, in others fills
asm completely up, SO that the stream OF
ason, unless quite dried up, must discover
feSh path for its course
Absence had wrought great change in the
'aag Lord of Rievaulx. Instead of the gay,
% rauk, fearless, and the self posse cav. :.
", whose good humor, no less than his good
osS, bad helped to fascinate the heart and
eyes of the beautiful heiress, he was now
EtQleutly afflicted with fits of sullenness, alb
tace of mind, and querulouSness, which was
4ie foreign TO his nature. A transformation
Pa'pable could not long escape the detec
w ot bis bethrothed. The Lady Alice quick
marked, ahG secretly mourned, the altera-
0a which had been effected in the demeanor
-l disposition of her beloved
among the number of the Eastern attend
-~ who had followed the youthful Lord Eus.
l. 70 h0gand, was gigantic Nnmidan,
~ Fom the first moment of bis appearance
s,S sue Rlevaalx Castle, had provoked the es-
",1l aversion of old Hubert, the Falconer,
i = was firmly possessed with the belief that
NaAIdlan as either the devil himself, Or
eoHe very near connection of his satanic
;es! for" urged Hubert, q" be convers
language which the devil himself must
:, = Invented, inasmuch as even Father Os-
ra t@uhot understand one word of it; there
!" must be unfit for Christian ears
ma 5'|een this Numidlan and the young
VI h'eTa1ix there was some mysterious