The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-10-24
THs PRBAfHEROUs FRIEND.
A Tale Of Long Ago, in The Old
Style Of Romance.
BY eAsKELL.

Strike lior merry England" y
Fiercely wAged tue eight. Til
combatants. English, French an
Saracen, fought each as lhey sur
posed and claimed, for the honor an
glory oil God and for the triumph a
nis cause and religion. The Enplist
foreesf led by the renowned warfib
and hardy knight, Richard Couer d
Lion, performed prodlgies OF salor
Richard seemed everywhere anC
large gaps in the ranks of his enemies
told where the hurricane had passed
His natural daring and warlike feel
lngs led him to act the part ola brave
mah-A'-arns rather, than . great
general; though the enthusiastic ri.
vAlFy oi-his f0iloR vera led thena to fol-
low -aheri'yer be led regardless OF
death Ebd wounds. Besidss. death il
The service Of the Redeemsr was q
! sure passport 10 salvation. Second to
none but Richard, WAS the young and
handsome, brave and chivslrous.
James. Earl OF Douglas, and bis bat
lie cry, The Douglas, the Douglas
DO, for the bonnie heather | Strike
Tor the -biua hills OF Scotland !" carried
lear to many q Moslem heart and de-
iest to many Paynim spear
Inc field was won and the victo-
rlous army encamped upon the scene
OF carnsRe. And rest they needed to
recruit Iheir strength and restore
their Tagging energies Over msny
sandy, barren desert had they
passed, and on many q Sanguine fed
OF terrible and vindictive strife, bad
they bravely confrontedsthe enemy of
their religion and .hsir God; striving
TO beat back their Overwhelming
hordes, and wrest frem their posses
sion the desecrsted bepulchre OF their
crncl1sd Redeemer. Saladin the
orsVest chief and noblest warrior. the
Crusaders had yet encountered, was
their opponent. Success had hitherto
crowned every effort made by the
Christian armies and they esrnsstly |
hoped and had reasonable prospsct OF |
soon entering the holy city OF Jeru
sslem; and OF restoring once more the |
usurped rights of their co-religionists.
But diecord was already 10 their
midst-lhe King of France, Philip
Augustus, mesnly envious OF the
superior qualifications of EDgland's
sovereign and jealous of his great
Warlike renown, secretly determined
TO longer aid in csuee, in which he
could hope to reap but little benefit
and In the honors OF which he held /
but secondary rank. /
a year before the opening OF our
tale, James, Earl Of Douglas, had
been afianced TO one of the fairest OF
5coiis's fair daughters, Lady Helen,
OnlV child and heiress OF the proud
Did Earl of Avon. Often in her
society aud witnessing her many
1oblr qualities her gentle purity and
lnassumiDg goodness-he had learned
% love Der With a passion, strong.
pure and lasting. A love like this,
founded upon the Worthiness OF the
innate goodness AVA
1eDs the heller and higher feelings of
'ur nature, distinct from the fire OF
mere passion-was one not likely to
'hAnge, and peYer since he had
Understood his true feelings had he
egretted the relationship in which :
hey stood towards each other.
And well the gentle Helen loved
he manly and noble Douglas. The $
'ure and holy feelings OF frat love c
lad entered her heart and she expe-
fenced sensation OF bli,sfll Joy, o
whenever she thought that some day y
hey would be made one, no moe TO L
e separated but by death. ThrouE b
real or woe, joy or SORROW, she would y
g his iusepArAble companion, cheer v
ng bis dropping energies pouring
De balm OF consolation aud gladness y
lto bis wounded and laoerated heart, q
hould fate be adverse, or forming o
y her beauty and virtue, his me- y
leDts ei Joy and succtts. G
The quiet OF Geep repose hung over o.
be slumbering Christian camp. No z.
ound bat the groans OF the wounded,
7 the steady tramp OF the wstchiul '"
,ntinel, as he PERFORMED his cease IL
,ss rounds, broke the Stiffness OF the o
ieht. 10 the tent Of the Douglas ell &c
IHs silent, for buried IN Teverie, be a.
bought not of llumber, nor OF the Of
light OF time. At length rising, he ="
TODD for moment in thought, and "
hen vent out into the cool night air, y
he clondless sky, studded With q
6 myriads of differing .tars, "a
as sereneiy beautiful. But not u
the beautiful OF earth, or air, o.
ID he think, as be mechanically W
rsyed onward until the guards we're IL
sssed; and, awakening to the realt II
es around. he found himself outside a.
10 iar,hest limits Of the camp and in p
le precincts OF the peighboring d
rest Scarcely could the eye of 81
iaD psneiTsts the somber gloom OF o.
lcb place. even a: midday; and pl
ow, aided only By the CHANGING II
loonbeams. nothing could be seen IL
ut fantastic shapes and strange, I'M 81
nown forms. Not until fairly within 81
: shadows did he think of danger, or I.
ream OF hidden enemies Then, he al
lrned to re,race his way to hit quar- VI
re. w
He had almost reached the eIge of g
ie forest on his backward way, when IT
form, quick az thought aim st,
itted from cut the deeper Grade ard OF
ith $ dagger, aimed stroke at tie y,e
)som Of the Douglas. With a true sp
N, a strong arm, the blade per- y
rmed its bloody work, sinking into n
lie quivsring flesh even Up to The &c
cry hilt; then swift in molten ss the oe
united Stag, the assassin rushed from Sc
le spot. while the Douglas, vainly lie
to preserve his eeuii- ut
rum, sank to the earth, his life's o
God crimsoning the green ssArd. y
The next morning the camp OF the Il
russders lacked the presence of the %
'vuglss. Search was instituted and
erseveringly followed up, but ni
Rough every likely spet 81 the sur 81
banding country wss hunted over, IL
OF emitting the forest, Go trace OF
i'm. or knowledge OF bis fate OF Of
heresbOnis was found. His loss was
trapped in impenetrable mystery OF
10 one was seemingly more anxious el
,r bis resppearence than his bosom !,
lend snd copAiaEt, Macdonald of &c
ne Isles. Early and late he perse- 81
cred In bis labors, and long after sill '"
theirs had given up hope and had &C
eased their efforts, be still vent Oh in
ia eelf.anDoinled fask IL,