The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-09-19
BLANCHE OF PARIS.
A Tale OF the Cay and Gallant Tins Of
as IL "a. Charles VII. 1lta
PROM an Old xaoa.m..l

(Continued.)
Twenty. mn you please. NV heart mn.
hand. sword and lance, are at your ser
vice." He rss-itJliaF II
Thanks. dear st. Armand. But frs
tell me, Cheyalier, before thou nearest M,
request, vert ever in love p"
Not l y replied st. Armand. frunkly
though It Is not to every one | might max,
so unknightly an avowal. To say it is like
speaking III OF Mother Church, the saint
absolve us / have fought for love in the
ring, but twas an imaginary mistress whose
scarf adorned my helm. Thomas de Mont
tord questioned her beauty. and I drove my
lance through harness and heart. md tbs
truest knight that ever bore shield. bit Tho
'tust my charger spurned. Nay, noble duke,
fortune is my mistress, and I pursue he,
xith spur. spear. and snnffle.r isf
PARDON my weakness, then, st. Armand,
and listen to me. Mount guard this NIGHT
Et the door of Lady Blanche's dwelling
suffer no one to enter, questioned or unques-
:toned- Should a gallant come and seek to
force an entrance, discover his name. defeat
his purpose with thy sword But siay him
not my steel alone must drink his blood.
end gratitude
"a St Armand promised to oblige his friend
nd the Duke de Chateau Roster took his de,
arturo for an obscure lodging in the suburbs
Il the city. where he proposed TO pass the
night. .nha -
by our lady of Paris (" cried the Che.
caller de Montluc. as he folded his dark
mantle and leaned back in the ANGLE Of
r gray buttress ut the entrance of Lady
i'lanche's castellated mansion. "by our
,ady. of Paris it i'll suits me to sit like a
NODDED crow when1 should be spreading nv
ans like a soaring falcon. Could not his
grace OF Chateau Roster find some softer
gmiant than Montiuc to sentinel his Sleep
ing Lindamira-this E~sclairmonde that turn
his noble head We're it not for the chance
OF some smart blows to warm my and
Try the temper of my sword, l should be
now pricking for h camp of Charles with
q score OF lances at my back. Oui eipesn
he exclaimed suddenly, as a strange footster
met his ear.
Zone who seeks to enter" was the ms.
wer, as a youth slightly but gracefully
made, and clad in shining steel, showed
himself in a small space, on which the
moons rays fell, directly in front of Mont
luc. "The watchword is .L'amou,. des
ddnies.'n
Thou mayest be right" said the Cbey.
alier de Montiuc, "but yet thou canst not
"why, sirrah, this in~solenoe y cried the
youthful stranger. THY voice sounds
strangely to mine ear. Can the Lady
Blanche have changed her scrvitors 2"
1t matters ~little,' said st. Armand
Thou dost not pass, Sir Boy /"
defend myself" cried the youth, in
stantly drawing his sword. l5flA. HH'a54
Ill have crossed blades with knights, +" re-
Piled the chevalier, dispassionately, "but 1
never war with striplings or women.n
(" Defend myself" repeated the stranger.
sternly, "or l may test the skill of thine mr.,
morer severely" So saying he made a des-
prrate lunge ut the steel-clad breast Of the
chcvalier St. Armand. i-Ii II 80
Hal that was a shrewd thrust,n ex.
claimed the sentinel and now, reused from
his Indifference, he unsheathed his ponder-
Gus sword md attacked the agpressor in
turn. But the chevalier found that his an
sagonist supplied his deficiency in strength
and size by employing consumn,,.
ness and activity. He nvoided n t...ien-
dous blow of the chevnlier by leaping to
one side, and repaid it with interest by q
severe cut on the sword arm Of his adver-
sary. At the moment of receiving this dis
abling wound the chevnlier's foot slipped,
and he fell to the ground. The sword of
the youth was instantly at his throat.
ii" Yield thee !" cried the ~conqueror, " or.
ny tu6 ulAAAutb5 lNObEt DuTnt Qe IuIlS, i Will
slay thee IN the spot ~
At am vanquished," said the fallen
knight. my life is in thy hands,"
81 spare it'll" cried the stranger youth,
sheathing his sword and permitting the
chevalier to rise. Resume the sword you
WELD 80 well. Go to your friend, st. Ar
mand, and tell him that his rival bears tes-
timony to the courage of his sentinel. You
perceive that you are known. Adieu I"
The chevalier wound his mantle round
his injured arm, returned his blade to the
~scabbard, and left the scene of his dis
comfture with n slow and feeble step.
The youth smiled ut his good fortune, then,
tapping q wicket in the iron-bound door,
whispered the password, "L'amour DIES
DANES and was admitted. The treacher-
GUS duenna conducted tho youth up the
lordly staircase and ushered him into O spa
cious apartment, where, seated in a rich
armchair, with her head resting pensively
npon her hand, the Lady Blanche appeared
wrapped in a painful ~reverie. The SIGHT Of
o stranger recalled her to her senses, and
with an indignant glance at the duenna, she
exclaimed: aiv 81
what means this, Ursula? Is there a
conspiracy to rob me of my rest and name !
This morning you admitted one unwelcome
visitor, and to night / am again intruded on.
Begone, sir, ere / summon those on whose
protection l can rely"
"Beauteous maiden" said the stranger,
in n sneering tone, removing his steel casquc
and bowling with great ceremony, thy fec
BILE voice would vainly shrek for aid. Know
hat thine aged seneschal had drank SO
deeply of malvoise he would not wake,
although the ban-dog Bedford and all his
crew of mastiffs were bowling at the gates.
As for thine other v~arlets, their drink was
drugged by the pottingar, and their leaden
sleep is like the sleep of death. Thy SEN
tinel / wounded in the street, this aged
damsel is more at my command than thine.
/ speak he truth, fair Blanche of Paris
thy fame is in my hands, Aye, wiring thy
hands, sweet Lys-des-champs in nothing
it ayaileth. Ursula begone I"
Stay" exclaimed the Lady Blanche
stay Ursula, ! conjure-Ic command you =
Nay, nay, " muttered the old crone 81
am old and weary. The young and faii
may keep vigils together, but Ursula is pas
her day of folly. III to bed-to bed-ts
bedi" And, muttering to herself, tn,
wrinkled bag hobbled away.
NOW, ain Mary be my succor !" criet
the maiden, sinking into n chair.
Fair damsel," said the youth approach
ing" why this terror? I do not speak i,
vanity, but of n truth fair ladies have no
often looked with fear upou my counte
nance" So saying he shook the dark curl
from his brow and cast a self satisfied glanc,
at o huge mirror of polished steel, on eacl
side Of which burned a great wax torch il
q silver sconce. Drawing nearer to the lady
he attempted to possess himself OF her hand
but she angrily Withdrew it.
"Why SO scornful. lovely lady" aaket
the audacious youth. I'm wager my hors,