The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1875-07-24
Tho Life of the House.
An AncIcut French Legend.

The Duke Of Province knocked on his
daughters door with the hiIt Of his sword
arise, MaguclOnnc; il is break of tlay
and the Angclus will soon sound; thy
brothers wnit for thco below; the horses
paw the pavement in the court; il is time
to depart"
II was just after II bloody war, in ordor
to cement u treaty Of peace, that Magucl-
0nnc was married, while 4 mere child, to
Prince Herbert, who WAS of the same age.
After that day they had grown up snpa.
rated from one another; but the time had
now como to conduct Maguclonno to her
husband.
Maguclunnc made the sign of the cross
to commend her soul to thc Virgin. She
rose and put on her bridal robe. with the
long veil hanging to the floor. Then, very
pale, she went below. Her brothers, look
ing at her ndmiringly, placed her in her
saddle.
as the realm of Prince Herbert great
distance from hcrcl" she asked.
"Oh, long way of. TO get thcro we
must traverse plains and forests and ascend
many bluc-toppcd mountain"
Then Magucionnc bowed her head in
sadness. Nothing before had ever scpa.
rated her from the home where she was
born. Thus mounted, She could touch the
ivy which covered its walls; but now her
father and brothers said, "Lct us depart ~
just thUn the mother Of MagucIonnc came
out from the house bnthcd in tears, and.
with trembling arms, pressed against her
heart the little foot Of her daughter which
rested on The stirrup.
"ThOu leavcst me-" she said, "whom
nourishcd with this breast! The room
where thou didst sleep (Oh, my heart y
will remain empty, and shall seek in
vain for thee in my deserted home"
ALAS" answered Magucl0nnc, ais il
not you and my father who have given me
To Prince IIcrbcrti" But it was in vain
that tears glittcrcd like drops of dew in
the eyes of the noble girl; the cavalcadc
moved, and the foot Of Maguclonnc
dropped from the hands Of her mother.
The stirrups iinglcd, the spurs clankcd,
tho pebbles struck fire under the hoofs of
the horses. The Duke Of Province and
his three sons were powerful horscmen
covered with black armor, the terror of
the Saraccns. In the midst Of this double
hedge Of iron role the fair Maguclonnc
on white horse.
They rode OH and on; they travcrscd
the plains; they disappeared under the
green vault of the forest, then they could
he seen on the side Of the steep m0untain.
Their thoughts wcrc sad, and neither a
soag nor ballad did they utter to divert
themselves 10y the way.
Nevertheless days and nights had gone
by since their departure, when, at tho ford
of river, tho old Duke stopped his horse
entirely: "As truly as the waters of this
river will never flow past here again, so
true is it," said hc, "that will not 90 OH
one step further. Thy brothers, O Mag
uclonnc. will accompany thee, further;
my road is now behind mo-"
"What will become Of me if thou dost
abandon mcl" said Mnguclonnc in tears.
as il not right should 20 10 console
thy mo,hcri Farewell, dear child; years
have accumulated over my head, md per.
hnps shall die without ever seeing thee
again"
"Ihc will Of Ga,l l." done! But ynu,
o my brothers, promise nc never to aban.
don nc"
Her brothers bowed their heads in 81.
lcncr. "llnw long and tircsomc the Jour
ncy is! My brothers, We pass without
cessation from forest 10 mountain and
from mountain to plain, but VIC do no,
arrive ut our destination. Arc We not lost
in the country Of drcamsi"
"No, my sister; hut Prince Herbert
lives long distance beyond those blue
mountains there"
"Still on, my brothers; docs il not
seem 10 you that ns wo advance tho sky
darkcns behind III, tho grass willLcrs and
tho trees bow their weeping branches tc
the Carthl"
"lcl, MaEuclonnr, sadness extends bc
hind thee because thou wilt never rcpas;
this way ngoin. AT this hour our father
travels alone, his heart black with sal
ness, and our mother wrings her hands il
despair"
"Do you Think" said Maguclonnc
"thnt I have not my portion or grief
But what do acct Is Il the horse whicl
rises on his feet or thou who pulIcst tht
bridlc2'
"Do not accuse my horse. This oak n
my right marks the limo that ought no
To pass. My brothers will dcrccnh will
tlcc to tho valley"
"what!" said Maguclonnc, clasping hc
hands, "liast thou not sworn not Ia lcav,
mel"
"vNin oath, my sister. Ought not Il