Montgomery County sentinel., 1881-05-27

posed of white and black lace, in the fash
ion since made immortal by Mary Queen
of Scots.
Perceiving the hesitation of the visitor, she
smiled encouragingly on him, and said In her
soilest tones, "Holy Palmer, your blessing"
and when he had given il, in scarcely ar.
ticnlate words she asked, "What news do
you bring of Sir Roland ?"
The palmer started. "Ho p he said; show
know you, fair countess, that l came from
him?"
The Lady Mabel blushed to find that her
eagerness had betrayed her, and with maiden
modesty, wish to conceal her real thoughts,
answered carelessly:
ooh it was only because Sir Roland was
an old playmate of mine, and the sole per-
son | know in all Palestine. | naturally
supposed you brought me news of him."
"You are right, lady," said the palmer in
II sad tone "Sir Roland was my best friend
Alas, that should have such sad news to
tell y
Again the Lady Mabel was surprised out of
her control over herself she asked eagerly
"ls he alivcY Is he hereY ~
Would you care whether he was dead or
livingY'
"Oh, speak she exclaimed at these om.
nous words, her face becoming pale rs DEATH
Tell me the worst at once Is he deadY"
Lady, he loved you as his iie--nay bet.
Ter than his life and his last thoughts were
of YOU
Dead dead said the Lady Mabel,
wrnging her hands, rising up, and looking
around wildly "Oh, miserable mcl and
with these words she fell in dead faint to
the floor
The noise of the fall brought assistance
Immediately. When the servants entered,
the aged palmer was found chafng her
hands; but he Immediately resigned her;
and when, ON her reviving, she looked for
him, and family desired him to repeat the
tale, he was gone
All night the Lady Mabel wept She wept
to think Of the gallant Sir Roland dying of
fever alone on the deserts of Syria, and per-
haps now sleeping in unconsecrated ground
She wept also at her own approaching fate.
The romantic hope which had supported
her hitherto was now destroyed, and when
she sank exhausted to rest, at daybreak, she
almost wished she might never awake.
But this blessing could not be granted.
After II broken slumber of an hour her
handmadens came to attire her With
breaking heart she submitted herself into
their hands, feeling all the while like one
being deckcd for sacrifice In vain they re-
peated to her the long list Of gallant knights
who intended competing for her hand
Among them were counts, dukes, and even
princes; but their titles made no impression
on hcr--she was thinking of Sir Roland,
and her tears flowed fast.
When the trumpets sounded without, and
the gay cayalcade of the monarch stopped
at the cloister door, she went forth, but it
was without smile. The king himself
handed her to her palfrey, but the same
look Of passive suffering remained on her
face In vain her friends tried TO cheer her
in vain majesty itself essayed the tasl-she
could not call up a smile, and with difficulty
restrained herself from weeping openly.
At times, indeed, she heard the sound of
the trumpets, the cry Of "Largesscl lar.
gessse p and the tramp Of charging steeds.
At times she saw the challengers darting on
horseback from either end Of the lists, be.
held the shock Of meeting, and saw one or
both unhorscd. But tlIese things were inter
ludes, as IL We're for again the scene faded from
before her, and she was once more back In
Palestine At last she was reused from her
1tuperlacliOn by one Of her attendants tell.
ing her that the last course was about TO
be run. Two knights, who had successfully
overcome every opponent, were now 10 tit
against each other, and the victor was 10 be
the winner of the prize.
The Lady Mabel groaned audiby. Her
fate would now soon be decided She wOnld
have lelt little interest in the esuccess of either.
knight, for both were equally distastefu 10
her, but for the wishes Of all around her,
which were loudly expressed in favor of the
young Earl Of Salisbury, known everywhere
as a courteous knight. The other competi.
tor was stranger from Normandy, where
he held small fief If there could be any
chance between the two, the Lady Mabel
felt that her preference would be for own
counlryman. What then was her horror
when she saw the gentle bal gallant Earl
hurried from the saddle like a sling from
bow, while the Norman adyenturer galloped
lriumplaniy round the lisis
"By g. Georgew exclaimed the monarch,
in whisper, If would give II fat manor that
the Earl had conquered but we must keep
our kingy word Let the herald proclaim
the yieiOrs name aud titles, aud bring him
forward, for an unpleasant duty cannot be
too soon dispatched"
The victor accordingly wps led forward,
but the Lady Mabel's agitation was 10 great
that she could not, as the custom required,
unace the helmet Of her knight. One Of
the handnaidens, however, did this for her.
Then the herald, in q loud voice, proclaimed
the victor
"ln the name Of our sovereign licge," he
exclaimed, "l declare the victor Of this days
tourney 10 be Sir Roland Fitzclarencc, com
monty known as Sir Roland Rouen, from
his knights fee in Normandy"
snow, by my ancestors" exclaimed the
monarch, starting forward at these words,
"instead Of nameless country knight, here
Is warrior worthy Of princess, Sir liol.
and Fiizclarcnccl The best English spear
in Palestine Welcome, welcome home
But, ho there aid for the Lady Mabel, she
has tainted, she Is dyingw
The Lady Mabel had indeed sunk sense
less. When the helmet Of the victor had
been unlaced, she had refused 10 look upon
his face until the herald mentioned the name
Of one she thought no more. Then, with
/ quick cry, she gazed down on the kneeling