The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-04-18
MGI@OEIsGaA,NX
Il RIDE FoR THE RING.
ICONTINUED.

her lovers steps to the very walls of
the palace, and would not leave him
till she was satisfied he could walk
alone. Then she sailed into her
mothers presence with laughter
step and brighter eye than ordi-
nary, and though the usual hour was
long past, and biting reproof was
on the imperial tongue, there was
that in her daughters bearing which
forbade Mary of Burgundy to ques-
ton or to chide.
It was only after the excitement
had passed away, and its inevitable
reaction commenced, that Clotlilde's
heart turned sick within her, to
think his wounds would never be
healed in time for the tournament.
The Landgrave of Ehenheim, it is
scarcely necessary to observe, was not
q man to throw away. his chances,
either in love or war. Though. his
handsome face looked so impertur-
bable, and he affected in his denleanor
80 much languor and carelessness,
his real character was one of quiet
energy and perseverance,. Like most
successful combatants, his experience
had taught him the advantages of
severe training; and no sooner had
he learned the day fixed for the
tournament, than he devoted all his
spare hours to preparation for the
conflict. True to his assumed
character, he appeared indeed as en-
crossed as formerly with the dissi-
pations of the court; but Kalbsbraten,
who allowed nothing to interfere
with his revels, was heard to observe
more than once, that these Alsatians
could not drink with your thorough
bred Saxon, after all; and sundry
eyes, as sharp as they were beautiful,
detected shade less color on the
Landgrave's bronzed cheek, trife
more Istlessness in his bearing,
wheh he joined the empress circle,
after the severe exercises of chivalry
in which he spent tho morning.
How many pieces of armor he
proved and cast aside-how many
steeds he rejected for hinching from
the shock of the encounter-how
many tough ashen lances he splinter
ed, 1T would be waste of time to
enumerate. Suffice it to say, that
sword, mace and battle-axe were
only resigned to lay lance in rest;
and that poor Johann Won Muller,
his squire, with whom he tilted for
practice, and whom he hurled re-
peatedly from his saddle, with ir-
resistible velocity, found by the
third days preparation every double
tooth loosened in his head.
Perhaps, except Clothilde herself,
no one hated the very" name of the
tournament so heartily rs this long
suffering acolyte, treading his thorny
path towards the spurs of gold.
So the great day came at last.
The Lists were up, the gallaries re-
paired. His majesty's own private
box covered anew with scarlet velvet.
Trumpets sounded their .faya'es all
over the place. One only topic of
conversation pervaded every circle,
both high and long. Jongleurs and
minstrels sang their jingling rhymes
to applauding hundreds, ringing
many o fanciful change on the beau
ties and attractions of the fair Clo-
thilde, and less directly on the valor
and munificence of the Landgrave
of Ehenheim, the implied winner
of the prize. Court gallants and
court ladies' could talk of nothing
else. The chances were calculated,
the combatants enumerated. Wagers
were laid, las in modern times, fewer
taken than were profered,) and
chains, brooches and armlets were
freely gagged by rosy lips upon the
lance OF each fair ones favorite; also,
as in modern times, the starters" as
we should now say, were in small pro-
portion to the entries. Some had
been hurt in the practice-ground,
others had succumbed in the train
ing. A few were too difident to
contend for so magnificent prize.
A good many did not care to en-
counter such formidable champions
as Schmarn, Kalbsbraten and Ehren-
breitstein-above all, the dreaded Al
satan with the violets on his armor; so
that when Hildebrund of Hockheimer,
imperial grand marshal, ordered the
heralds to proclaim the names and
Titles OF the aspirants, there were
not above dozen champions on
his list The emperor was delighted.
The business would be over the
sooner, and he would get the earlier
to dinner; so he pointed them out
to Clothilde in high good humor,
as she sat by him pale and detected,
nor noticed how her whole frame
trembled, when the herald concluded
his task without roo1ino on +Lo Ill