The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-12-24
The Riders Of the Green Baldric.
A ROMANCE OF FEUDAL TIMES.

The traveller of to-day would find the
country of which l write vastly different,
/ in appearance and in condition, from what
it was in those times long ago
Louis XI was King of France, but King
only in name. The great feudal lords OF
the provinces were sovereign princes, hold
ing government in their own right.
The kings of Chris,endom 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 Four
teen Hundred Fifty eight, at Alsdorf, which
was then within the Grand Duchy of Lux
embourg, 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 velvet sward
Three of them were children of his own
two boys and girl-and three others were
children of one of hisforesters, Galen Picard
by name. OF the dukes children Isabella
was the oldest, having seen eight years.
Leon was the next, aged six years; and the
Youngest was Alfred aged four. The chill
dren of the forester were two girls and a
bov, and very nearly of the same ages, re-
spectively, as their titled ma es. 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
frightened as their gleesome shouts and
laughter reached him. BY and by the
two foster-brothers, seeing him, ran towards
him.
''Ha my little heroes" he cried, as the
| l. l,,ub puortpr
slaves? | haven't seen you exercise for a
long time"
| With whoop and bound the lads
dashed away, and very soon returned with
the staves-two sticks of tough ash, wrought
very nearly into the form of broad swords;
and at 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 pur
sued the sport, and that they had beer
blessed with the teaching of thorough
master.
/ John of Luxembourg was not the only
witness of the boyish passage at arms. IL
the doorway of q lodge close at hand stooo
a woman, the mother of Leon Picard, anC
she called companion 10 witness.
Tell me, Mignon," the mother said, "are
they not brave boys?'
Il1uScu tucy dIOj Dul puie oiN NSAS -
not for the clothes who could tell which
was the lord son?'
WHO, indeedp' exclaimed Barbara
Picard 'If my own Leon had on the
fine velvet and the gold which the othel
Leon wears, he would be every bit az
grand" 80.
"Foolish woman" said voice behind
her, outward apparel can not make hero
Look. See your Icons weapon flying
through the all"
She turned, and beheld 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 exclama
ton of the scribe The playful combat be-
tween the two boys had resulted i'll perch
ing vic ory upon the banner of Luxem
bourg The duke regarded his son proudly
and then turned with smiling face 10 The
forester son.
my little hero" he said, your effor
lust put forth shows to ME that you arr
worthy to own sword, and you shall hav,
!, one; and YOU shall 60 to- Bittburg to-mor
| row and select one for yourself; and my
own Leon and our good Bethioni shall g
with vou Ali here comes Beth oni.
see Mistress Picard yonder, and the othe
, children are running towards her. Do yol
two join them.'
Suddenly the tramp of horses was heard
. and Bethtoni rushed forward to close th
; main barbican.
| Did you not see the advancing troop
8 my lord?' he asked of the duke.
III saw few horSemen ride out from th
! wood"
And marked you not who led them?"
"I saw knight in black armor."
t.(ll, Inbn of | my hnuru If Won kpay
: all that know you would be arming Thos
, are the Black Riders of Gravelot, and he a
r their head is Maillotin du Bacl'
"Du Bac'' cried John, with convulsv
f start. THE Black Riders! They hay
ioined the Count de Charolais.
f "Aye-and for that reason they are here
Can YOU not understand? The count means
=. if possible, TO possess himself of Luxen
. boure | received hint to thatetfect iron
I wayfaring monk not an hour since, AM
j. was on my way TO you with the intell
r gence but now, little thinking the enem
t were so near"
s The duke saw his danger, and hastene
0 Into the keep 10 arm himself.
The Black Riders of Gravelot Castle ha
I long been the terror of the whole country
y Originally marshaled by Bohemia
: knight-errant, Sir Raoul de Langwolf, the
d had grown from score to troop of fu
d two hundred, and not only did they attac
: castles and villages for purposes of plunde
r but they had more than once successful
e turned their arms against incorporate
e cities. Lately this lawless force hadaccep
o ed service under The Count de Charolai
e and John of Luxembourg knew very we
e that they would not thus appear upon hi
r domain without direction from their lor
/ and master.
BY the time the leader of the Blac
!, Riders had reached the outer gaze the az
! proaches to the castle had been secured
: and its forces mustered TO the number
e tive-and-sixty. Of the enemy-if enemit
$ they were-there were full two hundred
+ all strong men, and we'll armed; and whe
!. they had drawn up before the outer barb
i can their herald sounded blast upon h
g trumpet which call the grand duke al
d swered in person. His secre ary and til
l. chief of his officers sought to dissuade hil
h from exposing himself, but he would M
t listen.
:. He mounted one of the smaller towers
a advance OF the main tower of the barbical
e in one Of the most exposed positions b
could have selected, and demanded to kno
upon what errand the troop had come.
k I'VE hold not conference with your cast
a ~ / L. l.