Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-07-15

WllOiil hOil 1tOpNAb h"A 'OoOSN "O WV
entrance of the pass, rode hastily |
up, and announced that a party of
armed men, evidently in pursuit,
was advancing rapidly across the
plain. In an instant the tired
beasts were watered, the men-at-
arms were ordered to their saddles,
and the palfrey of the Lady Geral-
dine brought up.
"You tremble, dearest" said the
knight, as he swung his companion
lightly into the saddle. T" Never
fear; your horse is one Of rare
speed, and if the worst comes to
the worst | will make a stand at
some favorable spot, and send you
forward with one Of my best
mounted followers"
But the Lady Geraldine, who
had gathered up the reins with her
hand that showed her a skillful
rider, pushed back the hood from
her fair face, aud gazing on the
knight with tender reprOach, an
swered:
"Nay, not so. 1t was but a mo-
ments weakness, that tremor, and
it has passed forever. Captured l
: will not be, | know, while you live,
and parted l am resolved not to be,
come what may. Tn srefore stay
by me, and if we escape, well, but if
oyertaken and oyerpowered, let me
die with you. Never, never" she
exclaimed, earnestly, "will con-
sent to fall alive into the hands Of
my uncle, and be forced, for force
/ they will use, into that detestable
union"
, @By my knightly honor" said
f the knight, lifting his mailed hand
Z to heaven, Captured alive you
1 shall never be; but since it is your
9 prayer, with this good sword will
n | take your life, when l can no
Q longer defend you. In death, at
9 least, we shall be united"
e There was no leisure to parley
Il further, for, by this time, the en-
tire cavalcade' had mounted; and,
d at sign from Sir Robert, the little
e troop started into gallop. For a
7, while the party rode on in silence
} The pass was left, the valley crossed.
rs and an opposite ascent begun; yet
p still the fugitives maintained 9
d rapid pace, and began to hope that
e. they were outstripping their pur
ID suers, But when they had gained
lie the top of the ascent, Sir Robert
Is saw, on looking back, that from
y being mounted on either fresher OIL
a faster horses, they were rapidly
1t overtaking him.
He now knew that escape wal
e, impossible, at least without a strug
le gle, and, like a heroic knight, pre-
IN pared to do his levoir, notwith
standing the odds. To the Lad,
lp Geraldine he announced his inten
h, ton, and solicited her prayers, tell
at ing her that she was right, an(
| that it was wiser she should remain
a than attempt fight; for, even if sh,
i'll should get off unobseryed, her soil
e. tary attendant, he said, would b,
no protection to her, in the dis
n, turbed condition of the country
a He shuddered, indeed, to think o
or what might happen if she shoulC
ge fall into the hands of any Of th,
Is lawless marauders who infested tn
in debateable ground between the twO
is armies.
ty Farewell, then," said the Lad
n Geraldine, in a tremulous voice
''till victory is won. Or, in tn
ry event of a defeat, farewell forever
gn Remember your oath"
he 81 do not forget it." answers
ne the knight. "But God surely vii
lst not render its execution necessary.
re With these words he left her side
dy and galloped to the north Of tn
cd mountain gorge where he propose,
er to make a stand.
I'D The Lady Geraldine clasped he
no hands and watched him until h
on disappeared. Scarcely had his Ia
nal form vanished, when she heard hi
no war-cry, which was immediatel
to responded to by that Of their pun
ar- suers; and on the instant the ski
es- mish began, The maid lost a
,ut presence Of mind, when the clas
is- Of arms arose, and commenced sot
s a biug piteously. Indeed, it was ia
art more terrible for those two wome
to. to be condemned silently to watc
es, the struggle, than if they had pa
pc, ticipated in the fight; for suspense
tie. when we are inactive, becomes il
tly tolerable. For a full quarter of a
al. hour this uncertainty continue,
5he At last, however, the war-cry of S
she Robert ceased, while that of h.
M opponents grew louder, and d
zen rectly his horse was seen gallopin
ert wildly by, riderless and bleeding.
ON The Lady Geraldine had sustain
his ed herself through all her doub
lis and fears, but at this sight 81
'ert swooned away.
ng- When she recovered consciou
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