The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-12-24

stood with his visor raised and hlB whole
face exposed. He heard Bethtonis cry;
and saw the stout archer of the black ball
dric, but he was too late to aYoid the fatal
shaft. AS an echo 20 the warning came the
vengeful twang of the bow-string, and the
, steel point, with its following harbs, en-
tered the dukes right eye, crashing through
the bone of the orbit and burying itself
deep in the brain. He fell back dead into
Bethtoni's arms
The secretary bore the body down to the
: pavement below, where he was just in sea-
son 10 meet a score of Black Riders who
] had gained entrance.
!, 1t was not enough that the grand duke
should die. Charles had decreed and on
/ dered that the whole household should be
put to the sword; and his devoted hench-
| man, Maillotin du Bac, was the man to
obey. The number of the grand dukes
, children was known, and du Bee
saw the terrible order ex-
ecuted Where he had found the
, Prince Leon, whom he at once recognized
!, by his ell-tale garb, he had found another
boy of nearly the sameage, and him he was
about to slay, in spite of The tears and
prayers of the poor mother who clung TO
him, when the Black Knight of Bohemia
came up.
"What is ali this?' De Langwolf de-
manded, as he approached.
"Oh, good sir!-noble knight!-he is my
boy! my own Leonl Oh, spare him! spare
himr'
"Pshaw lei the brat live," said the
Black chief.
"But this little viper is as spiteful as a
tiger" returned Du Bee. "Zounds! he
came near knocking one of my men over
with club. Look at him. Look at his
eyes, He don't ask for life. I tell you he
must die. If he lives, he will live to give
us trouble"
NO" persisted the Bohemian. "John of
, Luxembourg and all his family are dead,
and hat fills the measure Here, my good
/ woman, take your boy, and when he is
grown old enough to bear arms, let hlm
5 come to me- and will give him service .
! Maillotin du Bac chafed angrily, and
t would have cut the boy down had not the
Black Knight declared it TO have become
( personal matter.
Strike the poor forester's boy" said he,
S "and you strike me"
: And so the life of the boy was saved; and
4 Du Bac muttered, as he turned away:
h II tell you that boy will live to give u!
troublep'
y And his words were prophetic.
i Eight years had passed since the mas
j sacre of Alsdorf, and the prince who hac
instigated that wicked work still plottec
e and fought for power. He had not We
come to the ducal throne of Burgundy
t though the event was not far distant. Philir
b the Good still lived, and regned in name
but Charles the Bold his son and heir, wa
a the responsible prince and arbitrator.
e 1t was early in the day-a day OF late au
r tumn-clear, bright, and beautiful. Tht
S air was crisp and bracing. Upon broad
plain, at the foot of the slope, upon which
/ stood the town of Month Hery, was mar
!. shaled an army under the banner of Louis
2 of France. The distance from Paris was
not more than five leagues
: Little more than good bow shot distant
: with an insignificant tributary of the Els
r some between them lay another army
spread overa greater territory, and display
: ing various banners A final effort was tC
: be made to hurl Louis from his throne. His
: own brother, the Duke of Berry, was at the
: head of the insurgent force, aided by
=, Charles of Burgundy.
e 1t was dubious prospect tor King Louis
The coalition against him was strong ant
It led by veteran chieftains; but he did no
e falter. 1t was evident that the main battl
e was to be fought upon his right. Agains
: that wing, on the opposite side, were mar
v shaed the forces Of Burgundy and th'
O Low Countries, under Charles the Bold
| and to meet them Louis had appointed hi
II well-tried. faithful henchman, knight ant
u baron, Sir John 81. Hubert.
In low-roofed col, close by where restet
!, the right.wing of the royal forces, sat tw
e generals engaged in looking over roughly
drawn map. They were the barons Johl
}, St. Hubert and Odn LavaTlette. St. Hu
bert was a man of fifty, tall and muscular
Ie and cased in armor. only his head bein
bare. Lavalette was his lieu enant, t.
whom Sir John was giving directions for tn
coming battle. While they thus conferred
W a door was noiselessly opened, and yout
,e entered unannounced.
1t "Ah, Leonl" cried St. Hubert, as tn
youth approached, you have come just il
'e time. Have you examined the fords belo'
re us?"
''Not only that, my lord" answered tn
}! boy, "but have discovered the dispositio
S, of the enemy beyond"
L. The youth then hurried away and whe
n he had gone, and the door had been close
d behind him, said Lavalette:
i 'Sir John, wish you would tell me e1
v ectly who that boy is"
'If you will keep the story to yourself
ID will give it to you. Do you call to mind
it is now little more than eight years pas
d the fearful tragedy of Alsdorf Castle
Y. The boy Leon was a brand plucked fror
N that burning. He is a wonderful boy AL
" think the lad is coming, remember,
IL. have told you this in confidence. You wi
k no, speak of it to another"
r, Lavalette gave the promise required, an
y directly afterwards Leon entered, accomp
ID MED by Sir Andrew Neville.
II ST. Hubert very soon made the Englis
S, knight comprehend what was required
III him, and when he had gone the cid Generi
is turned to Leon, the two being at that IN
ID ment alone.
"Hark! Ha! there sounds Clermont
* trumpet! My dear boy, here is packe
p If come from the field this day alive, yo
d, will return it to me; if fall, it is yours
of Il pledge my word, my lord" returne
es the boy, taking the packet. Directly afte
d, wards Sir John and his devoted protes
IN were in their saddles and at word frol
u his chief the latter dashed away to marsh
lis the forces of st. Hubert
n While they were surveying the field
ne messenger came dashing up from the kin
m eager and breathless.
OF MY lord" he said, addressing the Bare
st. Hubert, "the enemy have brought I
in from Charres ten large cannon, and ha,