The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-03-30


the confinement of her casque, streamed
down to her waist. Though many of
the spectators pitied her as the champi-
on of bad cause, few there were who
could refuse her their sympathy or their
prayers for her success.
And now De Koepf strobe gloomily
into the lists. As he stood before his
frail antagonist, the odds in his favor
were SO obvious that every one trembled
for her fate. There was short delay
in consequence of its being found inn
possible to comply with the law, which
says that "the combatants in ordeal must
be equal in every respect" aa.
'Bind the left arm of Pierre de koepf,'
cried the spectators.
"1Ioldn' exclaimed Mathilde. "See
that you fetter him not. l am willing
to fight the knight armed and free as We
are, and so God Judge me Alright
The only condition she insisted on
was that the combat should be fought
on foot, as she was unaccustomed to sit
on horseback. This was Immediately
granted. Then, riding to the four corn
ers of the lists, the heralds proclaimed
aloud the penalties which the laws in
ficted upon any person obstr,lcting the
fight or favoring the combatants. A.
When they ceased, Mathilde and De
koepf knelt down as the latter, in con-
formity with the usages of the ceremo-
nial, raisen his visor, his face, pale with
the consciousness of his shameful po-
sition, was seen for moment, and the
strange contrast which it offered to the
countenance Of Mathilde, radiant with
innocence and hope, was looked upon
as Il good omen by all who sympathized
with the brave maiden.
Each having made a confession Of
faith, Mathilde, in a clear, melodious
tone, said: -
"Man, whom 1 hold by the right
hand, and who has received IN baptism
the name of Pierre, but who oughtest
rather to be named after the ficnd, l
swear that the words you have uttered
are perjured, and so may heaven assist
the justice Of my cause!' ......
De Koepf quailed beneath her eyes
as he answered:
"Woman, whom 1 hold by the left
hand, an6 who hast received in baptism
the name Of Mathilde, it is false that l
have wrongfully accused thy father; so
God Judge between u.s.
This was the marriage ceremony of
the ordeal, in which one Of the two, at
the conclusion, was espoused unto death
and infamy. When it was ended both
rose and retired, Mathilde to the cast,
De Koepf to the west, and prayed a lit
tie while.
When Mathilde dropped on her knees,
hundreds of the spectators knelt also,
turning their faces to the east.
The last petitions having been offered,
and the final preparations made, the
trumpets breathed forth a shrill warn
ing, and 2the combatants approached
each other. All was silent in the am
phitheatre not sound was heard, and
the spectators in the galleries looked
as if the cry Of horror which each SEEM
ed about to utter was frozen on his lips.
One moment of fearful suspense. and
the combatants : advanced, sword in
hand. Crossing their weapons quietly,
they looked into each others eyes, and
paused for breath, whilst groan burst
from the spectators. Another instant,
and Mathilde's buckler was dashed from
her arm by dextrous sleight of her
adversary's weapon. And.now the steel
Missed and clashed, and sparkled in the
sunlight: but, despite De Koepf's adj
dress, he had not yet sent a single thrust
home to his antagonist. Wei. parried,
Or avoided with backward spring, his
blows fell harmless, until, irritated by
the skill displayed by Mathilde, he
sprang forward and dealt her stroke
on the head which brought her to the
ground.
The brave girl was. stunned for mo-
ment, but rising to her knees, and grasp
ing her sword with both hands, she
thrust it into De Koepfs side and woun-
ded him mortally. AS he fell, the judg-
u luSlcu llllO lllt llSlS, anu llIC pCOplC,
overlapping or breaking down the bar
riers, followed, with a roar Of exulta-
ticn, to the spot where Mathilde, with
her sword poiLted to De Koepf's throat,
forced him to choose between instant
death or the retracsion of the calumnies
he had uttered against her father. The
craven knight chose the latter alterna-
tive, and further confessed that he had
devised the assassination Of Schieb the
Banneret, that he. might compass the
ruin of Jorg de Fellis and his daughter
On hearing these words, the execution
er was summoned, and with the accom-
plices whom he named, De Koepf was
put TO death,
Jorg de Fellis lived to enjoy the re-
covery Of his good name; and Mathil-
de, after long life, blessed with the es-
TEEN and sympathy of all honorable
men and women, ,bequeathed her story to
posterity as one of the richest testaments
in thn traditions of Rarna