The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-07-09

easement Of the Louvre, poured forth us stream
lovely and high born danes. whose natural
charms were heightened To the utmost by ne
aid of costliest ornament ana dress. Pc ies ne IL
steed he paused to look around. On all SIDES
were ranged dense masses a spectators. oyer
whose uncovered heads brls.lea the ginnci the
right of tho royal gallery we . arrayed the four
tssn followers Of DEpernon; glistening IN In
ateel and ,headed by the baron himself. on the
Ion behind the seaffold of the astrologer, stood
the sumptuous retnue OF the Due de Nevers:
Bands Of cavaliers. who. on the appearance OF
terdcton Of the heralds. had dashed into the
course were now seen extending their laneess
towards its sides. whence fell shower OF
wr aths bracelets and scarves which were
speedily attached to salade and spear. Much
occupation was thus given 20 the king alarms
and The marshall whose province ~ was syav,
ing their hands to the mistresses 81 their hearls
nnitted tho ring Amid the subordinate officers
III the tilt ward must be enumerated the pur~
suivants. the trum peters win their clarl9ns
dressed with siken flags. and troops OF MIN
strels stationed Mt each outlet ~,
shout was now raised by the crowd, anu tn9
Seotg attention was directed towards the grand
gallery in which the Queen Louise and her ue-
moisees made their a6RstnramGiehi AT nsca .ne
monte The Princess of Condo was perfectly
nale but her want Of bloom in no wise detracted
from her loveiness On the contrary sh ais ha ~
the eyes Of her lover: nor had he heretofore as
he thought remarked 40 much dignity and self
possession in her demeapor In fact, the events
Of the last night and the knowledge so recently
and mvsterously acquired OF her exalted origin
had worked sudden but entire cnange In fs-
elairmopdes character. She was no longer an
ornhan maiden without name, and without fam
| Nv She now felt pride. OF when she had been
hitherto unconscious. ktndled WITHIN her BOSOM pr ;
animate and sustain her spiris against mo
perils and difficulties to which she was exposed
This new-sprung courage was the more fully
in bc A
afterwards subjected in an interview with tatn
crime de Medicis and Marguerite de Valois both
Of whom with their attendants. now entered tue
gallery But her ilrmness did not fai her IN ,llls
trial: and she returned the scrutinisiug look Oh
the Queen Mother with glance as LOFTY MS her
own. Marguerite was all smiles ana courtesy
but tho smile Of rival is little 70 be
trusted and Crichton. who was wen &c
uuainted with Marguorite's talent for dlsts
friendship and winning attentions. the deadilest
| treachery. Tn SIS greetings concluded. Esclair-
monde at the fedusss r. oneGn os Of
| the tourney.-a chair placed llttle In advance
Of the royal seats. and 40 situated as 70 MAKE
her the principal object Of attraction TO ne spec
| tntors Her costume was u robe of white dam
| lsk nowered with silver, with sleeves 81 snowy
| silk of the ample mode OF the period, cmbroider
| ed with roseate and green pearls. Never had
| Queen OF the lists appeared 50 attractive anu
| 4 murmur of admiration arose from the multi
tude she became more July revealed TO sie sn1
| upon the knighty figure OF her lover VINO;
| bsnding to his saddle-bow gracefully rendered
| his homage, AS she returned the saiutation,
| Esclairmonda trembed and her courage en-
| tir4ly forsook her. Crichton perceived the
| change In her department. and anxious; II pos
| aible to dissipate her JnSiety. compelled ms
steed into the liveliest caracoleS: and was about
| to quit the field, when his progress was arrested
| by loud cries Of NOEL Noell-vive 10 rol 1--WE
Is roll" Fanfares of trumpets and the CLASH
Of symbas succeeded, and Henri. fully and
| magnifcently armed. entered into the arena
! He was attended by the Marquis de Nilieauier
/ 4 md thrDnR
! ROYAL charger(a snowy Arabian) was caparison,
cd with sweeping bafdes Of crimson velvet and
figured with golden snrsde hi oou1@oust ay
the signal OF the combat which would be shortly
given. Henri directed his course towards tht
grand gallery. and addressing isclairmonde
| solicited favor ut her hands, that he might
break a lance in her behalf U, able 10 refuse his
request, Esclairmonde took string OF pearls
| from her rich tresses and dispatched II To tht
| monarch by a page. Acknowledging the boon
with "a smile of qualification. and passing well
! turned compliments upon her charins. Heht
proceeded to hold briet conference WIFI lhe
Due de Nevers.
