The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-11-29
THE
LION OF FLANDERS;
Or THE
BATTLE OF THE GOLDEN SPURS.
BY HENDRIX CONSCIENCE.
IContinued.J

| IContinued.I
| Recovering from their fiRst surprise, the col
diers pushed rudely forward upon the affrighted
women, overwhelmed them with insults, and
were about to lay hands upon them; serious
| opposition on the part of the boy they never
for moment contemplated. What, then, was
their astonishment when, with his left foot
planted firmly behind him, he fiercely brand
| ished his axe, and defied them to come on. For
| moment the young champion checked their
onset; then, as one of them Ehought with q
single thrust of his sword to pierce him
through, he parted the weapon, and struck
with the force of despair ut the shoulder of his
assailant, who Immediately staggered back
wards and fell into the arms of his comrades.
At tho same moment the youth himself, as
though he had received his death wound from
some unseen hand, fell heavily to the ground,
and there lay senseless and motionless by the
side Of the women he had endeavored to pro.
tect. The soldiers, pressing about their
wounded comrade, proceeded to remove his
sccoutrements and clothes amid frightful i'm
precautions and threats of vengeance; while
the elder female, still on her knees, with floods
Of tears, and in heart. rending accents, sued for
mercy.
"ob, sirsw she cried, addressing the SOL
ders in their own tongue, "have but pity on
us, miserable ere stures that we sre Do not
murder us, for the love of our merciful Lord,
and as you shall one day yourselves look for
mercy from Him ! God knows we have suffered
more than enough already and what can the
death of two defenceless women profit You 2"
That is the mother of the butcher that
made such slaughter of our people at Male"
cried one "death to her!'
Oh, no, no, messirep pursued the old |
woman, "dip not your hands in my blood
beseech you, By the bitter passion of our Lord,
lei us live! Take all we have; but spare our
Iivesw
"Your money,-your gold!7 interrupted
rough voice.
She immediately seized q casket that stood
behind her, and threw it to the soldiers.
There, sirs," she said, "that is all we have
eft to us in the world, take it 1 give it you
With good will"
The lid Of the easket few open as it fell, and
quantity of gold pieces and various costly
eweis rolled from it upon the floor. A general
cramble for the booty ensued; but while the [
est were thus occupied, one of them seized the |
laiden by the arm, and threw her Violently /
n the ground. q
Mother! help me, motherp gasped the 6
oor girl with faintiDg voice that in an in O
ant reused the parents heart into frenzy of {
separation. With flashing eyes and q uivering g
p, she sprang like wild tigress on the sol q
or, twined her arms about him, and dug her d
ills, as If they had been claws, into his face, d
that the blood streamed down his cheeks. tt
Ny childp she screamed, "my child t.
llain - eu
Maddened with the pain, and yet unwilling b,
loose his hold, the soldier brought the point w
his sword against the mothers breast, and al
tiIeSsly thrust it deep into her body. In OF
lntly her grasp relaxed, her eyes grew dim, III
r blood gushed upon the floor, and stagger- tn
z against the side-beams of the loft, she th
ltched at them for support. be
Regardless Of the maideD's screams, the SOL liz,
It proceeded to tear the golden Drops from re
ears, and to "trip the pearls from her neck ",
the rings from her fngers; then with . ",
lignant smile he stsbbed her to the heart. oy
low ssid he 70 the dying mother, With hi
tilish sneeF, now ysu can take your long he
ps,s~ A., -rs..t - ~ Eafr -