The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-12-23
THE PRESS.
The Riders Of the Green
BaIdric.
A ROMANCE OF FEUDAL TIMES.

hUuANCE OF ElOAA
The traveller OF to-day would find the coun-
try Of which l write vastly different, in ap-
pearance and in condition, from what it was
in those times long ago.
Louis XT. was King of France. but king
only in name. The great feudal lords Of the
provinces were sovereign princes, holding
government In their own right.
The kings of Christendom themselves were
little else than robbers on a large scale.
1t was dull, lowery day, the seventeenth
of August, in the year of our Lord Fourteen
Hundred Fifty-eight, at Alsdorf, which was
then within the Grand Duchy of Luxem-
bourg, and the summer residence of the grand
duke.
On this dismal August day the Grand
Duke John stood in the outer court OF his
castle, the gates of which were thrown wide
open, looking upon number of children who
were at play upon the velvety sward. Three
of them were children of his own-two boys
and girl-and three others were children of
one of his foresters, Gaelen Picard by name.
OF the Dukes children Isabella was the old
est, having seen eight years. Leon was the
next, aged six years; and the youngest was
Alfred, aged four. The children of the forest
er were two girls and boy, and very nearly
of the same ages, respectively, as their titled
mates. The boys had been foster-brothers,
the wife OF the forester having nursed them
both.
On the present occasion the children were
engaged in sport, and the dukes face bright
ened as their gleesome shouts and laughter
reached him. By and by the two foster
brothers, seeing him, ran towards him.
"Ha, my little heroesV he cried, as the
boys came up, "where are your quarter
slaves? haven't seen you exercise for
long time"
With whoop and bound the lads dashed
away, and very soon returned with the slaves
two sticks OF tough ash, wrought very near
ly into the form of broad-swords; and at a
signal from the duke they took position, and
went at the sword exercise, showing very
plainly, ere dozen passes had been made,
that they had eagerly pursued the sport. and
that they had been blessed with the teaching
of thorough master.
JohnIof Luxembourg was not the only wit
ness of the boyish passage at arms. In the
woman, the mother OF Leon Picard, and she
called companion to witness.
"Tell me, Mignon,' the mother said, "are
they not brave boys?"
"Indeed they are, Barbara, and were it not
for the clothes who could tell which was the
lords SOM"
"Who, indeedv' exclaimed Barbara Picard.
'If my own Leon had on the fine velvet and
the gold which the other Leon wears, he
would be every bit as grand"
"Foolish woman" said a voice behind her,
"outward apparel cannot made hero. Look.
See your Leon's weapon flying through the
air."
She turned, and beheid the dukes secre-
tary, Zeta Bethtoni, who, besides attending
to his masters literary wants, acted as tutor
to the children.
As might be gathered from the exclamation
of the scribe, the playful combat between the
two boys had resulted in perching victory
upon the banner of Luxembourg. The duke
regarded bis son proudly, and then turned
with smiling face to the forester's son.
"My little hero" he said, "your effort just
put forth shows to me that you are worthy to
own sword, and you shall have one; and
you shall 60 to Bittburg tomorrow and select
one for yourself; and my own Leon and our
good Bethteni shall go with you. Alb! here
comes Bethtoni. I see Mistress Picard yon-
der, and the other children are running to-
wards her. Do you two join them"
Suddenly the tramp of horses was heard,
and Bethtoni rushed forward to close the
main barbican.
'Did you not see the advancing troop, nv
lord ?" he asked of the duke.
II saw few horsemen ride out from the
wood"
"And marked you not who led them?''
~ saw a knight in black armor.''
"Oh, John of Luxembourg, if you knew all
that know you would be arming. Those are
the Black Riders of Gravelot, and he at their
head is Maillotin du Bacv'
Du BacV cried John, with convulsive
start. 'The Black Riders! They have Joined
the Count de Charolas."
"Aye,-and for that reason they are here
Can you not understand? The count means,
II possible, to possess himself of Luxembourg.
received hint to that effect from a wayfar-
way to you with the intelligence but now,
little thinking the enemy were so near.'
The duke saw his danger, and FASTENED
into the keep to arm himself.
The Black Riders Of Gravelot Castle had
long been the terror of the whole country.
Originally marshalled bv Bohemian knight
grant,, Sir Raoul de Langwolf, they had
grown from score to troop of full two
hundred, and not only did they attack castles
and villages for purpose of pluLder, but they
had more than once successfully turned their
arms against incorporated cities. Lately this
lawless force had accepted service under the
Count de Charolais, and John of Luxembourg
knew very well that they would not thus ap-
pear upon his domain without direction from
their lord and master.
By the time the leader Of the Black Riders
the castle had been secured, and Its forces
mustered to the number OF five and sixty. OF
the enemy-if enemies they were-t there were
full two hundred, all strong men, and well
armed; and when they had drawn up before
the outer barbican their herald sounded a
blast upon his trumpet, which call the grand
duke answered In person. His secretary and
the chief OF his officers sought to dssuade
him from exposing himself, but he would not
listen.
He mounted one of the smaller towers in
advance of the main tower of the barbican,
in one OF the most exposed positions be could
have selected, and demanded to know upon
what errand the troop had come.
I'VE hold not conference with your castle
walls between III" answered the black knight,
whose voice, and whose whole bearing and
stalwart presence, John recognized as belong
ing to Raoul de Langwolf '.Throw open
your gates and you shall quickly know onr
pleasure. Ii you put us to the labor of forcing
our way it shall be worse for those who else
may not suffer-"
At this juncture second knight rode up
and spoke with the Bohemian. He was cased
in plate armor with his visor closed, but Zeta
Bethtoni, who had come to his masters side,
recognized him.
CLAP the secretary cried, clutchirg the
dukes arm, ''that is the fiend incarnate. It
is Burgundy's butcher, Maillotiu du Bac! He
would not be here If Charles had not planned
bloody work. fear my lord-Down DOWN.
But the note of alarm came too late. A
tall, broad-shouldered archer had advanced
with Maillotin du BAG, who, at a sign from
the latter, raised his heavy bow, with a long,
steel-barbed, fnely-feathered arrow adjusted
to the string, and drew to the very arrows
head. John of Luxembourg stood with hi.
visor raised and his whole face exposed He
heard Bethtonis cry and saw the stout archer
of the black baldric, but he was too late to
avoid the fatal shaft. As an echo to the
warning came the vengeful twang of the bow
string, and the steel point, with its following
barbs, entered the dukes right eye, crashing
through the bone Of the obit, and burying
itself deep in the brain. He fell back dead
into Bethtoni's arms.
The secretary bore the body down to the
pavement below, where he was just in season
to meet score of the Black Riders who had
gained entrance.
1t was not enough that the grand duke
should die. Charles had decreed and ordered
that the whole household should be put TO
the sword; and his devoted henchman, Mail
lotin du BAG, was the man to obey. The