Crichton. meantime. rode into the pavilion ap
proprated to his attendants, the hanglnes o
| which were closely drawn after him DiSnount-
he Vicomte de Joyeuse. Montoie and Pierre Dc
(fondi by the latter OF whom the customary
oaths 81 the combat we're administered. Kissing
| tho crucfix and the TIE igitur. the Scot next SUD
mitted himself to his armorer, who riveted npof
| his cuirass placcate Of shining steel similar tt
that borne by Gonzaga. Being thusfuiy EQUIP
ped for the fight. Notwithstanding the increased
weight Of his armor, he vauited into the saddi'
! without the aid of his stirrups; ana taxing ms
lance from his esquire. awaited the slghal lol
the combat. .,
Henri having by this time taken his seat be
meath the canopy. gave with his baton sigma
to Montjoie. the king at arms Who attended by
two heralds, advanced, amid a flourish o
clarions and hautboys towards tme , GENRE g,
ed in a loud voice the names ana titles 81 IN
appellant and the defendant. together with the
| cause of quarrel. prohibiting all persons what
sover from Offering interruption, by word Q
sign to the combat. Fresh fanfares OF trumpet
succeeded this ceremonial during when al
eyes had been fxed upon Ruggleri. VINO. thougf
pale Us death maintained u composed ana reso
lutte demeanor. ever and anon stealing gianc
toward the gallery in which sat ehe 4neei
Mother. Silence being once more restored
Montioie cried aloud. Faites vos devoirs
chevalierS. -,
On the third call, the. curtains Of the pavilion
we're swiftly drawn aside. and both knights i. Is
sued forth. each taking UP q position at IN
right of the barriers Esclairmonde's boson
palpitated with emotion as she beheld the stated
figure Of her lover cased in steel, thus sudden
ly set before her. and recognised her ow
gage upon his lanee's point Any Tears L. 81 sn
in his presen o; and with heart throbbln
with expectation, she heard the first blast OF tn
clarion sound for the hostile career. pre-
found hush now resigned throu- n the assem-
blage Even the royal tenants OF the CALLER
rose and advanced towards its edge, ana Mar
J guerite de Yalois. dsregarding Mppn,,Ioles In
/.
[ waved her hand. Crichton perceived the action
and unable otherwise to account Tor II. attr1t
uted il to some return of tenderness on the pal
of the impassioned queen Again the trump'
sounded and as the blast was blown. Crlchto
struck his spurs into his steed., executing
dem-yolte to the right. while he slightly raise
his lance in the air bringing, the truncheo
within a few inches Of his thigh. in READINGS
for the career. In this action were dispaye
. the unequalled grace and dexterity in the mar
agement of his steed, for which the Scot was s
. eminently distinguished. The martial notes {
the clarion now resounded for the third tim
and hurting gauntlet to the ground, Monitor
shouted in voice Of thunder. Lolssez le
aler-laissez-les aler."
/ Swift as bolt from cloud, Crichton, at TIL
: signal, speeded from his post. As the stee
= started on his rapid career, the Scot quick q
: thought raised the truncheon OF his lance 10
level with his line of vision and then, firmly fl,
ing it in its rest declined the point towards tt
5 left ear Of his charger as he approached With
4 some half dozen PAGES of his adversary, an
g directed his aim against the upper part {
L his helm b tn lances were shlyered as I'll
: champions met in mid-air. Gonzaga's mar
r had been the same as that OF his antagonls
: but the point of his lance glanced from tt
j sharp aorgtt of the plastron; while the blow
o., If toi-S