The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-11-01
TIE
TIE
LION OF FLANDERS;
BATTLE OF THE GOLDEN SPURS.
By HENDRIX CONSCIENCE.

Or TTfN


The girl hurried up stairs to the chamber o
Maria, whom she forthwith awoke. Lady,
she exclaimed, "make haste and rise, til,
house is full of soldiers"
"What say Your cried Maria, terrified
! SOLDIERS in our house: What is 1t they want p
"They como to carry off the Lady Matilda,
at this very instant. Make haste, pray you
for she 10 asleep, and fear every moment lest
they should enter her chamber"
In too much haste and establishment to an
swer, Maria threw o loose dressing-gown over
her shoulders and descended the stairs, whore
| she found De CROSSINGS still in the entrance
| hall. Two male servants, who had been
awakened by girls scream, had been ar.
| rested and detained by the soldiers.
"sir," said Maria, addressing herself to the
officer in command, "please to inform me why
you thus enter my brothers house by night"
Certainly, noble lady. The Lady Matilda
de Bethune must accompany us without delay.
You need be under no apprehension, however,
as to the treatment she will receive; for I
pledge You my honor that not o word shall be
addressed to her otherwise than ss beseems
her rank"
40, sir" replied Maria, az wonder to see
you employed on such an errand for have
al ways heard you spoken of as IN honorable
knight"
:" 1 can assure you, lady, that the employ
meut is not to my taste; but AS q soldier |
have no choice bat puDctually to obey the |
orders of my general. Be pleased, therefore, to |
bring down to Us the Lady Matilda; we can
delay no longer, and you must yourself see
that escape is hopeless"
Maria did, in fact, see too plainly that the
blow neither TO be evaded nor resisted,
aud had she yielded to her fears she would
have wrung her hands in despair; but she
had sufficient eelf command to suppress her
feelings before the stranger, though rs her eye
lighted on the Fleming, who stood by in one
,orner of the hall, her whole countenence as
Iumed an expression of inefable contempt
Master Brakels' heart quailed beneath that
ook of scorn he trembled too for the VEN
yeance which he saw hanging over his head, I
md retreaIing few steps, seemed as though
bout to make his escape by the doorway. II
"Keep an eye on yonder Fleming, that he I
oes not give us the Slip" cried De CROSSINGS ,
o his men; i" after betraying his own friends, /
70 may likely enough play us false too"
In an instant Brakels was roughly seized by 6
be arm, and dragged into the midst of the
'ldiers, who seemed to take delight in show u
'g their contempt of the traitor, even while a
ley were profting by his treachery. a
Meanwhile Maria had again assembled the q
airs; and with heavy heart entered the b
,amber of her young friend. For . moment
lie stood in silence before the bed, aud con- v
mplated tho unhappy Matilda a. che slept,- "
opt indeed profoundly, yet not peacefully. q
er breath came heavily aud hurriedly; ever 81
ID anon, with . convulsive motion Of her
md, she seemed striving to repel como threat al
ing vision; and amid many inartioulste re
unds might be distinguished the Oft-repeated az
'me Of Adolf, which abe uttered in the tone Of
10 who calls for help In danger. de
Teara flowed from Mariss eyes; for the 10
ectscle moved her Utmost heart, which was wi
II more deeply touched by the thought Of
9 sad awakening 20 soon to follow. Bot,
infal ss IL was to be the bearer Of evil tb
lings, there was no time to be lost; few 70
,mentA' delay might fill the chamber with
lie soldiers. To spare her friend worse br
ock, she must hasten to startls her from her th
mber; taking, therefore, Matildn'S hand, Il
aroused her with the words: Gi-
AwAksi AwAkei dear friend hsYo that 6,
say % yea which VIII nct break aaGasR a.