The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-04-06

ling forth in such cause Go then my Lord
hasten 10 join the standard of our roya
Charles, and believe that while your sword j.
carrying destruction to the ranks of the inyad
ers Blanche OF Paris is knecing to NOtr
, Dame, and praying the Blessed VIRGIN 10 cy
tend her spotlcSs shield before YOU"
Beautiful girl" exclaimed the Duke rap
turously, yours is thenoblc enthusiasm Of The
Maid of Orleans Hear me prot',r ON my
knee the homage"
Rise my Lord Z" crIcd Lady Blanche TIN,
language | have once before Forbidden 1t i,
unworthy of yOursclf-insultng tome, What
do you forget that you are Il husband and d
father? When listen with attention to youl
shameless, suIt, may thraycnging fires Of hcay
en- strike me dcad,'
"lla,' cried the Duke, rising and mutcring
to himsclf-"shc breaches rarely. My Carmc
lite coniessOr could hardly give more CHASTITY
counsel. BY our Lady, there must be more in
this than meets the ear. She must have some
lOthcr lover. I'll delay my departure till To.
morrow, lying pcrdue in the meanwhile, and
try to discover whom this proud girl loves. II
Lady Blanche is but as other danes of the
court all Paris shall ring with the tale. Henri
Ide Chateau Roster is not lightly scorncd.'
With an air Of deep respect the knight rails
ed the fair hand Of the offended Blanche to his
lips, and took his leave of her From her
presence he went 10 seek his friend and com.
Ipanon in arms, ChcyaIcr st. Armand dc
Montluc. Meanwhile, the old ducnna OF poor
Blanche, who only favored the Duke de Cha
tcau Roster for the sake of his money, had told
to the unhappy Duchess the secret Of her hus.
bands In1uelity To return, however, to the
Duke.
st Armand" SAID the Duke, when the two
knghtcompanions met, thou art my tried
! "a not W, tpI
II thank Your Grace for the confidence" re
! piled st. Armand. "Sr Damon and Sir Pyth-
las, OF whom our troubadOurs tell the story in
their jingling ballads, were not, | think, more
faithful to each other. II my poor sword cleft
the crown Of the caitiif who was swinging an
axe above thy head at Pont du Nord, it was
thy good lance that saved my life at Barrace."
Il come now TO ask favor of thee ST. Ar
mand.'
Twenty all you please. Ny heart and hand,
sword and lance, are at your service"
Thanks dear St Armand. But firsttcll me,
cheyalier before thou nearest my request, vert
ever III love"
Not l. replied st Armand, frankly;
though 1t IS not to every one | might make so
unknightly an avowal. To say it is like speak
ing i'll of Mother Church, the saints absolvc
us! have fought for love in the ring, but
twas an imaginary mistress whose scarf adorn-
ed my helm Thomas de MonttOrd questioned
hcr beauty, ana drove my lance through har
ness and heart, and the truest knight that ever
bare shield bit the dust my charger spurncd
Nay, noble Duke fortune IS my mistress, and
pursue her with spur, spear and snaiilc."
Pardon my weakness, then, st. Armand, |
ana listen to me. Mount guard this night at
the door OF Lady Blanchc's dwelling. Suffer
no one to enter, questioned or unquestioned. |
Should gallant come and seek to force an en-.
trance, discover his name, defeat his purpose
with thy sword. But Stay him not; my steel
alone must drink his blood, DO this and thou
wouIdst win my thanks and gratitude"
st. Armand promised to oblige his friend
and the Duke de Chateau Roster took his de
parture for IN obscure lodging in the suburbs
Of the city where he proposed to pass the
night
"By our Lady of Paris !" cried the Chevalicr
DE Montluc, us he folded his dark mantle and
leaned back in the angle Of Il gray buttrcss at
the entrance Of Lady Bhnchc's castcllatcd
by our Lady Of Paris, it i'll suits
me TO SIT like hooded crow when should be
my vans like soaring falcon. Could
not HIS Grace OF Chateau Roster find some
softer gallant than Montluc to sentinel his /
sleeping Lindamira-ths Esclalrmondc that
arms his noble hcadg Were 1t not for the
nance OF some smart blows to warm my limbs
ma try The temper OF my sword, should be
loW prlcking for the camp Of Charles with IA
score OF lances atmy back. QUi rirc," he eX-
claimed suddenly, as II strange ioolStcp met
his ear :
zone who seeks TO enter" was the answer, Il
Is youth, slightly but gracefully made and
lad IN shining steel, showed himself in a
small space, on which the mOOn'4 rays fell, iii
'cctly in front of MontIuC. The watchword is
amour DIES DANES"
Thou mayst be right" said the Chivalcr de
Montluc, but yet thou canst not enter"
why, sirrah this nsolcncc:" cried the ,
youthful stranger. Thy voice sounds strange :
y to mine ear Can the Lady Blanche have |
hanged her scryitors" L
at matters little said St. Armand "Thou I
lost not pass, Sir Boy" S
Defend thysct!' cried the youth, instantly I
lrawng his sword !
II have crossed blades with knights" re