Montgomery County sentinel., 1881-05-27
2 gleasamt Story,
THE LADY MABEL.


TALE OF THE DAYS OF CIIVALRY,
The Lady Mabel had been left an orphan
while yet child, and hence had never
known u mothers or fathers love. Brought
up alone in her paternal castle, her only
playmate was page, in the service of the
bold knight who, in her behalf, commanded
the garrison Of the fortress Between these
two children an affection sprang up, which
both remembered many years aitcrward, and
which was the cause Of many a tearto the
LADY Mabel.
When she was in her tenth year, and the
page in his fourteenth, the latter was re-
moved, in order that, rs siure-at,arms,
he might do the duties OF n true knight, 10
which station he was destined Perhaps,
too, the shrewd old warrior, who acted as
governor Of the castle, feared that the in
timacy between the rich heiress and the
poor cadet might become dangerous, if al
lowed 10 continue so the page, Roland,
went 10 France to serve in the wars and
the Lady Mabel was left alone with Ter
hand .maidens.
At first she heard occasionally Of Roland.
A wandering. minstrel, who bad been in
France would sometimes stop at the castle.
and bring news from the camp; and, on all
such occasions, the name of the young
knight, squire no longer, was sure to be
mentioned with encomiums.
The Lady Mabel heard how he had been
dubbed knight on field of battle, for his
heroism, by the hands of the monarch him
self; how he had been foremost in the breach
at the assault Of more than one fortified
tower; how he had. saved a noble countess
from fate worse than death, by rescuing
her from some freebooters, at the sack of
city. Singular TO relate, this last news, so
honorable TO Sir Roland, created n pang in
Lady Mabci's bosom. Was she jealous of
the countess? II 80, she did not continue
jealous long, for soon she heard that Sir
Roland, moved by the preaching of II holy
monk, had assumed the cross and sailed for
Palestine
Aud nd@ months and years passed with
outa word I,eiDg heard at the castle Of the
absent p,yst At the end of the third sum
mcr, however, palmer arrived, who said
that when he left the Holy Land, Sir Roland
was alive, and was regarded as one Of the
bulwarks Of Christendom How the heart
of the Lady Mabel leaped At this intelii-
gence! But her joy was soon rudely dssi-
pated As reward Of her crown, accord
ing to feudal customs, her hand was at the
disposaI oi the king and he now announced
his'iDtcntion to give il away in speedy mar
riage This intelligence revealed to Lady
Mabel the state Of her heart In the near
danger Of becoming the wife Of stranger,
she discovered the secret Of her interest in
Sir Roland She loved hin. And at first
even death seemed preferable /, her threat.
encl fate.
Bnt soon glcam of hope was attended
ln'r The monarch, finding the applicants
itr her lanl numerous, gave notice that her
person aud estates should be the reward Of
the best 4ancc, aud announced grand
tournament 10 be held that day six months,
in which the prize was 10 be- contested. It
was soon known that every knight Of any
pretentions in the whole kingdom had an
nounced his intention Of being u candidate
at the tournament Some, in foreign lands,
had been sent for by their friends, in order
that they might contest the prize. A drown
ing person, il Is said, will catch at straw,
and the Lady Mabel hoped that among
others Sir Roland would appear. She knew
that most OF the crusaders were returning
home, and with the sanguine hope Of youth
she trusted that he would come back in
time, and prove the conqueror.
But a terrible blow awaited her The eve
Of the tournament, when every hotel In
London ~as crowded with knights, a palmer
appeared at the cloister In Westminster,
where the Indy Mabel temporarily resided,
and desired % see her, saying that he bore
message to her from the Holy Land.
With a beating heart she passed down 10
the parlor Of the nunnery 10 receive her
guest. Seating herself in a richly carved
chair, covered with curious tapestry, she
directed the palmer 10 be admitted The
holy man entered with low obcisance, and
then paused, seemingly struck dumb with
her surprising loyeliness