The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-02-28
General Miscellany.
THE TWO BROTHERS.

1t was holiday in the beautiful town
OF Provence, for the counts young bro
ther was expected every hour with a
gallant cavalcade escorting the Jeauti-
full bride Of Guiscard, the reigning Count
of Provence, q man famous for his strict
sense of honor, his chivalrous valor. and
infiexiOle love ofjustice, as well as gene
rosity OF character.
He was perfectly idolized by his sub
jects, whom he ruled more like father
than a sovereign. Although trifie past
the grave side of forty, he was still an
eminently handsome man albeit there
was asternness in his cOuntenance which
was the result of the habit of command,
and not his nature, which was very ge-
NAL and just.
His brother Henri, twenty years his
junior, was the handsomest and most
accomplished young noble of his time
a skillful troubadour, his manners were
most polished and gentle.
Between the two brothers the deepest
affection existed the elder regarding
him in the light of a son, while Henri
loved the other with ali the love of ia
vOrite child
Indeed he might be regarded as such,
for being deprived OF both parents when
he was only three years old, Guiscard
succeeded to his inheritance, a gallant
warrior of twenty-three, unusually Sc
date To-. his age.
The con inual wars Of that time had
so much occupied his attention, that he
had remained bachelor, untouched by
the tender passion Of love. Some six
months before, however, the Count Of
Pisa had, during a visit to the Count of
Provence, so praised his daughter
Blanche for her virtues, accomplish
ments and marvellous beauty, that Guis-
card had proposed for her hand, an offer
which the old Count Of Pisa had readily
accepted. 1t was in accordance with
the arrangement then made that Guis-
card had despatched his beloved brother
to escort her, considering him the only
one worthy 50 great a trust.
\ courier had arrived the day previous
with the welcome tidings from his broth
or that the Lady Blanche was in excel
lent health, and that they would arrive
on the following morning. Henri adj
ding that he had sent the messenger in
advance, that the count might give to
his bride a reception befitting the future
Countess of Provence: for in those days
the Counts Of Provence wieldel sove-
reign power in their domains, and the
gether regal in its magnifioence.
Never had the count felt in so gay a
mood creation seemed to rejoice with
him; the full bloom of May flushed with
beauty the check of natrre; the birds
sang sweeter and more joyously; the
meadows wore a brighte.' green while
the perfume of thousand flowers filled
the air.
He had stationed one of his retainers
on the Hottest tower of the castle to an
nounce When the cavalcade came in
sight. In the courtyard there were a
hundred handsome girls, the daughters
of his peasantry, in their holiday attire,
waiting to strew the path of the fair
bride with flowers. In word, all that
the most thoughtful and tender gallan-
try could devise had been provided to
welcome the Count of Pisa's beautiful
daughter, the betrothed wife of the lord
os Provence.
Although the count was, as we have
said, on the grave side of forty, and eX-
posure in the tented field, with other
military hardships, had bronzed his face
and tinged his dark brown hair with
gray, he was a fine and courtly-looking
man-slightly inclined to corpulency,
but not so as to make him inelegant
iious, were courteous and engaging, and
in his festive hours he sang roundelay
with taste and effect. His morals were
singularly pure for that lax age; and
every kind of debauchery, whether in
high or low life, met With exemplary
punishment at his hands. His love of
justice was so proverbial, that many diff
ficult and delicate disputes had been left
TO his decision, and hisaward was always
implicitly received.
Hitherto the great solace ofhis life had
been in experimenting the education of
his brother, for whom, as We have al
ready said, he cherished a tender affec-
ton. resembling the love of a mother
for her favorite son.
so rapt was he in his safety, that he
had kept him at home pursuing his
studies, not permitting him 10 accom-
pany him in any of those military eXpe-
ditions so common in those times. The
previous year, however, Henri had so
earnestly begged his brother to take him
in the French campaign against the
SpaniaIds, that he had been forced to
comply with his request, although the
thought that any evil might befall him
had half unnamed the fearless warrior;
and once in battle, when he saw Henri
III uduSti, Hc SCI spurs W LIS loiSci oiiN
reckless of his own life. dashed into the
thick of the fight, just in time to bestride
his PROSTATE brother, and slay the knight
who was on the point of running him
through.
AT this hour, when he was all fever
ish impotence to behold his bride, 1t
was almost difficult to decide whether
ne was not more anxious to see his much
idolized brother. He was standing on
the topmost of the broad steps which
leo TO terrace overlooking the road by
which the expected calvacade would
come, when the striking of the castle
bell was heard. This was the signal that
his retainer had been instructed to give
when it appeared in sight.
Turning to his confessor, Father An
Selma, the count said:
My bosom's lord sits lightly on his
throne to-day, good father; and mar
vel not that it should, since this morn
ing ushers in the happiest day of my
life. In few minutes / shall welcome
to my ancestral halls my long-expected