National Republican., 1878-12-23
The Riders of the Green Baldric
a IasAHGE OF FrunAL TIMES,

Only III nhUnc' iHe great lcuuai lOIus VI tht
provinces were sovereign princes, holding gov
ernment In their own right.
Tho kings Of Christendom themselves were
little else than robbers on large scale.
1t was dull, lowery day, the seventeenth
OF August, in the year Of our Lord Fourteen
Hundred Fifty.cight, at Alsdorf. 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 look
ing upon q number Of chldroi who were at
play upon tho velvety sward. Three of them
were children of his own-two boys and a
girl-and three others were children Of one OF
his foresters, Galen Picard by name. OF the
dukes children Isabella was the oldest, having
seen eight years. Leon was the next, aged
six years and tho youngest was Alfred, aged
four. The children Of the forester were two
girls aud a boy, and very nearly Of the same
ages respectively. as their titled mates. Tho
boys had been foster. brothers, the wifo Of the
forester having nursed them both.
on tlro present occasion the children were
engaged In sport, and the dukes face bright
encd as their gloesomo shouts OF laughter
reached him. BY and by the two foster
brothers, seeing him, ran toward him.
"Ha, my little heroes !" ho cried, rs the boys
came up, where are your quarter-staves2
haven't seen you exercise for long time"
With whoop and a bound the lads dashed
away, and very soon returned with the slaves
two sticks Of tough ash, wrought very nearly
into the form of brOad-sworis; and ut a 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 pursued the sport. aud that they
had been blessed with tue teaching Of a thor.
ough master.
John Of Luxembourg was not the only wit
ness 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 bravo boysY'
Indeed they are. Barbara. and were It not
for the clothes who could tell which was the
lords son ?"
'Wbo, indeed - exclaimed Barbara Picard
"If my own Leon had on the fne velvet and
the gold which the other Leon wears, he would
be every bit as grand"
Foolish woman" said voice behind her
Outward apparel cannot make hero. Look
See your Icons weapon flying through the
air."
She turned and beheld the dukes secretary,
Zeta Bethton who, besides attending to his
masters literary wants, acted as tutor to the
children.
As might be gathered from the exclamation
of the scribe, the playful comba, bstween the
two boys had resulted In perchng victory upon
the banner of Luxembourg. The duke re.
garded his son proudly, aud then turned with
smiling face to the foiestcr's son.
"My little hero" he said. ''your effort Just
put forth shows to me that you arc worthy to
own n sword, aud you shall have ono and
you shall go to Bttburg tomorrow aud select
one for yourself; and my own Leon and our
good Bcthoui shall 20 with you. All here
comes Bethtoni. sec Mistress Picard yondcr,
nnd the other children are running toward her.
DO you two join them
Suddenly tho tramp of horses was heard
and Bc,hOni rushed forward TO close the main
barbicau.
Did youhot see the advancing troops, my
lord y he asked of tho duke.
Il saw u few hoIsCnIcn ride out from the
wood"
and marked you not who led tl@?"
II saw n knight in black armOr.'
"Oh, John of Luxembourg, If you know all
that know You would be arming. Those arU
the Black Riders or Gravcot, aud he at their
head is MuilOtin du lhC!"
"Du Bac" cried John, with u cOuvulSvC
start. Tho Black Riders! They have Joined
the Count dc Charuas."
"Aye-and for that reason they arc here
Can you not undcstamd2 The count means, II
pbhalDlc, 10 possess hlllSbH Oi I.NNCmDONrg.
leccivcd hint TO that effect from a wayiaring
monk not an hour since, and was on my way
TO yon with the intelligence but now, little
thinking the enemy were so near"
The duke saw his danger, aud hastencd into
the keen tn arm himself.
The Black Riders of GravelOt Castle had
long been tho terror of tho whole country
Originally marshallcd by bohemian knight.
errant, Sir Raoul dc l.angwolc they had grown
from score 10 u troop Of full two hundred
and not only did they attack castles and vii.
lagcs for purposes OF plundcr, but they had
more than once successfully turned their arms
against incorporated cities. Lately this law.
less force had accepted service under the Count
dc tharOas, and John of Luxembourg knew
very well that they would not thus appear upon
his domain without direction from their lord
and master.
BY the time the leader of the Black Riders
had reached the outer gate tho approaches to
the castle had been secured, and its forces mus.
tered TO the number OF fve-and.sixty. OF the
encmy-if enemies they wore--there were full
two hundred, all strong men, and well.armcd
and when thcy had drawn up before the outer
baTbcan their hcrll sounded u blast upon his
trumpet, which call the grand duke answered
In person. His secretary and the chief of his
officers sought to dissuade him from exposing
himself, but he would not listen.
lie mounted one Of the smaller towers In ad
vance Of the main tower OF the barbcan, IN
one Of the most exposed positions lie could
have selected, and demanded to know upon
what crrRnd the troop had come.
ave hold not conference with your castle
walls between u.s. answered the black knight
whose voice, and whose whole bearing and
stalwart presence. John recognized rs belong
ing to Raoul dc l.nmgwolf Throw open youl
gates aud you shall quickly know our pleasure
ii you put us to the Labor Of forcing our way
1t shall be worse Tor those who else may not
suffer"
At this iunCturo second knight rode NJ
and spoke with the Bohemian. Ilc was cuscd
in plate armor, with his visor closed, but Teta
Bcthtuni, who had come to his masters side
recognized him.
"lla!" tho secretary cried, clutchng the
dukes arm, that is the frnd incarnatc. II
Is Euigundy's butcher, MaillOtin du Bac! II,
would not be here ii Charles had not planned
bloody work. fear my Touchdown! Down !!
But tho notc of alarm came too late. A tall
broad shouldCd archer had advanced with
M"iIlutin du liac, who, at u sign from the lat
ter, riscd his heavy bow, with long, steel
barbrd, finely y-ieathrrcd arrow adjusted to .ht
string and drew to the very arrow head
John Of Luxembourg stood with his yisol
raised aud his whole face exposed. lie heard
BcthIunis cry, aud saw the stout archer of the
black baldric, but lie was too late To avoid the