The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-09-27

Count, and laid his hand upon his shoulder,
saying:
any lord Count, L arrest You in the kings
name"
The Count of Flanders looked him sadly in
the face; then turned towards Robert and
sighed out, "My poor, poor son"
Robert meanwhile stood motionless but
with restless eye, amid the French knights,
whose looks were now curiously bent upon
him. Suddenly, as though an invisible hand
had touched him with a magic wand, a conyul-
sive SILVER passed over his whole frame; all |
his muscles strained convulsively, and light
ming seemed to flash from his eyes then, |
springing forward like a lion upon his prey, he |
cried, with q voice that made the very rafters |
shake:
civilian! do you dare in my presence to lay
an ignoble band upon my fathers shoulder
There you shall leave that hand, or die the
DEATH"
And with these words he wrested the wea-
pom from the hand of a halbidier, and dashed
forward. general cry of alarm was heard,
and the French knights drew their swords, for
at first they were in fear for the lives of the
king and queen. This fear, however, was
soon over; for Roberts blow was struck. AS
he had said, he had done the hand which had
arm belonging to it, upon the ground, and q
stream of blood flowed from the mangled
stump.
The guards crowded round Robert and en-
deavored to overpower him, but without
cess. Maddened with blind fury, he played
tho halbert in circles round his head, SO that
not one of them ventured within the range of
his weapon. Perhaps some still more fatal
catastrophe would have eusued, had not the
old Count, anxious for his sons life, called to
him in a supplicatiug tone.
Robert, my brave son! for my sake sur
render; do it, pray you, command you"
With these words, which he uttered in a tone
of the tenderest emotion. he threw his arms
about Roberts neck, and pressed his face
against his sons bosom. Robert felt his ia
theirs hot tears drop upon his hand, and then
for the first time understood the extent of his
rashness. Tearing himself from the old
Counts arms he dashed the halbert against
the wall over the heads of the guards, and
cried:
"Come on then, ye miserable hirelngs, and
lay hold of the Lion of Flanders! fear no
longer he surrenders"
Again the guards crowded about him, and
now made him their prisoner. While he and
his father were being led from the hall, ne
called aloud to Charles de Valois:
"Tbere is no stain upon your arms you still
are what you have always been, the noblest
knight in France; your honor is still unim
peached bear witness all who hear, that the
Lion of Flanders says this"
The French knights had put up their swords
again into their scabbards, soon they
perceived that there was no danger for the
king and queen. AS regarded the arrest of the
Lion, they left that TO other hands; it was
kind of work in which noble could not Will
propriety take part.
Very different, meanwhile, were the feelings
of the king and of tho queen this occasion
Philip mnch depressed, aud deeply
lamonted the step into which he had beer
. drawn. Joanna on the contrary, was full o
Joy at Roberts resistance, for the offence o
wouuding the kings servant in the king.
presence was serious, that she felt he
schemes of vengeance were greatly advanced
thereby.
at last tho king could no longer suppress
his emotion and resentment, and, notwith
standing the resistance of bis imperious con
sort, determined to leave the hall. AS he ros,
from his throne he said,
Gentlemen this scene of violence ha
greatly troubled u.s. Much more pleasing
would 1t have been to us could we have shown
mercy; unhapply, the interests of our crown
and realm would not admit of it. Our reya
will and pleasure is, that you all use your bes
eudeavOrs that the peace of palace be moi
farther disturbed"
The Queen now rose also, and was about tc
descend the steps of the throne along with
her husband, when a new incident, at once
unexpected and vexatious, prevented her.
w -
standing immersed in thought at tho further
end of the hall The respect which he owed
his king, well as the love he felt for his
brother, long struggled in his heart against the
indignation which the late act of treachery
excited in him. But at last his wrath waxed
uncomfortable, and broke loose; now red, no "