The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-12-25
The Riders of the Green BaIdric,
A ROMANCE OF FEUDAL TfhEs.

appearance and in condition from what il
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, holding
government IN their own right
The kings of Christendom themselves were
little else than robbers on large scale.
1t was a dull, lowery day, the 18th of Au-
gust, in the year of our Lord, 145S, at Ais
dorf, which was then within the Grand
Duchy of Luxembourg 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 q number of children who
were at play upon the velvety sward Three
of them were children of his own-two
boys and O girl-and three others were chill
dren of one of his foresters, Galen Picard by
name Oh the dukes children Isabella was
the Oldest, having seen eight years. Leon
was the pext, aged SIX years; and the young
est was Alfred. aged four. The children OF
the forester were two girls aud boy, and
very nearly of the same ages, respectively,
as their tilted mates. The boys had been
foster brothers, the wife of the forester hav-
ing nursed them both.
On the present occasion the children were
engaged In sport, and the dukes face bright
eDed as their gleesome shouts and laughter
reached him. By and by, the Two foster
brothers, seeing him, ran toward him.
'Ha, my little heroes!' he cried, as the
boys came up, where ere your quarter
slaves! | haven't seen you exercise for a
long time"
With a whoop and a bound the lads
dashed away, and very soon returned with
the staves-two sticks of tough ash wrought
very nearly into the form of broadswords;
and at q signal from the duke they took
position and went at the sword exercise,
Chnu iuu Mo iF11xy
been made, that they had eagerly pursued
the sport end had been blessed with the
teaching of a thorough master.
John or Luxembourg was not the only
witness of the boyish passage at arms In
the doorway OF lodge close at hand stood
woman, the mother of Leon Picard, and
she called a companion TO witness.
Tell me, Mignon," the mother said, "are
they not brave boys?"
Indeed they are, Barbara, and were 1t
not for the Clothes who could tell which
| was the lords son?'
"Who, indeedw exclaimed Barbara Pi
card. "If my own Leon mad on the fine vel
vet and the gold which the other Leon wears
he would be every bit as grand"
Foolish woman" said a voice behind
her, outward apparel can not make q hero.
! Look. See your Icons weapon flying
| through the air."
| She turned and beheld the dukes score.
tary Zeta Bethtoni, who, besides attending
TO his masters literary wants, acted as tutor
| to the children.
Asmight be gathered from the exclamation
of the scribe the playful combat between the
| two boys had resulted in percbing victory
| upon the banner of Luxembourg The
duke regarded his son proudly, aud then
| turned with smiling face to the forester's
! son.
my little hero" he said, ''your effort just
10 81,
to own a sword, and you shall have one; and
on shall go to Bittburg to morrow and select
one for yourself; and my own Leon and our
| good Bethtoni shall go with you. Ali here
comes Bethtoni. 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 barbicsn.
did you not see the advancing troop my
lord?" be asked OF the duke.
Il saw few horsemen ride out from the
| wood"
"And marked you not who led themY
81 saw knight in black armor" /.
"Oh, John OF Luxembourg, II you knew
all that know you would be s-mIng Those
are the Black Riders of Gravelot and he at
their head is Msllodn du B4c!'
"Du BAc!" cried John. with a convulsive
start. The BLACK Ridersl They have Joined
the Count de Cnarolais"
"Aye,-and for that reason they are hers
Can you not understand? The count means,
IL possible, to possess himself OF Luxem-
! bourg. I received hint TO that effect from
a wayfsring monk not an hour since, and
was on my way 10 you With the intelligence
! but now, little thinking the enemy were so
near"
The duke saw bis danger, and fastened
into the keep to arm himself.
The Rlack Riders nf Gravalot Castle had
long been tbs terror of the whole country.
Originally marshalled by Bohemian knight
Grant, Sir Rsoul de Langwolf, they had
grown from a score to troop of full two
hundred, and not only did they attack cas-
ties and villages for purpose Of plumber, but
they had more than once successfully turned
their arms against incorporated cities Late
ly this lawleSs force bad aces pied service un-
Ger the Count de Charolais, and John of
Luxembourg knew very well that they
would not thus appear upon his domain
without direction from their lord and
msSter.
By the time the leader of the Black Riders
had reached the outer gate the approaches to
the castle had been secured, and its forces
mus cred to the number of FIVE and sixty.
OF the enemy-n enemies they were-there
we're full two hundred, all strong men, and
we'll armed; and when they had drawn up
before the outer barbican their herald sound
ed u oiaSt upon MS trumpet, Hnlcn cali the
grand duke answered IN person. His secre-
tary 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 to wer of the barbican,
in one of the most exposed positions he
could have selected, and demanded TO know
upon what errand the troop bad come.
I'VE hold not conference with your castle
walls between us" answered the black
knight, whose voice and whose whole bear.
ing and stalwart presence John recognized
as belonging TO Raoul de Lsngwolf. Throw
open your gates and you shall quickly know
our pleasure III you put as to the labor of
forcing our way it shall be worse for those
who else may not suffer-"
At this juncture e second knight rode up
and spoke with the Bohemian. He was
cssed IN plate armor, with bis Visor closed,
but Zeta Bethtoni, who bad come TO his
masters side, recognized him.
Hal the secretary cried, clutching the
dukes ara, that is the fiend incarnste. 1t