The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-06-30

justice"
The next morning, long before sun-
tise, Claude and his few followers we're
in the saddle, and without further
vetaklng, had turned their backs
on, Delaney Castle.
1t was near high noon the third day
after leaving Delaney Castle, that
Claude with his little troope slowly
wended his way up long hill, near the
boarder, commanding an extensive
view of the surrounding cotintry. For
three days he had kept unobserved be. i.
tween the Lady Blanche and the Scot
tish frontier, maintaining d constant
lookout but during the last twenty.
four houts his scouts had lost sight Of
her caValcade, though Claude still be-
lieved 1t to be on the English side OF
the route he was pursuing. Suddenly,
however, on attaining the brow of the
hill, he saw before him ih the valley
thick cloud of dust, from which gleam-
ed occasionally the glitter of helmet
and arms, while the clash Of weapons
In fray and the shouts Of cumbataiits
rose to his ear softened by the distance.
A momentary breeze that swept aside
the dust revealed the banner of Lord
Waltham and the thickest of the fight
appeared to be amid group of women
guarded by Inen-at-arms. But it was
evident that the British had the worst
of the conflict and must soon have
given way. Even as he paused, the
,trlumphaht shouts of the Scots swelled
on the air,fo the banner of Lord Wal
than was In the dust.
Claude ran his eye hastily over his
little foree, ,numbering.nUt one-third that
of the assailants but he knew they
would stand by him to a man.
Have at them, my bold fellows"
he said. " England to the rescue. A
Marston-a Marston |" and thus shout
Ing his war cry, at the head of his gall
liant band and with his lance In rest, he
galloped down upon the foe.
0verpowered by numbers and worn
out by desperate resistance. the few
knights and men.at-arms who remain=
ed with the Lady Blanche-for long be-
fore Lord WalthLIn, deeming the battle
lost, bad put spurs to his steed and fed
from the field-were on the point Of
giving up the contest, when they we're
cheered by well.known war.cry that
rose even over the din of the conflict,
and Brought comfort and hope to their
fainting bosoms. At the same instant
looking up, they saw the young knight
thunderlng down the hill, his long
white plume streaming hehind him and
his followers fariohsly gOlloping in his
rear.
st. qeotge for merry England |
| HtdhH Oh a ruhfIa lnunar hA6 ,sa s,a,,kIo
men," said the knight on whom the
command had devOlved, land the day
will yet be ours. A Nevilla ~ he
shouted, ,dashing his spurs into his steed
and charging into the heart Of the foe,
where, with his huge sword, he laid
about him right manfully.
A Douglas. For God and st. An
drew A DOuglas-a Douglas |" was
the response of the foe.
But now, like d torrent sweeping
down the hill like whirlwind career
Ing over the plain, the little band of
Claude, with fixed lances, burst full
upon the foe, who, turning like wild
boar at bay, fiercely confronted this
new enemy. The shock was like the
meeting of two opposite waves In the
mouth of tideway. Fot moment
both assailants and assailed shook in
their saddles, but the impetuous charge
Of Claude's weighty men-at-arms, soon
bore down the lighter bOrsemen of the
Scots, whose prostrate forms were in
stantly ridden over by the vctots as
they pursued their career. Right on
like an arrow scattering ruin on this
side and that-with his eyes never loos-
ing sight for moment of the white
dress Of the Lady Blanehe=Claude
Marston kept his coutse and not until
he stood at her side did he look back
to see the enemy flying In every diIec-
tion across the plain.
" The day is yOurs, sir Claude, " said
Sir John Neville, her squire, Z" we had
been lost but for your timely succor."
I" Nay Give the glory to God and
the saints, who brought me up so Op-
portunely. But see-your lady has
tainted.
1t was even 80 the Lady Blanche,
after bearing all the horrors Of the con.
tiict, had, in the instant of victory, sud.
denly tainted away.
" There is an abbey but d mile
hence, over the hill. She can find shell
ter there" said Sir John. Luckily
we have litter with us. You, Sir
Claude, guard her thither while see
to the wounded"
+" Nay nayI let this be my task, -
said Claude and Notwithstanding every
remonstrance, Dir John was forced tC
attend his mistress TO the abbey.
The truth is, Claude did not desire tC
impose on Lady Blanche the painful
! task Of returning him thanks, when he
knew her heart must be prey to the
modification consequent on Lord Wal
tham's flight. He, therefore, after he
had seen the wounded carefully borne
to the abbey gate, was about TO pursue
. his journey without stopping, when q
! message was delivered from the Lad J
Blanche asking an interview.-Thett
J was now no escape, and he allghted.
But Claude would have given world:
] to have avoided the interview. He fear
: en- for his cOmposure. feared that by
some look or word he might betray hi!
4 love, feared that the lady Blanche
Z; would feel bound to speak honeyet
words of thanks when she knew anC
! scOrned bis suit.