The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-20
The Poisoned Kiss.

and the crest of John, his Bohemian
ally, was in the possession of the Black
Prince.
A few French mobiles, by dint of hard
riding, escaped from the bloody melee.
Among them was Philip de Ayenal, or
Philip the Red, as he was called, from the
color of his long hair. He was no coward,
as he had fought beside his king until
victory had decided fer the English Ed
ward, and even then he would have re-
mained beside the royal standard if His
Majesty had mot reminded him that the
victor had already sworn to execute him,
and urged him to fly for his life.
Mounted upon a princely steed of ac-
knowledged blood and bottom, the French
Count galloped from the battlefield and
rode though Abbeville (ten miles south of
Crecy) without once drawing rein.
The night was gathering about him.
He lowered his vizor, for its iron bars
seemed to burn his cheeks, and did not
glance from the road.
At last he came to spot from which a
narrow road branched oblique]y to the
right, and the horseman for the first time
reined in his foaming charger.
He was twenty miles from Crecy.
As the road over which Red Philip had
been riding led directly to his castle, one
would have supposed that it was his des-
tination; but, instead Of keeping in it,
he turned aside, and left the castle on his
left hand.
Moody, as if he had been brooding over
some deep plan, no word escaped De
.Avenal's lips until he had turned from the
well defined road, for the ground over
which he was now riding seemed little
better than bride path.
"Constance must listen to me to night -
he muttered, with startling determination.
81 have fought for Philip, not mainly
because there wasa price set upon my head.
Do | not know that Edwards hunters will
follow when they find me not on the field ?
| The English king has not forgotten that
bore the beauty of his court away when
was in England. He gave orders concerning
me before the battle opened. xiii not
Philip de Avenal,' he said "A thousand
guineas to the soldier who brings him q
captive to the royal tent!' Ha! ha
King Edward, the bird is flying from the
fowler's snare, and you must be more than
human if you catch She man you want.
Before dawn | will have won another
triumph in love, or make the frightened
French have cause to remember my ride
from Crecy !''
The by-road soon became lost in a
thoroughfare more pretentious, and the
fugitive count found himself at the foot OF
q beautiful rise, which was crowned by
one of those grand castles now seldom seer
in France.
"There is light in the Admiral's
Tower, where, if | am not mistaken, the
lovely Constance has her boudoir," PhiliI
the Red exclaimed, beholdng the glimmel
of light above him. at is we'll that my
lady has not retired. for would not wisl
to disturb her with the terrible tidings tina
| bear"
He crossed the ponderous draw, ant
rode boldly up the hill, nor paused unit
he reached the spacious court. No re
tainers greeted him, but, as the hour wa.
late and the place secluded, the fugitive
noble did not take much note Of this.
He dsmounted, and the rattle of his
spurs soon sounded in the lofty hall.
Then he saw the first servant, and tn,
fellows face was white as ashes. HI
trembled before the mailed warrior, anC
would have fed, shrleking, if the gaunt
leted hand had not fallen rudely upon hi
shoulder.
"Lady Constance has not retired" thu
) noble said. "Tell her that Philip d.
Avenal wants to see her at once"
The flash of the speakers eyes wa
enough to make the servants teeth chat
ter; but the SCATTERING fellow shrunk t.
the wall and gazed incredulously at th'
soldier.
, aren't you going, fellow 20 cried tn,
l impatient man, taking menacing stel
toward the underling.
II dare not carry your message to th'
Lady Constance at this hour. Her hus
band"
: Philip the Red started back as if rat
tlesnake had suddenly flung itself into hi
path.
What" he cried, sis the Lady Goa
stance married p
SAY, count
l "To whom ?''
"The ChevalieI Burdount
ga boy" and De Avenal's lips closet
: madly behind the last word
$50 and tell her, nevertheless" he sai'
{ q moment later "Do not let her husban,
overhear you. Stay take this ring. l
L II