The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-09-20
BLANCHE OF PARIS.
A Tale Of the Gay and Gallant Time Of
Charles VII.
IFros aa ola 1aoa.ias,l

(Co"clud.d.)
!" Craven, thou liest,n cried Blanche, sur
prised into this strong expression By tn
anger of insulted virtue. "Our Lady for
give me =" she added, crossing herself
" n teach me how to bear this woe
Sainted Virgin, look upon thy humble sup
plant In this the hour Of her deep distressl
Confident of the protection of heaven tn,
beautiful maiden drew a crucifx from he
bosom and pressed it to her lips. Now
she said, " approach me if thou darest
Pollute me with thy touch while the imag,
OF my Savior is In my clasp and this yaultet
roof will cave in upon thy head. Yes: ma,
heaven bid its thunder fall and ayenge me
even though it crush this worthless body il
the ruins."
!" Blanche of Paris " cried the stranger
" Rise Thy virtue has been tried ant
proved ; it has sustained the fiery ordeal
Rise could not harm the if / would
Here, take my sword and poniard and plunge
them in my bosom if / harbor one thought
against thy peace" ~
He approached Blanche, who had now
risen, and whispered something in her ear
She gazed upon him with astonishment
while a deep blush overspread her lovely
c~ountenance. The mex moment she placed
her hand in his and led HIM from the room.
The cause of this extraordinary conduct will
be soon explained.
The hall they had quilted remained vacant
for some time. At length q door on each
sid OF the apartment was flung wide open,
and two knights, sheathed in steel, ad-
vanced toward each other with arapid pace.
their armed heels ringing on the marble
foor. Ashley approached each other the
warriors lean their hands upon their swords,
and both exclaimed in a single breath:
"Who art thou 2"
IL said The larger of the two knights.
raising his visor. IAN Henri. duke de Cha
eau Roster. | scorn disguise-but who
art thou that contest hither in the dead of
night to disturb the slumbers of Lady
Blanche p"
" | came hither to protect her." wa the
answer.
What right hast thou to do SO ?r de-
manded the duke and who appointed
you her knight Know that / am her sworn
defender, and yield my privilege to no base
churl y
=" You her protector | y retorted the other.
I" Aye, You give her such protection rs the
wolf OF Limousin gives the lambs of the
vailey-you seek but to destroy her {"
" Liar" vocifernted the duke. but
that thou art an unknown churl / would re-
pay this insolence with steel.-
"Churl cried the other, - thou knowest
it is false. See tho golden spurs upon NV
heel, the belt that holds my fnlchion. pro-
claim alike my knighthood, my equality to
the proud duke. Look upon my face" he
added, know ye not these lineaments ?"
Surely" answered the duke in q more
respectful and less determined tone thar he
had previously used, they are the features
OF Sir Huon de Baisanceur, page to our
sovereign liege the king"
AYE, you know me now,n said Huon.
= Believe me, duke, no lover ever lonred to
embrace his mistress with half the eagerness
that have sought this meeting. From the
Lady Blanche l never should have known
her wrongs but the hag who guards her
natn some sense OF honor, Hardly could /
bring myself to credit the tale of Ursula
hardly could l think that Henri de Chateau
Roster. the renowned and fortunate, hon.
ored by his sovereign, beloved by his lady,
could mediate the ruin Of IN orphan g..-l.
Your presence here brings damning evil
!" Ursula hng ! witch I" muttered the
duke to himself. Ssh must be the very
incamate spirit of mischief. What else
could have impelled her to embroil MS ALI
But I will incarcerate her in the lowest dun
geon Of the chdteau-n0ir in Languedoc,
where toads and serpcnts Us venomous as
herself shall be her sole companions.'
is your grace d~eliberating whether to
accept my challenge or not 2" inquired
Huon, s~neeringly, playing with a mniled
glove which he had drawn from his hand.
!" Insolent ! " exclaimed the duke. "Thy
blood be on thy headl"
Actuated by ungovernable fury, and for
getful Of the hour and the place, they
drew their swords and commenced a des-
perate combat, in which the duke de Cha.
teau Roster, perhaps depressed by the con-
by rage, was foiled by the consummate
skill and determined resolution of his adver-
sary. Sir Huon had him at a disadvantage,
and would probably have slain him had
there not arisen at this critical instance
the loud shrek of q woman in distress fol-
lowed by the rustling of silk and the clank-
ing of armor. Blanche of Paris and her
male companion, the former in tears and
the latter with his sword drawn, rushed into
the hall Blanche sprung to the victoriou,
knight and chung convulsively to his sword
arm, while the stranger youth, rushing be-
tween h combatants, struck up Their
swords and f~ercely cried:
/" Hold, Huon ! Wouldst thou STAY the
dukep And thou, Henri, hast thou no no
bier employment than brawling in a lady's
dwellings Shame on ye both Return
your swords till Charles VII. bids you draw
them in your country's cause. Sheath your
blades, l say"
Under your favor, no - replied Huon ;
g or not until an explanation. Oh, Blanchel
1 did believe thee true. Had an angel
whispered aught against thee, I would
lave closed mine ears against the tale.
Farewell, poor Blanche. Henceforth l
couch no lance for lady's honor. As for
you, bastard" he added, turning sternly On
the stranger youth. " there lies my gannt.
let Take it up and follow forth !"
Ere the youth could make reply, the duke
had interfe. ed.
Pardon me" said he, his naughty all
~contradicting the courtesy of his words,
but this quarrel belongs to me. l swore
to the father of Blanche upon his death bed
that / would guard her honor with my
sword and life. Woe is me! her beauty
made me, for q time, forget my vow. But
if penance dread and offerings made car
expiate my crime, nor scourge nor treasure
shall be spared. Blanche of paris, thou has
wronged thy fathers memory but the
author of thy gilt shall rue in blood tn,
ruin he has made"
Can you-will you be silent now I
said Blanche, imploringly, to her companion
Fair sir," said the stranger, advancing
composedly, 81 will give you ali the salts
faction in my power. YOU grace l canno
combat, being withheld by u sacred vow
and Us for this courteous gentleman, Sil
Huon de ~Baisanc9ur, methinks it were N
i'll to harm the favorite page of our sover
eign as to wed the plighted lover of tn
Lady Blanche"
Her lover no longer, said Huon, proud
ly folding his arms.
The stranger youth unhelmed. PassinI
his ungloved fingers through his hair,