The mountain Democrat., 1865-01-14

MANA II esT IHS |SolY OattlemcntS. But
IildTgarde was Christian woman, and
while one other chance was left, she could
not shed her own blood.
Goaded to desperation, when every
other means had failed her she met Taland
with his own weapons craft and daring.
She no longer Stunned him, nor when
they met did she repel him with naughty
coldness, nay, she even schooled herself
to greet him with smiles and honeyed
words. This change filled him with
tumutuous joy. To crown it, one day
she bade him prepare three lonely rooms
in remote and unfrequented wing Of
the castle, adding to be sure to have the
doors well furnished with bolts and bars
and to come to, her when all was ready
Taland quilted her in an ecstacy OF de-
light, never needing that the hand he
covered with burning kisses was as cold
and riSed as stone, nor how forced were
the smiles, how hollow the tones of her
gracious farewell.
B For three whole dars she was rid Of
Taland; three days she passed in agonies
of prayer and moody pacing aloEg the
battlcmentS. She ate little, spoke less,
and wandered through the palace pale
and hagSard as if jut risen from a sick
bed. The third day Taland came to tell
her that her orders had been obeyed, and
that al was in readiness. IIildegarde re.
paid him with courteous thanks, and
named an hour on the morrow when he
was to wait for her in the nnernost
chamber. A good hour before the time
he was at his post, cursing the Sunbeams
for crawling so slowly, and thinking the
great dial would never throw its noon dav
shadow across the courtyard Of the castle.
While Taland was so eagerly watching
that dark line, a woman in a far off tower
was crouching before a acruCitix, clutching
it tight as she muttered wild prayers for
grace aud guidance. She started from
her knees, summoned her madenS, and
bade them array her right royalty. When
this was done she dismissed them and
passed out alone. a few moments after
Taland heard II light step in the outer
chamber. aud llllcgarde came toward
him, moving with slow and stately grace
lie was about springing forward, but Il
gesture Of htrS stopped him. lie stood
quite still g)oating over her beauty, deem
ing the flush on her cheek and the glitter
in her eyes sweet signs OF love. With
the same set smile and unfaltering gaze
she crossed the two rooms {; she was not
ten PAGES from him; he could restrain
himself no more one bound he had
cla>pcd her to his breast; size flew toward
l.. 4
arms, when the great door hurled him
back. lliidcgardr had dung herself
against it. and slammed it in his face
He sprang to his feet to burst it open
but she had already turned the pond,rou'
key, and he could hear the harsh grating
Of the bolts and bars. She ran madll
through the other rooms. tarrying but tC
bolt the doors; she flew through the long
pas ,ag :, gained her chamber unseen, fell
on her kn. cS aal gaspr1 ont her thanks tc
the srea. God, who had given her, weak
woman thouEi she was, both craft and
strength 70 hallie this bid bad man.
Her first impulse was to tell her hus.
band all, aud let him wreak lis vengeance
"u the vie knavr. Bat when her blood
ran ca,mrr, aMd her thoughts grew clear,
She began t. doubt. and sat down to pom
der on what she had best do. No riag
or token could convey her meaning, and
make the emperor hurry to her from the
distant wars where was she to find a
messenger 81 tru>tv that She might safely
let him bear such Il tale: And as to its
being written, that was out Of the QucS.
ton; the scribe who would wlitr, and lac
, who would read such story would be
too dangerous t. turn away, and dOubly
dangerous to keep about the royal pair
On one thing alone could she decide, she
would tell Charlcmagne all on his return,
and meanwhile llildcgardc did what many
another woman has to do, she prayed and
waited. Taland's disappearance could
not long remain secret, and search
would surely be made for him, so Hide
garde sent for the chief men Of the town,
on whom she palmed off some plausible
story of inSolence and diSrcspect true
enough in the main, but very far from
cnlishtcning them as to what the insult
had been. There was so much love for
her and jealousy Of leland, she met with
no opposition, and for the first time for
many long day the poor lady had peace.
Meanwhile Taland, caught in the snare
which he himself had prepared, ragged and
Goamc1 like a Gagged wild beast. He was
so cool a man, his rare transports of fury
were ftai iul in their intensity. At length
exhausted by his imrotent struggles, he
flung himself or the rich bed and sank
;,,,o =, e,,, .t,nnr IJn ntrnta nhillaI
to the bone, aud saw by the darkness OF
the room that be must have slept for
hours it was already night, and the pale
rev moon rose high in the heavens; food
and drink had been left for him; he
drained the wine cup to the dregS, and
began pacing his narrow room, trying to
think. The DAYS events seemed as unreal
as drcanI he tried the barred door with
all his strength before he could quite re-
aize his plight; wild, impracticable plans
fitted through his brains. Visions of
lIild>gardc struck down by knife or bowl,
diving IN tOrments before her face, exclu.
ded all thoughts of how this was to be
achieved. But as have said before, Ia
land was a cool, firm man, gifted with a
wondruus patient tenacity of purpose !;
and bv de.rees he wrenched his thoughts
from the cheat lIildegarde had put upon
him, and even from his. sweet plans Of
vengeance, that he might the better see
how they might be carried out. He saw
clearly that she must either tell the whole
truth to the emperor, or forge perfect
cham Of lies, or suffer him to escape from
her clutches. That she would tell Charlie
magne was likely enough, but then Taland
must be at least accused, and could he
thus gain speech of the emperor, he was
pretty sure of being able to twist facts to
suit himself That Ilildegardc would
have the wit and coolness to forge SO
perfect a chain of lies that he could not
eypose its Ealsehood seemed quite unlikely;