The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-07-29
lost abandon me2" said Maguelonne in


years have accumulated over my head,
and perhaps shall die without ever see
ing thee again."
TThe will of God be done! But you, o
my brothers, promise never to abandon
me-"
Her brothers bowed their heads in 81
lence.
"How long and tiresome the journey is!
My brothers, we pass without cessation
from forest to mountain and from noun
tain to plain, but we do not arrive at our
destination. Are we not lostin the coun-
try of dreams?"
"No, my sister; but Prince Herbert
lives long distance beyond those blue
mountains there"
"Still on, my brothers; does it not seem
to you that as we advance the sky dar'
kens behind us, grass withers, and the
trees bow their weeping branches to the
earth?"
"Yes, Maguelonne, sadness extends
behind thee because thou wilt nev-
er pass this way again. AT this hour our
father travels alone, his heart black with
sadness, and our mother wrings her
hands in despair"
"Do YOU think, said Maguelonne, "that
have not nv portion of grief? But
what do see? Is it thy horse which
rises on his feet, or thou who FULLEST the
bridle?"
"Do not accuse my horse. This oak at
my right marks the line that ought not
to pass. My brothers will descend with
thee to the valley"
"Whatp said Maguelonne, clasping her
hands. Hast thou not swornnot to leave
me?" Irt......-
"Vain oath, my sister. Ought / not to
go and console my father and mother?
Farewell, Maguelonne, much beloved. l
am young, but one often sees the young die
before the old. Shall never see thee
again2" -,
depart, then, my brother, No; by
the Holy Virgin thou hast not loved
meW
Ofthe two brothers who remained,
Amaury, the youngest, was highly ac-
complished; and Maguelonne loved him
intensely.
| "Dear Amaury," said she, give me one
of the ballads which please the knights
and ladies so much"
"Willingly, my sister, | will sing for
thee the ballad of Inesille du Bearn."
"Stop," cried Maguelonne, "that is a
very bad ballad you have chosen for
me-"
But while he was talking in this way
the second of her brothers stopped sud-
denly. ...
Maguelonne understood that this one
also was going to leave her, and retrace
his steps. She looked at him with scorn
and anger.
"What is it then, which frightens thee
valiant knight? Is it this grasshopper
which crosses the road? All! keep silent.
What canst thou say to me? Go and be
cursed, thou who dost abandon the wom-
an who is thy sister,"
Having thus spoken in fit Of passion,
for the blood of her race was violent as
the flames, she lowered her veil over
her eyes so as not to see her brother de-
part.
Very soon traveller passed them on
the route:
"Salutations to thee, Maguelonne! Thy
brother who has just left thee was robbed
and wounded by the bandits"
Another passed by soon after and said
to her:
"God protect thee, Maguelonne! thy
brother has fallen into an ambuscade,a and
the Moors have carried him off in captiv-
ity."
A third called to her from distance
"A pleasant journey to thee, Maguelonne,
Dost thou know the Duke of Provence
was drowned in crossing the riverW
A fourth passed by and said; "Pray to
God, beautiful woman. The house where
thou vast born has fallen in the flames
and they are seeking for the body of thy
mother in the ruins"
"Hearken, Maguelonnel" cried Amaury
"By the holy rod my horse shall feel
the spurs"
"This is overwhelming said Maguelon-
ne, "Wait for me, my brother, and let us
turn our brides at the same time"
But there passed at this moment a
fifth traveller, who crossed on the oppo-
site side.
"Hasten thy steps, Maguelonne; Prince
Herbert is dying of grief, he has been
told his young wife has been carried off
on the journey and that they donot know
what has become of her."
"Day of misery ?" cried the poor girl,
'1et us separate, my brother, and let us
pray to God to conduct me to the man to
whom l belong"
They saw her then pale and trembling
press on alone with her horse. But the
sky became darker than night; the tenn
pest broke loose with violence; gloomy
birds flew through the darkness, skim
ming with their heavy wings the soft
cheeks of the young bride. Her horse,
overcame by terror, rose on his feet.
Maguelonne let herself slide to the
ground and continued the journey on
foot; the thickets caught her dress in
their thorny arms, the stones tore her
shoes of velvet in shreds and made her
delicate feet bleed.
At this moment hermit met her.
"Ahl father" said Maguelonne, "take
pity on my misfortunes. Of my three
brothers, the eldest is wounded, the sec
ond is a captive, the third has gone to
help the other two. The Duke of Prov
enCe, my father, has perished in the great
river, and my mother has been buried
under the ruins of our house; and Prince
Herbert is perhaps dying at this moment
and has not God said: "a woman shall
leave father and mother, go with her hus-
band and leave all to follow him?"
Tell, me, man of God, if l have acted
well?"
"Thou art a noble and courageous wo-
man, Maguelonne."
Then, how miraculous! the heavens
cleared away, the tempest subsidized in
the distance, and while the rain poured
in drops from the leaves of the trees the
birds began to sing.
"Tell me, holy father, what does this
signify? Behold the sun shines again, the
trees are quiet and the birds sing"
"This signifies that we approach the
domain of Prince Herbert, for joy goes
before the woman whose husband waits
for her."
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