The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-10-22
TIE SIEGE.

BY MARIA j. BISHOP.

The stormy peril which tested the rights oi
Steven .! Blois sweeping over England,
when in tuTrot chamber OF Aurudale Castle
sat Two ladies. Both were beautiful, both were
characteristic OF En- gli.h beauty although the
eldest wore in her cheek the deep rose OF Prov.
euCe.
Slight and elegant in figure, with face whose
chi-eed 10 lures might form the model for a
sculptor the shining mas, of golden hair swept
back from her brow with bands OF pearl. CDun-
tess ktici. might well challenge cot or castle 20
produce her peer. Her slender form became the
robe Of azure that toited round her, and her
small b. nds were tightly pressed, as though aux-
ley were preyiny upon her mind.
tier companions were different in every re.
.neaa IaI aud Queeuy III her fl cure. her fine
L"aG nd that Grecitn cast which painters have
tno-en tor their lovlie,t Madonuas. Eyes whose
da,k fire seem to -lumber beneath the long silK-
81 frlnEe,; lips whose model curve spoke deter.
n.Ina'lon, seemed well fitted to her royal beauty
Ihe br IDS OF raven hair, amid which flashed Il
chain OF Jewels, gave her the appearance Of Ju-
dlth: while the excitement which gave a deeper
flush 10 her cheek added to her charms
alas, II ttilda. VII t shall we do" said the
cyuut. -, ringing he hands
You will not give ne up, Alicia" said the
DARK beauty; "you Will not deliver me ap to
Blois!"
NO. surely. o that my lord were here " said
the countess "See NJ .tlda, how Tar yondcr BAH
ners advance Escape is impossible"
"Aic'" call tae spirit of thy race to aid thee
why tins We kaes- girl : For myself" she
rose, and dcaw.n- the rooe If crimson and goid
arouni her tall and msie-tic figure, .ud stepping
forth on tue balcony. For myself | viii see
Arundle turrct ity IL it, mgtt ere Matilda Pen
tageuet will yied.
long blast On bugie interrupted their col.
loquy
AN envoy from the King Of England Graves
audcnno, '.., 3 page entering the apartment
"Am., E.m il"In,' said Matilda; "we vii
mee, han H udi. Come, Alicia she sad,
taking he hnrI ct Nae countess; Il am leader
here. aud OIt ,ncr rally 80 thy post
a faint sum" answered her Vi" me countess.
pale nd trembling, followed her regal cousin
"Nv.i, Sir Envoy, tuiuc rrr,ud ~ ,il VI li,.
da, 20. he glanced at the upblc Whu, hrImle,s
r'ood y eng to receive them.
my Wn'i,r, tuc KIM ot EuI,ud," rpuli.d
the hnt!hr "demlu6- the surrender OF the p.r.
on i th~ Princess Nnl.I,, and the fortress am
tNa' the l.. dy Aueis all yield herself hi. ward
.rni ar Lrds return Vuc sun now slants its
b.un, alt u reIdeu- the mott he waits. The
puN pu'ry he viii hold with the Lady Alir,,
then, VIII br, Biuuer- advance"
"Iell the Count of Bol.,n said Matilda "thn,
the heiress ct Eng aud tr,mp,cs on h,p ,crn..,nd
deiies his powers. Let him make terms To- ,be.,
proud bastions and he vii. claim like humble re-.
ply. Ten minutes, Sir Envoy, to reach thy
ranks. What no! without there Archet.,
man the wall! rise the bridge and drop III, port.
culhs !"
! In dark clouds flow the cloth yard shafts rock
cts iiained in the ali, while burning missile,
| Kissed and flashed round the turret aud loon.
hole. The heavy blows of the knights On wick.
ct and barbcan-the shouts of the bcseycr. and
defiant cries of the besieged made din and
maddening turmoil which might daunt the
heart. Calm as a marble statute stood Matilda
her hnc form shielded by u bucker--beside "A
narrow loophole. While beside her, her whit,
face buried in her hands, kneeled Alicia.
| For hours tho roar and din increased when. At
length, as daylight deepensd into darkness, red
flashes OF broad light and heavy dense clouds Of
smoke rolled past the narrow window.
"Ihc saints have pity the castle is on fir, -