The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-10-25

your Rfateiul sister, let 1t serve to remind y0I
OF her who will never forget your noble deed
1t Is my own fayorite COLOR
The knight received the pledge on Blended
knee, and with o look which bespoke hi
thanks, he pressed 1t to his lips.
Lady" he said, " so great reward exceed.
my poor deserts ; but the day may come wher
it shall be given me to pour ont my blood fol
the House of Flanders, and to show my self moi
unworthy of your gracious favor"
"Come, truce to compliments" cried Died
erik; " it is time we were gone."
With pain the youth and maiden heard the
summons. Each spoke but one word more:
Farewell, Matilda"
Farewell, Adolfw
The two knights buried away and passing
out into the court yard, mounted with all dis
patch. few moments later and the streets
of Bruges resounded with the hasty tramp OF
two horses, the last echo of which was heard
under the gate towards Client.
| CHAPTER XII.
In the year 1880 terrible confagration had
caused the ruin of the old town hall in the
market place of Bruges; the wooden tower
with which it was surrounded had persisted in
the flames, and all the chartersa and muniments
of the city together with it. But in the lower
part of the building some massive walls had
| resisted the general destruction, and some few
| chambers were still left standing, which were
| now used as guardhouse. At present these
half ruined apartments were the chosen rem
| desvous of the French garrison and there
| they whiled away their time in play and rev.
elry.
/ few days after Adolf of Nieuwland's de-
parture, eight of these hired mercenaries foupd
themselves together in one of the Utmost re-
cesses of the ruin. large lamp of coarse
earthenware shed its yellow rays upon their
swarthy faces, while thick smoke curled up
wards from its fame and hung sullenly in the
groiniDgs of the vault. The walls still re-
tanned traces Of decorative painting an image
of Our Lady, with the hands broken off, and
the features defaced by time or violence, stood
at one end of the chamber. At heavy oaken
table sat four soldiers, intent upon the dice
with which they were playing; others stood
by, looking on and following with interest the
chances of the game. 1t WAS evident, however.
that some other game was afoot than that in
which these men were for the moment en- gagged:
for, with helmets upon their heads and swords
at their belts, they had all the appearance of
being prepared for action.
Soon one of the players rose from the table.
at the same time angrily dashing down the
dice upon it. "That old Bretons hands are
not clean !" he exclaimed {" else how should
lose fifty times runningi A plague on the
dice! I'll have done with them"
"He is afraid to go on" cried the winner
with provoking air of triumph. What the
fend, Jehan surely you are never cleaned out
yet, man! Is that the fashion in which Won
face the enemyf"
Try once more, Jehan," said another; "the
luck can't go one way for ever"
The soldier addressed as Jehau stood for
some moments as if in doubt whether to try |
his luck again or not. At last, passing his |
hand within his shirt of mail, he drew from
under it his last reserve, necklace of fine
pearls with richly wrought clasps of gold.
There" he:exclaimed, holding it out so that
oil might see, 81 will stake these pearls
against what you have won from me tonight |
1t is as fair necklace as ever shone upon the |
neck of a Flemish lady If lose this, have |
not a silver left of the whole booty"
The Breton took the jewel into his baud and |
scanned it curiously. "Well, here goes,n he |
cried; how many throwsf"
"Two," replied Jehan "you throw first"
The necklace lay upon the table, and over |
against heap of gold pieces. All eyes were |
fixed on the dice as they rolled, while the hearts
of the players beat high with excitement. At
the first throw, the tickle dame Fortune seemed |
to be taking Jehan into favor again, for he |
threw ten, and his adversary but five. But |
while preparing to throw again, and full of |
hope that he might this time retrieve his losses,
he suddenly observed that the Breton secretly
put the dice to his mouth and moisten ed one
side of them. He was now mmediately con-
WINGED that it was not ill luck, but foul play,
that had hitherto made him the loser He took
no notice, however, merely calling to his adj
versary: Come, why don't you throw you
are afraid, now, supposed"
"Not1," replied the Breton, as the dice rolled
from his hand upon the table, "the gamo is not
lost yet. See there, twelvew
And now it was Jehan's turn he threw only
six-so with an air of joy and triumph the
Breton tucked the neoklack under his mail,
ahnYa rfnn |