Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-07-05

voice was heard singing these words =
"The golden stars wander over hill
and valley. messengers of my longings
and my griefs. In this gloomy prison,
I pass my life and can only confide my
woes to Heaven" -a
"Oh my king" sobbed the knight,
as a pale face appeared at tower win
dow. How can I tell you how near
your friends are? y
The harp p he cried suddenly, and
snatching it up, with trembling fingers,
he played a romance, which he had
ono composed for the king.
No sooner had he finished few bars,
than the voice in the towers caught up
the air and finished it. Biondel q
exclaimed the king. For answer the
minstrel again seized his harp and
. "Oh, Richard. oh my kmgf
The world abandons thee
And no one now u seeking
Thy dehyerenc", but me.
I'll save thy precious person,
will break thy cruel chain,
pledge myself in song
Thy freedom to regain."
Blondel spent the night in laying
plans for the deliverance of Richard.
he resolved to gain admittaRce into the
castle for his followers, through his
friendship for the lovely girl, who had
already made an impression on his
heart.
Within day or two the newly elected
emperor was to he crowned at Frank
fort. On the evening of the corona
ton, he directed the landlord OF the lit
tie inn, near Triefels, to give to the gar
rison of the castle banquet, that with
proper ceremony they might drink to
the health of the new monarch. Mean
while, one by one, his own trusty
knights stole, through the twilight, to
the woods behind the castle.
At late hour of the evening, the lit
tie side-gnte of the fortress opened, as
the young maiden cautiously stole out
to meet Blondel.
Then for the first time he unfolded to
her the real object of his meeting with
her, entreating her to fly back to Eng
land with the king (whom he was about
to liberate) and himself assuring hel
that every token of love and gratitude
should be shown her if she would yield
to his wish. .....
With q cry of astonishment and pain
she exclaimed, "Oh traitor oh woe
my poor uncle p As she turned to fly
within the castle walls, the followers o
Blondel, who, in the darkness, haf
approached dunperceived, fiocked abou
her, and made their way 10 the castel
lan's room, where the tower keys wer'
kept. The few defenders of the fort
ress who were not at the village feas
were soon overpOwered ; the old keepe
was powerless to do aught, but n
cried out as the liberated Richard stOo'
before him: Against this deed, con
trary to the law of nations. protest
and swear that you shall not leave Gel
mapy in safetyi' The poor Made
threw herself UPON Ter knees, an
accused herself of this terrible disa'
ter. ttL~\.tNN e..
Meanwhile, the report OF the attac
upon the castle had reached the In
and the warriors came back in hot haste
TO find themselves barred outside th
walls, with threat that il they did nc
, disberse the castellan should lose hi
head and the castle be destroyed.
; Blondel and the king argued til
maiden to return with them to England
but she could not forgive the man wh
| had used her heart for an act OF Treason
Blondel left her, but not till she Ina
| accepted ring and chain OF gold
token of his eternal remembrance I
, her love and service toward him.
We do not propose to follow the TO
| o.. 4, r .,n,, oftnp hi ocpor
: from Triefels; but to tell our r'ad'
what tradition says of the minstr
5 Blonden and the unhappy maiden.
Many, many years after the even
D which we have des cribed," and
s another summer day, a gray-haired ca
alier rode over the same mOuntain-pas
{ where the king had been sought al
' found.
"Here," murmured he, Here ha
r felt in days gone by the highest bli
e and the deepest woe of my life
' Slowly he rode on till he had reach'
the little inn.
b As he looked into the face of the Ian
e lord he discovered the features Of Il
Young shepherd boy. With an almo
: tender interest the two lone OF who
|, was BlondeD talked of the past.
e In tears. the now old minstrel lear
8 the sad fate of the castellan and b
4 neice. He was killed by some indd'
), hand soon after the fight of Richa
o lis, overed. The broksp-beart'
r pred a convent 8ade
a forth her lifeA 70
xo1l1eSG Z