The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-24

Him, when the Black knight Of bohemia
.caIna sfps sss,s .a''
= what Is all this n. De Langwoaf de-
ussrfded Us he pnroacbed.
q >sOh. good stri-Hoble knight tho IS my
hoy--my own Leon ! Oh, spare hin spare
: . Pshawl letthe brat live,s' saidthe Black
But this little viper is as spiteful as a
tiper.n returned ,Du BAG. - POUNDS pe
came near knocking one OF my men over
with a5clHb. Look at him. LOOK at hls
eyes. He don't ask for me. I.teii you ne
must die. Z. fhe'lives, heawhi live TO give us
trouble
- MOI, persisted the Bohemian. John
OF Luxembourg and all his family are dead,
and shat Oils the measure Here. my goou
woman, take your boy, and wnen he IS
grown old enough to bear arms let nun come
to me. and L viii give him service.
Maillotin du BAG chafed angrlly. and
would have cut Tie boy down had not the
Black Knight declared it to have become q
personal matter.
Strike the poor forester's boy" said ne,
sand you strike me 1922
And so the life Of the boy was saved and
Du Bac muttered, as be turned away:
:. tell you that boy will live to give us
trouble ~ ;t.;5 so =: - s:& p, :,
! and his words were prophetic. (!
Eight years had passed since the massacre
~ aAfsdoH, and the Prince who had insti-
gated that wicked work still plotted and
fought for power. He had not yet come to
the ducal throne of Burgundy, though the
event Was not far distant. Philip the Good
still lived, and 'reigned in name, but Charles
the Bold, his son and heir, was the respon-
sible prince and arbitrator. E+
1t was early in the day-a day OF late arl-
tumn-cIear, bright, and beautiful. The
air was crisp and bracing. Upon broad
plain, at the foot Of the slope upon which
stood the town Of Mont-'lHery, was mar
shalled an army under the banner OF Louis
Of France. The distance from Paris was
not more than five leagues.
Little more than good bow-shot dis
tant. with an insignificant tributary Of the
Essonne between them,. lay another army,
spread over a greater territory, and display
ing various banners. "A final effort was to be
made to hurl Louis from his throne. His
own brother, the Duke OF Berry, was ut
the head OF the insurgent force, aided by
Charles Of Burgundy.
It was q dubious prospect for King Louis.
The coalition against him was strong, and
led by veteran .clneitains; but he did not
falter. It.Was evident that the main battle
was to be fought upon his. right. Against
that wing, on the opposite side, were mar
shalIed the forces Of Burgundy and the
Low Countries, under Charles the Bold, and
to meet them Louis, had appointed. his well
tried, faithfa henchman, knight, and baron,
SirJobu St.'Hu bert.
In low,roof cot, close by where rested
the right wing Of the royal forces, sat two
generals. engaged in looking over u rough
ly-drawn map. They were the Barons John
St. Hubert and Odin Lavalette. st. Hubert
was q man Of fifty, tall and muscular, and
cased in armo., only bis head being bare.
Layalettc was his lieutenant, to whom Sir
John was giving directions for the coming
battle. While they thus conferred, a door
was noiselessly opened, and youth entered
unannouuced. - . @&&;
"Ah. Leon!'' cried st. Hubert, as the
youth approached, 'eyou have come'iust in
time. Have you examined the fords below
us?" .......,
"Not only that, my lord" answered the
boy, "but have discovered the disposition
of the enemy beyond.",, -. ,,s.n.g,s,{ r..
. The youth then. hurried away, and when
he had gone, and the door had been closed
behind him, said LaTalette: ''&'-
"SiY John, wish.you would tell me
exactly who that boy is"
elf you will keep the story to yourself I,
will give it to you. Do you call 10 mind,
it is now little more than eight years.
past-the fearful tragedy OF Alsd5rf Cas-
tie Z? The boy Leon was brand plucked
All! think the lad is coming. Remember,
hox al !, onf,o Vntr will
not speak of -itto'another." Z, --..
~aLavalette Eavethe promise required, and
afterwards Leon entered, drcompa-
MED by Sir Andrew Neville. 2'f 20 -
ST. Hubert very soon made the English
knight comprehend what was required of
him, and when he bad gonestlle old general
turned to Leon, the two being at that mo-
ment alone. ~. 4. s.. ~,
sHark! Ha! there sounds Clermont's
trumpet! Ny dear boy, here is a packet. If
I come from The field this day alive, you will
return it to me; il fail, it is yours"
81 pledge my word, nv lord" returned
the boy, taking the packet. Directly after
wards Sir. John and his devoted protege
were in their saddles, and at word from
bis chief the latter dashed away to marshal
the forces of Schubert. ~. -
While they were surveying the field a
came dashing up from the king,
eager and ,breathless. go '
"My lord" he said, addressing the Ba-
ron st. Hubert, "rhe enemy have brought
up from Charities ten large cannon, and
have already made arrangements to place,
them on yonder height. His Majesty says
you must clear that hill and capture those
mighty engines!"
St. Hubert comprehended the whole in
A glance at the eminence in
question:, which was a small hill, well
wooded, close upon their right flank, told
him that the opening Of, cannon upon
them in that place would be fatal; and he
as readily understood the intent OF the
king. The enemy were moving up the
heavy ordnance, believing that the presence
thereof was not suspected by their adverse
rips, and a sudden and welEdirected, dash
was only required to change the bearing Of
the whole thing.
"Tell the king his order shall be obeyed."
So spoke the baron; and now to do the
work. He could not lead the charge up that
ball in person, for he must look to'his main
army, which bad sufficient work before
them. In this dilemma he resolved to send
Lean to- lead the important charge. The
thing was quickly decided in his own mind,
and as quickly conveyed ito our hero, and
the baron then said:
s.Eere is my truReheoR. 1t viii be
sufficient badge Of aath0rity with those who
are to-obey. Be careful, my boy! Be brave,
but be circumspect. God bless and keep
you! There-away! "
Drawing bis sword and waving il above
his head Leon dashed away to the head of
the stalHart .,fpresteys, who haa been set
apart al, a reservefor