The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-12-30
THE RIDERS OF THE GREEN BAL
DRIC.
A Romance of Feudsl Times.

Country OF WHICH Il WTlIo vastly :,
in appearance and in condition, from Wha'
It was in those times long ago.
Touis XII. was King of France, but king
only in name. The great feudal lords OF
the provinces were sovereign princes hoiu-
inc government 10 their own right.
IRE kings of Christendom themselves
,vers I;ttle else than robbers on q large
scale. a.
taenth Of August, in the year OF our Lord
Fourteeuth Hundred Filty-eight at Ais
dorf which was then within the Grand
Duvby OF Luxembourg, and the summer
residence OF the grand duke.
On this dismal August day the Grand
Duke John stood 10 the outer court OF his
castle, the gates OF which were thrown
wide open, looking upon a number of child
rem who were at play upon the velvety
sward. Three of them were children of
his own-two boys and a girl-an 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 the youngest was Alfred,
aged four. The children of the forester
were two girls and boy, and very near
" of the same ages, respectively, as
their titled mates. 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 duke s
face frightened as their gleesome shouts
and laughter reached him. By and by the
two foster-brothers, seeing him, ran to-
wards him.
"Ha, my little heroes" he cried, as
the boys came up, "where are your quar-
ter-staves2 havn't seen you exercise
for a long time.
With a whoop and a bound the lads
dashed away, and very soon returned with
the stayes-tWo sticks of tough ash
wrought very nearly into the form Of
broad-swords; and at singnal from thu
duke they took position. aud went at thu
sword exercise, shOwingvery plainly, ere
dozen passes had been made, that the!
had eagerly pursued the sport, and tina
they had been blessed with the teaching o
thorough master.
John of Luxembourg was not the oDl
witness of the boyish passage at arms. L
the doorway of lodge close at han
stood woman, the mother of Leon Pic
ard, aud she called a companion to viii
ness.
Tell me, Mignon," the mother sale
ARE they not brave boys?'
Indeed they are, Barbara, and were
not for The clothes who could tell whic
was the lords SOM"
who, indeed!" exclaimed Barbal
Picard. "It my own Leon had on the fiji
velvet and the gold which the other Lee
wears, he would be every bit as grand"
Foolish woman" said voice benin
her, outward apparel cannot make
hero. Look See your Icons weapc
flying through the air.
She turned and beheld the dukes seer
tary, Zeta Bethtoui, who, besides attent
ing to his masters literary wants, acted
tutor to the children.
As might be gathered from the excl
nation OF the scribe the playful comb
between the two boys had resulted
perching victory upon the banner of Lu
embourg. The duke regarded his S
proudly. and then turned with smih
face to the forester's son.
My little hero" he said, your eff
Just put forth shows to me that you q
worthy to own q sword, and you sh
have one; and you shall go to BittsbU
to-morrrw and select one for yourself; q
my own Leon and our good Bethtoni sh
60 with you. ALI here comes Bethtoni
sec Mistress Picard sy 00DSafds1 her. boy
two two join them"
Suddenly the tramp of horses We
heard aud Bethtoni rushed forward
close the main barbican.
Did YOU not see the advancing tro(
my lord?" he asked of the duke.
Il saw few horsemen ride out FRI
the wood"
And marked you.not who led them
Il saw a knight in black armor."
"Oh John of Luxembourg, if you KIN
all that know you would be armi
Those are the Black Riders of Gravel
and he at their head is Maillotin du Ba
''Du Bacp'cri John, with a cow
sive start. THE Black Ridersl Tt
have joined the Count dc Charolais."
"Aye,-and for that reason they
here! Can you not understand? I
count means, il possible, to possess bi
self Of Luxembourg. | received hint
that effect from a Wayfaring monk
an hour since, and was on my way to J
with the intelligence but now, little thir
ing the enemy were so near.
The duke saw his danger, aud hasten
into the keep to arm himself
The Black Riders of Cravelot Gas
had long been the terror of the whole cot
try. Originally marshalled by BOhemi
knight-errant, Sir Raoul dc LangwC
they had grown from a score to troop
full two hundred, aud not only did they
tack castles and villages for purpose
pIunders but they mad more than oGce s.
cesstully turned their arms against inc
pOrated cities. Lately this lawless fo
had accepted service under the Court
Cnarolais, and John of Luxembourg ku
very we'll that they would not thus appt
upon his domain without direction fir
their lord and master.
by the time the leader of the Biz
Riders had reached the outer gate the :
prOaches to the castle had been secur
and its forces mustered to the number
hve-and-sixty. Of the eDemy--if eneLn
they were-there were full two hundr,
all strong men, and well armed: and VIII
they had drawn up before the outer bar
can their herald sounded blast upon
trumpet, which call the grand duke answ
ed In person. His secretary and the CHI
OF his officers sought to dissuade him fro
exposing himself, but he would not liste
tie mounted one of the smaller towers
advance Of the main tower of the barbics
IN one OF the most exposed positions
could have selected, and demanded
know upon what errand the troop b
come.
We hold not conference with Your ca
tie walls between us" answered the bla
knight, whose voice, and whose who
bearing and stalwart presence. j ohm reco
nized as belonging to Raoul de Langwo
Throw open your gates and you sh
quickly know our pleasure. If you put