The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-03-17

will not stay !"
lyon uI not stayl why. then, / say
you shall. am ynnr lord; although,
you are my brother. you are my subject
and owe me your allegiance"
"You gave me, SIR" replied Henri.
permission yesterday TO depart"
II did, but have changed my plans.
Now lister. boy, for it concel ms you qnitc
as much as me; Henri, | shavei spoken
10 the Lady Blanche, and thirk she is too
young n wife for me. or else, | am Too
old for her. She has confessed, also, she
loves me not, and never can, because she
loves another.
"Another," CALCULATED Henri, in q tone
OF und d:sguised dismay.
"Yes, boy, another. And would you
know his name J.! lis you"
Henri breathed again.
Now resumed the count. since you
love her and she loves you, lave con.
cluded that, instead Of me, you are the
one she ought 10 we'd
Henri seized his brothers hand:
"Oh, sir, your goodness overwhelns
me Indeed, now feel that l am en-
/ migrate, for never can repay such obli-
cation"
The count touched his bell, and when
the attendant came he requested him TO
beg the attendance &C the Lady Blanche
| 1t i. needless to describe the delight Of
both II l,nche and Henri. The count
! jsincd their hands and then straightway
sought the rooms where the Count of Pi-
sa was lodged. In few words the count
informed him Of the proposed change. but
the ambitious father positively refused his
consent.
"Iour younger brother, my lord, is
not the Count Of Provence, and perhaps
never will be. Yoa may change your
mini again, and marry, and have heirs
my bargain was that Blanche should
marry the count Of these fair domains.
"And so," replied his friend, "she
shall. never do these Thugs by halves.
and devote nv few remaining years to
heaven. I shall endow my brother with
my title and 10Y Lands. Will that con
tent YOU?
'If blanche loves your brother, and
your noble brother loves my daughter,
when he is Count of Provence, am con.
tent
So clasping each others hand, on this
understanding the two counts parted.
The chapel of the monastery Of st.
Denis Wa lit up with thousand tapers,
and the old abbot, with his cowed monks,
etond, in their sacred robes, as motionless
n. statues The organ pealed and the
chants resoundcd along the carved roof
Of the ancient building. The faint breath
of the incense lent visible sanctity to the
scenc, and the masses of sound swayed
hiiher and thither, carrying, so to speak,
the souls Of all present with them. by
the side Of the abbot stood e monk. 1t
was Guiscard (the renowned warrior of
Provence. lis countenance was as i'm.
movable as death, and his eyes seemed
no longer to rest on the things of earth
Presently gallant retinue entered the
aisle. foremost among which was the
Count of Pisa, leading his daughter, the
Iaiy Blanche, IN her bridal robes, and
olittering with jewels. 1t was evident
that the count was aware of her approach
for drawing his cowl down more closely
over his face, he closed his eyes as though
to slut out the very sight of such fatal
lov"lincss. and bowed his head almost
down to hs breast. But no sigh escaped
him the closest scrutiniLer Of his face
would not have discovered any outward
and visible sign of the inward and spirit
ual struggle Cost what it had, that he-
roic man had gained the victory over
himself.
A few moments after the entrance OF
I tho bride, another gallant retinue entered
/ the abbey. II was Henri attired as a
bridegroom. While the anthem resoun-
ded the two retinues ranged themselves in
semicirclo around the altar, while
Father Anselmo, advancing to Guiscard,
whispered something to him. lie slight
! " started, and without locking TO the
| right or the left, advanced few paccs,
! then, in deep, almost sepulchral tone OF
voice. he said:
''Know ye all men, that !, Gni.card
de Monpcnsier, but now Father Francis,
do hereby rennnnce all worldly pomps and
vanitcs. and the state and iitle and do
main Of Corat of Provence, and do here
bv soleanly endow my dearly beloved
brother, Henri de Monpensier, with the
same"
The organ sent forth its solemn peal.
and the monks chanted ''Gloria in Excel
SIS" then the music and the chant died
slowly away.
After u short pause, but without chang
irg his position in the least, Guiscard
said. in voice tremulous with su oppressed
! emotion:
~, formerly Gni'card de Monpensisr,
but now Father Francis, do hereby re-
lease and renounce, in favor Of my BROTH
er Henri, Count of Provence. all right and
title TO the hand Of The Lady Blanche dc
Mont-errat, daughter OF the most noble
and valiant Robert, Count of Pisa. Stand
forth Henri de Monpcnsier and Blanche
Of Montserrat !"
When they came forward there was
one universal murmur Of admiration at
their marvellous beauty. ~ cog
Without raising his eyes TO the face Of
| a,,hae E,thas E.ao,,. 49,. ..t.J A.,